AUGUSTA -- About 50 to 60 jobs processing health care data are coming to downtown.

Unisys, a worldwide information technology company, plans to locate offices at 189 Water St. in the city's otherwise struggling downtown. Company officials said the jobs are primarily those of clerks who will process health care claims.

Last year, Unisys won a $179 million, seven-year contract from the state Department of Health and Human Services to provide a new system to manage Maine's Medicaid program.

The new workers at the Water Street office will perform some of that work, according to Brad Bass, director of public relations for Unisys.

"We're really excited about the location," Bass said. "We chose it mainly because we wanted to do our small part for revitalizing the historic area of Augusta. We liked the location, the view of the river."

Mayor Roger Katz said the Unisys announcement is a great step forward for downtown.

"This is great news on a couple of levels," Katz said. "First, this will help put dozens of area people back to work at a time of high unemployment. The timing could not be better. We understand there is capacity for even more positions moving ahead. Second, I am pleased that these jobs are coming downtown. It will help our efforts to entice additional private investment for residential, restaurant and shop projects along the riverfront."

The green-trimmed brick and masonry building across from Moody and Company office products has a deck that extends out over the Kennebec River. The 10,000-square-foot building also has an additional 1 1/2 floors below grade and access to and from both Water Street and the riverside parking lot below.

The building is owned by Richard McGoldrick. The deal was brokered by Chris Paszyc of CBRE/The Boulos Company.

Unisys will lease the building for five years. Bass said Unisys will begin operations at the building in early January.

The business has secured assigned parking spaces from the Augusta Parking District and construction workers were at the building this week, working on the interior.

Bass said Unisys is still seeking workers for the office, and will be hiring from now through January.

The pay range starts in the low $20,000s for entry level positions. Openings will be posted at www.unisys.com.

Unisys already has about 40 employees in Augusta, in administrative offices at the Central Maine Commerce Center.

Unisys was selected by the state to design, develop, implement and operate the Maine Integrated Health Management Solution, which is used to process claims for MaineCare, the state's Medicaid program.

The company has some 26,000 employees, serving businesses and government agencies throughout the world.

Keith Edwards -- 621-5647

kedwards@centralmaine.com