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Allstate Insurance Co. is looking for 17 new agency owners in Utah this year, primarily in the Salt Lake City and Ogden areas.

Once those new agencies are established, Allstate estimates the new owners combined will need to hire an additional 33 Utahns to help them run their businesses.

To help it find the new agency owners, Allstate is offering a $6,000 award to anyone who refers a qualified candidate to the company. The referral award is payable upon the appointment of the candidate as an Allstate agency owner, said Chelci Vaughn, a spokeswoman for the company.

"Anyone can refer an agency owner candidate to us," she said.

To apply to become an agency owner, visit http://www.allstateagent.com or call 1-877-711-1006. Referrals are accepted at the same number.

To be eligible, applicants need a minimum of $50,000 of liquid capital to invest in their agency. Those funds do not go to Allstate but are earmarked for use by the agency owner to fund normal day-to-day costs associated with opening and running a business.

Agency owners make their money by collecting commissions off the sale of Allstate insurance policies and products, Vaughn said, adding that they never have to pay a franchise or licensing fee.

"Utah's strong economy is fueling this expansion plan," Allison Williams, Allstate's Utah sales leader, said in a statement. "We target cities and areas that show growth and increasing demand as part of Allstate's broader strategy to expand our presence in Utah."

Allstate has 98 agency owners in Utah. —

To apply to become an agency owner

O Visit http://www.allstateagent.com or call 1-877-711-1006. Referrals are accepted at the same number.