Boone County Commissioner Justin Aldred

Boone County government center and courthouse to close early today

December 22, 2022 By Brian Hauswirth

Freezing rain and snow have fallen today at the Boone County Courthouse and at the nearby Roger Wilson Government Center in downtown Columbia (December 22, 2022 photo courtesy of Boone County Commissioner Justin Aldred)

Freezing rain, snow and subfreezing temperatures have prompted Boone County commissioners to close the Roger Wilson Government Center and county courthouse early on Thursday afternoon.

Boone County commissioner Justin Aldred says the government center and courthouse will close this afternoon at 2. Any meeting that was scheduled to take place at Boone County buildings after 2 is being canceled, according to Aldred.

Meantime, Boone County emergency managers are urging you to dress in multiple layers today as freezing rain and snow continue to fall as temperatures plummet. The air temperature has dropped about 25 degrees since 3 this morning. Boone County emergency managers are asking you to stay inside and to take precautions to make sure your pipes don’t freeze.

EquipmentShare expansion is one of the largest expansions in Columbia history

November 4, 2022 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri Governor Mike Parson (right) celebrates EquipmentShare’s planned $100-million Columbia expansion with company co-owners Jabbok and Willy Schlacks (November 3, 2022 photo courtesy of the governor’s Facebook page)

Missouri Governor Mike Parson praises EquipmentShare’s decision to build its $100-million new headquarters in Columbia, describing it as great news for the entire state.

Governor Parson (R) joined company executives, Columbia Mayor Barbara Buffaloe, Boone County Presiding Commissioner Dan Atwill and area business leaders for Thursday’s announcement.

“It was a fun day to be here, needless to say. When you get a $100-million investment and 500 new jobs coming to Missouri. It’s a good day for Columbia,” Parson tells reporters.

Missouri Senate Majority Leader Caleb Rowden (R-Columbia), State Rep. Cheri Toalson Reinsch (R-Hallsville) and Columbia Public Schools (CPS) superintendent Dr. Brian Yearwood were on-hand as well, along with several hundred EquipmentShare employees.

EquipmentShare will build its new corporate headquarters by the former Ashley furniture building near I-70’s Lake of the Woods exit. It will include a flagship office building and a research and development center. They plan to add 555 new jobs over the next five years, as part of the expansion. Columbia has beaten out Alabama, Louisiana and other states in landing the massive project. That pleases Governor Parson.

“I’ll tell you: game on. Bring it on. You know we’re going to do everything in our powers to bring businesses to our state. And you know, we have to compete with all these other states all the time. Because we know they want these businesses just like we do,” he says.

EquipmentShare currently has about 3,600 employees, with about 470 of them at the former Ashley furniture building. Boone County commissioner Justin Aldred has told 939 the Eagle that the average salary for the 555 new jobs will be $42,000.

EquipmentShare executives say the new 35-acre campus will be something everyone in the state can be proud of.

“So we’re so proud to be able to announce this, a $100-million investment. And this building right here which is really cool, it’s about 50,000 square feet. Our new campus is going to be about ten times that size,” company spokeswoman Meg Judy tells reporters.

Columbia’s EquipmentShare continues major growth; Missouri’s governor to speak at jobs announcement

November 3, 2022 By Brian Hauswirth

This is the exterior of the EquipmentShare facility in east Columbia (2022 photo courtesy of EquipmentShare spokeswoman Meg Judy)

Missouri’s governor will be in Columbia this morning to help announce new details of fast-growing EquipmentShare’s $100-million expansion.

Governor Mike Parson will be speaking at the 10 am announcement at company headquarters on Bull Run, near I-70’s Lake of the Woods exit. He’ll be joined on the podium by EquipmentShare executives, Columbia Mayor Barbara Buffaloe and Boone County Presiding Commissioner Dan Atwill.

Some details of the expansion were discussed during a September open REDI board meeting that 939 the Eagle News covered. Boone County commissioner Justin Aldred told 939 the Eagle that day that about 555 new jobs are coming to EquipmentShare over the next five years.

Commissioner Aldred says the average salary for the new jobs will be about $42,000.

Missouri’s governor to attend EquipmentShare jobs announcement in Columbia

November 1, 2022 By Brian Hauswirth

EquipmentShare’s campus is located in the former Ashley furniture building near Columbia’s I-70 Lake of the Woods exit (2022 file photo courtesy of EquipmentShare’s Meg Judy)

We’ll learn new details Thursday morning about the planned $100-million expansion of a major Columbia employer.

Missouri Governor Mike Parson will be at fast-growing EquipmentShare near I-70’s Lake of the Woods exit on Thursday at 10 am. He’ll be joined by company executives and others.

939 the Eagle News covered a Regional Economic Development (REDI) board meeting in September, where details about the expansion were discussed during the open meeting. Boone County commissioner Justin Aldred told 939 the Eagle News that day that about 555 new jobs are coming to EquipmentShare over the next five years. He says the average salary for those new jobs will be about $42,000.

The company’s website notes it helps thousands of contractors access tech and equipment. EquipmentShare’s mission is “to enable the construction industry with tools that unlock substantial increases to productivity. Together with our team and customers, we are building the future of construction,” the company’s website says.

EquipmentShare’s campus is the former Ashley furniture location, near the Holiday Inn.

Aldred: New Columbia EquipmentShare jobs will pay about $42,000

September 15, 2022 By Brian Hauswirth

A Boone County commissioner says Columbia-based EquipmentShare plans a $100-million expansion at its main campus near I-70 and the Lake of the Woods exit.

Commissioner Justin Aldred briefed the REDI board of directors during Wednesday’s meeting. Aldred notes chapter 11 tax incentives have been approved by Boone County commissioners and by every taxing entity.

“That will mean about 111 jobs per year for the next five years is the estimate, and a $100-million investment into Boone County,” Aldred says.

That’s about 555 new jobs over the next five years, and Aldred tells 939 the Eagle that the average salary for those new jobs will be about $42,000. He says taxing entities acted quickly on tax incentives, because they wanted to keep fast-growing EquipmentShare here.

“They were looking at different places like Louisiana, Alabama. They have offices all over the United States, so it’s wonderful to pull that campus in here,” says Aldred.

Columbia-area business leaders praised the news, during Wednesday’s REDI meeting.

EquipmentShare’s website notes its helps thousands of contractors access tech and equipment. Its campus is the former Ashley furniture location, near the Holiday Inn.