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Columbia’s EquipmentShare continues to grow

March 28, 2023 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 file photo courtesy of the governor’s Facebook page)

Fast-growing EquipmentShare is now Boone County’s 14-largest employer, according to the latest statistics from Regional Economic Development Incorporated (REDI).

REDI says EquipmentShare currently has 510 employees. Missouri Governor Mike Parson traveled to Columbia in November to announce the company will build its $100-million new headquarters in Columbia. That will also bring in 555 new jobs to Columbia. The governor describes EquipmentShare’s decision as great news for the entire state.

EquipmentShare will build its new 35-acre 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.

Meantime, health care facilities are three of Boone County’s top ten largest employers, according to the latest statistics.

REDI says University Hospital and Clinics is the second-largest employer, behind Mizzou. University Hospital and Clinics has 5,092 employees. The Truman VA hospital is the fifth-largest employer with 1,779 employees. Boone Hospital Center is sixth with 1,581 employees.

EquipmentShare expansion is one of the largest expansions in Columbia history

November 4, 2022 By Brian Hauswirth

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.

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

September 15, 2022 By Brian Hauswirth

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

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.

UPDATE: Boone Electric could switch crews this weekend in Baton Rouge

September 8, 2021 By Brian Hauswirth

Columbia-based Boone Electric says 75 percent of power has now been restored in hurricane-damaged Baton Rouge, Louisiana. A ten-member Boone Electric crew continues to restore power this morning in Louisiana. Boone Electric spokeswoman Meredith Hoenes says Baton Rouge’s DEMCO Electric co-op still has several hundred broken poles and 15,000 miles of out-of-service line. Boone Electric …