COLUMBIA, 5/21/10 (Beat Byte)
-- During the so-called "anti-business" tenures of
former Columbia City council persons Karl Skala and Jerry Wade, IBM was known as
"Project Tiger," a secret kept from all the rest that helped cost both men their
unpaid council positions.
Now, a never-before-publicized list of "secret" economic development prospects -- also developed during the Wade/Skala years -- assigns
other code names to companies interested in opening or relocating in Columbia.
"These prospects are projects where the level of interest
has gone beyond an initial response," reads an April 14, 2010 board of directors
report from Regional Economic Development, Inc., or REDI. "This report is an
attempt to balance the need for confidentiality, which the vast majority of
these projects mentioned below have requested."
Rated on a scale of 1 (weak) to 10 (strong), the
code-named projects are:
Project Clean
Commercial laundry
Projected employees: 50-100 in two
years
Rating: 9
An out‐of‐state commercial laundry with a St. Louis Hospital contract that requires a Missouri facility. Initially focused on St. Louis and Columbia, the company has contracted to buy a 50,000 square foot building in Columbia. The company is working on financing, and has submitted building plans and business license application to the city. Once plans are approved, building improvements are expected to take approximately 60 days.
Project Blue
Energy Research Firm
Rating: 9
Energy research firm from another country relocating to the MU Life Sciences and Technology Incubator to occupy five laboratories. Equipment for the company is already in Columbia. REDI paid for part of the company's first visit to Columbia, and helped identify additional temporary housing. Seven company representatives are here for an extended time beginning May 1. More details will be made available as the project progresses.
Project Tiger
Done deal: IBM
Rating: 8
Project Gable
Data Center
Rating: 8
Project Gable is a data center lead developed at AFCOM, the industry's most noted data center conference and trade show. The company develops, manages, and leases data centers and is considering Columbia for their next data center. The company interest in Columbia remains high and they are planning their next visit in late April or early May. An area company may be one of the anchor tenants to get this project started.
Project Spurs
Data Center
Rating 7
Data center project that has a Columbia site on the short list. Both the President and Chair of REDI have signed non‐disclosure agreements on the details of the project. The company will decide in September 2010.
Project
Moose
UK based diagnostic testing
startup
Rating: 7
A start‐up UK‐based human health company that includes one of the former management team of PetScreen, Project Moose is hoping to establish a commercially viable diagnostic test for early cancer detection. REDI reimbursed the travel expenses of the CEO to come to Columbia for discussions with MU research and licensing staff. The CEO is currently working with the licensing staff and the Office of Research. REDI Board members Bob Black and Rob Duncan will meet with this company while in the UK in April.
Project Slack
Business Software company
Rating: 7
Business software CEO looking to start a new medical information technology company in Columbia. Two key individuals already live here. The company plans to pursue angel investment through Centennial Investors, and raise the rest through private contacts. At start up, the company will have a few key employees and lease office space. The CEO visits Columbia regularly and this project continues to progress.
Project Rich
Real Estate brokerage
Rating: 5
A St. Louis Real Estate Brokerage has contacted REDI looking for 15,000 square feet of industrial space for a light manufacturing/assembly operation that would serve an existing Columbia company. Needs 20+ foot high ceilings. Several properties were submitted. The company won't know if they received the contract for several weeks, so a decision will be expected in April.
Project Delta
Local company looking to
expand
Rating: 5
An area company interested in purchasing land and building a new facility. The company currently leases space, and their current space does not allow them to expand and add more employees. REDI has provided information on available sites and State incentive programs. The company is in the early stages of the project, so no decision is
expected for several months.
Project Red
Done deal: KTU Constructors
3514 I‐70 Drive
Columbia
The Missouri Department of Transportation selected this
new Columbia-based firm, a joint venture of construction giant Peter Kiewit Co.,
Traylor Bros., Inc. and United Contractors, Inc. to complete the Safe
& Sound Bridge Improvement Program, the largest bridge improvement
project in Missouri history. The $487 million design-build project will replace
554 bridges in 111 counties within the state of Missouri. The company will
hire 10‐15 employees.
My guess is that Bright Tree (http://www.gobrighttree.com) might be the locals mentioned re "Project Slack".
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