HALIFAX (CP) - A Nova Scotia-based company that has created specialized Internet search engines is expanding its staff with the help of a payroll rebate from the province that could be worth more than $2 million.

IT Interactive Services Inc. currently has 29 full-time employees in Halifax and plans to add up to 200 jobs over the next six years.

The payroll rebate from Nova Scotia Business Inc. is worth a maximum of $2,082,500, the province said during an announcement on Tuesday. The funds are advanced to the company as new employees are hired.

Barbara Manning, the chief executive of IT Interactive, said she's going to be searching through universities in Nova Scotia and across Canada to find graduates of computer science and e-commerce programs.

She said so far, she's finding people with sales and marketing qualifications in the province, but admits it is difficult to find qualified technical people within the province.

"That's why we need to get into the junior high schools and high schools to let people know there are opportunities here," she said during an interview.

Average salaries are expected to be slightly over $50,000 annually per employee, said Mark Harper, the company's vice-president of business development.

The privately owned company's existing search engine, www.GenieKnowsGames.com, along with software development, are currently the company's main sources of revenue, said Manning.

She estimates revenue at slightly below $10 million, with most of the funds coming from advertising sales...

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