A New York-based credit card processing company, which views Florida as a promised land for new merchant customers, is looking to hire up to 1,000 people around the state to capture new clients. The firm is Merchant Industry, which set up a Florida headquarters in Plantation last February. In a statement, the company said it is offering “1,000 high-paying jobs in the coming year, with 100 positions open immediately.” Around 500 people would work in South Florida. The jobs are in direct sales — essentially hitting the bricks and knocking on potential customer doors.