Regional Economic Development Incorporated (REDI)

(AUDIO): Outside agencies like Burrell have reached out to CPS after student’s death

March 9, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

Columbia’s Rock Bridge high school is located near Providence road (2021 file photo is courtesy of CPS’ Michelle Baumstark)

A celebration of life service for the Rock Bridge student killed in this week’s motorcycle crash is Friday afternoon in Columbia.

The 15-year-old student’s service is tomorrow afternoon at 3 at the Crossing, which is located on Grindstone Parkway. Visitation starts at 2. Memorial contributions can be made to the Ronald McDonald House. Others plan to plant trees to remember the victim.

Meantime, the Columbia Chamber of Commerce president praises the way Columbia Public Schools (CPS) has handled this week’s tragic traffic death of a Rock Bridge baseball player. Chamber president Matt McCormick addressed the issue during Wednesday’s Regional Economic Development Incorporated (REDI) board meeting, and broke down while doing so. CPS Superintendent Dr. Brian Yearwood tells 939 the Eagle that extra counselors are back at Rock Bridge this morning.

“Whenever we have a loss of life especially you know in this situation, it’s very heart-wrenching. And we have to ensure that, number one, family, we reach out to the family. We have to make sure that our scholars, our teachers, our staff. Because you know teaching, it’s not just a job. It’s a calling, it’s a passion,” Dr. Yearwood says.

Superintendent Yearwood says outside agencies like Burrell have reached out to CPS to offer additional help, and he appreciates that. Dr. Yearwood says the death has been devastating for students, teachers and staff.

“Teaching … it’s not just a job. It’s a calling, it’s a passion. And we interact with our scholars at very deep levels. We get to know them personally. We get to know what their likes, dislikes are. And when we lose a scholar, it’s like losing a brother or a sister. It’s very heart-wrenching,” says Dr. Yearwood.

Mr. McCormick praises Dr. Yearwood and Rock Bridge for how they’re responding.

(AUDIO): Fast-growing Columbia-based company earns praise from Missouri’s governor on veterans issues

February 15, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri’s governor describes Columbia-based Veterans United (VU) as a remarkable company that’s committed to helping veterans.

Governor Mike Parson traveled to VU headquarters in south Columbia on Tuesday to tour their massive 325,000 square feet campus and to meet with company leaders. While it was a closed meeting, Parson briefed 939 the Eagle in VU’s lobby after the meeting. The governor says he wanted to show his appreciation for everything Veterans United is doing.

“I mean when you see what they’ve done over the last several years, plus their whole portfolio now is just remarkable across the world and you know I think close to 5,000 employees (total number) now,” Parson says.

Veterans United, the nation’s top VA lender, has been one of mid-Missouri’s fastest-growing companies. The latest statistics from Regional Economic Development Incorporated (REDI) list VU as the third-largest employer in Columbia/Boone County.

The governor tells 939 the Eagle that the meeting was about partnerships.

“It wasn’t … nobody asking for anything. They were offering their services how can we help you to do better at your job do get a message out to veterans and people in the arena they’re trying to help,” says Parson.

Governor Parson praises VU’s commitment to veterans, and he met with several VU employees who serve in the Missouri National Guard. The governor adds that he’s proud Veterans United is headquartered in Columbia.

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.

Columbia employers could see impact from massive beef plant being built near Warrenton

September 22, 2022 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri Governor Mike Parson speaks to members of the Warren County Cattlemen’s Association at the September 12, 2022 groundbreaking ceremony near Wright City (photo courtesy of the governor’s Flickr page)

Columbia-area business leaders say a new $800-million beef processing plant being built near Wright City could impact some employers here.

The issue was discussed at the recent Regional Economic Development Incorporated (REDI) board meeting. While Columbia business leaders praise the news, they note a number of Columbia-area employers draw workers from east of Kingdom City. They say some of those employees may apply for the new jobs in Wright City, which is 75 miles east of Columbia.

Governor Mike Parson says American Foods Group will create more than 1,300 new jobs with the project.

Meantime, Columbia business leaders and commodity groups based here are praising the decision to build the Wright City plant. REDI executive vice president Bernie Andrews tells 939 the Eagle that this is one of the largest projects he’s heard of in Missouri.

“It’s going to be a beef processing plant. We have here in Columbia plants that make finished products, don’t do any processing itself. But it’s great to have that in Missouri now as a facility for our food manufacturing companies that are here,” Andrews says.

Governor Parson predicts the plant will generate a $1-billion annual economic impact in Missouri.

About two dozen Columbia employers represented at Thursday’s job fair

September 22, 2022 By Brian Hauswirth

A drone view of Mizzou’s Jesse Hall in Columbia (2022 file photo courtesy of Mizzou spokesman Uriah Orland)

Mid-Missourians have a chance Thursday afternoon to meet with numerous employers and do on-site interviews.

Regional Economic Development Incorporated (REDI), the Columbia Chamber of Commerce and other groups are sponsoring today’s job fair from 1-4 at Columbia’s Armory, near the Boone County Courthouse.

Job seekers should bring copies of their resume and be prepared to be interviewed. REDI’s Bernie Andrews tells 939 the Eagle that 22 area employers will be on-hand, including the city of Columbia, the University of Missouri and manufacturers like Swift Prepared Foods, Quaker Oats and Kraft Heinz.

Boone County Joint Communications and Columbia’s Holiday Inn Executive Center are also looking for employees.