State and local officials were at the call center Tuesday to applaud the company's growth in the region — and the public-private partnership that helped launch it.

To establish the call center, FFP used a $500,000 line of credit from the Massachusetts Community Development Finance Corp., a quasi-public corporation that helps small businesses get access to capital.

"There is a role for government to play ... to use limited strategic investment by government to fill the gap," Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray said Tuesday. "It's in our collective interest to make sure we're growing in all areas of the state."

FFP, which was founded in 1996, has headquarters in Westboro; the company has a second call center in California.

The Community Development Finance Corp. was created by the state Legislature in 1975 to provide financing to businesses that might not be able to access it through traditional lenders, thus preserving or creating jobs.

"We try to look for companies that are growing ... helping them to get over the hump," said Andres Lopez, the corporation's president. "That's why I call it gap (funding)."

The corporation has a couple of other projects in the region and is following the Patrick administration's lead to target areas such as SouthCoast, according to Mr. Lopez.

"Definitely, we're looking at this area a little more intense," he said. "I think (FFP) has done very well the last year, which is the year we've been involved with them."

It is important to direct funds and resources to regions of the state that have not experienced the growth that Boston has, said state Sen. Mark C.W. Montigny, D-New Bedford, who was master of ceremonies at Tuesday's event.

"This is an example of exactly when we should use economic development resources," he said of the partnership between FFP and Community Development Finance Corp. "The market has not solved all of our problems here."

Sen. Montigny said the success of FFP's Fairhaven call center is a harbinger of the economic growth and job development he expects the area to see in the next five or 10 years.

"Because it's been underdeveloped, it's got a better, more available work force," he said.

The region's labor pool was one of the factor's behind FFP's decision to locate the new call center in Fairhaven, according to Elise Chow, president and chief executive officer.

The call center will continue to grow and add employees as it caters to the needs of its clients, which include AT&T and Pitney Bowes, according to Linda Manfredi, the company's chief operating officer.

"We add positions as the needs arise," she said.

All jobs at the Fairhaven call center are phone positions, according to Ms. Manfredi. Ms. Manfredi would not disclose specific salaries, but all employees are paid a base wage plus a performance-based bonus that is paid biweekly, she said.

Although building Greater New Bedford to its full economic potential can be frustrating at times, Sen. Montigny said, celebrating a business success such as FFP is rewarding.