By Lori EhdeIt’s been nearly six weeks since the first handful of employees started training on the phones at Total Card Inc., Luverne. Now, with 23 on staff and 20 more to be trained in the coming two weeks, the Sioux Falls credit card company is well on its way to filling the former Tri-State building to capacity — which is about 300 employees. "Things are busy, but going well," said Jeff Strauss, who is heading up operations in Luverne. "We’re on track for 15 to 20 (employees) a month."TCI is a credit card processor and servicer that issues VISA credit cards under the name of Plains Commerce Bank in South Dakota.When the four-year-old business outgrew its Sioux Falls location, company executives chose to expand in Luverne.They saw the former Tri-State Building as the perfect fit for their needs and its close proximity to home base in Sioux Falls was also a plus.But on the Minnesota side of the border, the move was hailed as one of the first successful applications of the state’s new JOBZ legislation to encourage outstate economic growth.In fact, the TCI ribbon-cutting on April 23 turned into a large-scale community event with Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty paying a personal visit to celebrate TCI’s growth in Luverne.Strauss said the quality labor market in southwest Minnesota has been an added bonus, and more than 400 people initially applied for TCI jobs.The 30,000-square-foot building was previously empty since January 2003 when Tri-State Insurance, now known as Continental Western Group, moved into the Berkley Technology Services building across the street on Roundwind Road.