The Qwest Communications call center on Park Avenue will close on Oct. 2, taking with it some 70 jobs at an average wage of $35,000.

The company told its employees of the closure Tuesday. Rick Hays, president of Qwest Montana, said the trend is toward facilities larger than Helena's.

"As we look across the corporation, we're trying to gain maximum efficiencies, and that means moving to larger call centers in the 350 to 500 person range," he said. "This center is just not big enough. With the industry as competitive as it is today, cost is a huge issue. You've got to be as efficient cost-wise as you can."

The local call center opened in 1998. It handles incoming service calls and questions for existing Qwest residential customers. It has won several company-wide honors for customer service.

John Harrington IR Business Editor