GREEN RIVER - A computer customer-service company is resurrecting its southwest Wyoming operations in Evanston and perhaps Green River, Sweetwater County economic development officials say.

Sento Corporation recently reopened its Evanston offices after closing that operation two years ago, Sweetwater County Economic Development Association (SWEDA) Director Pat Robbins told Green River city council members during a recent meeting.

The American Fork, Utah-based company is also considering reviving plans to open a customer-service call center in Green River, she said.

Sento opened its Evanston technical-support center in May of 2000 and at the same time announced plans to construct a similar customer-service call center in Green River.

With city financial backing, Sento constructed a $650,000, 14,000-square-foot building in Green River's new south-side business park.

The company announced plans in June of 2001 to move into the building and hire up to 50 people. The company predicted it would eventually employ up to 200 workers.

Sento employed nearly 600 employees at one time, but the company fell victim to a "dot.com industry crash" that began in 2000, said Robbins.

The crash and the loss of key customers such as Gateway forced Sento to close its Evanston facility and abandon its Green River plans. The Green River building has sat empty ever since.

But Robbins said Sento has taken advantage of the recent rebound in the tech industry. She said the company's employment numbers have risen from a low of 135 people to its current 850 workers.

"They've reopened the Evanston site … and then if they can get a few more government grants and contracts, then they can hopefully open in Green River," said Robbins. "The positive thing is this means the market is coming back."

Sento operates a 24-hour, seven-days operation that provides help for highly technical software designed for various computer systems.

Spire Technologies was founded in 1986 and was renamed Sento in 1996. Companies served by Sento in the past have included Corel Corporation, Micro Network Association, Gateway and Digital Equipment Corporation.