KBIA Local
(2010-05-17)
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COLUMBIA, MO
(KBIA) -
IBM is bringing a delivery center to Columbia that will employ up to 800 people in high tech professional jobs. KBIA's Sara Wittmeyer reports.
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The delivery center will be part of a global network that will provide systems management and operations and overall project management. IBM senior vice president of service delivery, Tim Shaughnessy says several cities were in the running for the new facility but a number of things helped Columbia rise to the top.
"It's a combination of a very supportive climate. An economic development climate that is attractive to us plus the ability to source talented people both from the community and from the universities to satisfy our clients."
The facility will be located on LeMone Industrial Boulevard. The City is purchasing the vacant building for $3.2 million and letting IBM use it. In addition to the building, IBM is also receiving a number of incentives from the state that together total about $28-million dollars. Columbia Mayor Bob McDavid says the economic impact will be felt across the area.
"This is a terrific public/private partnership. It is the second most important public/private partnership in the history of Columbia. It is just behind that one that happened in 1839 when 900 Columbians donated by today's standards 25,000 a piece to the state of MO to bring us that university."
McDavid says tax revenues to the city will increase by about $7 million over ten years. Columbia Public Schools will see an increase of $4.3 million over ten years and the Boone County Commission will see increase of $4.7 million over ten years.
IBM plans to use tax credits to completely renovate the facility to make it green. They'll also build bike paths to connect the city to the building and put in trees and bushes along Lemone Boulevard.
IBM plans to have the facility open by November- with about 100 people to start. By the end of 2012 they plan to be fully operational with a staff of about 800. IBM estimates about 80 percent of those workers will be hired locally. IBMs Shaughnessy would not discuss salaries because he says the positions will vary widely from entry level all the way through high tech professionals.
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