Junction City ? A call center expected to open this year could eventually bring about 400 jobs to Junction City.

The center will be operated by Empire Home Services LLC, a Chicago-based company that sells carpeting and floor covering.

About 90 percent of the jobs would be as sales representatives, said Larry Cope, executive director of the Junction City/Geary County Economic Development Commission.

The City Commission gave preliminary approval Tuesday night to $1.7 million in bonds for an economic development grant for the company and authorized Mayor Mick Wunder to sign a contract with it.

The city’s grant requires the company to provide payroll minimums of about $2.3 million by the end of 2005 and $7.3 million in 2008 and 2009, Cope said.

The company must use the grant for such purposes as improvements to the building, training and new equipment, Cope said.