93.9 The Eagle – The News and Talk of Columbia, MO
Columbia’s large Kraft Heinz plant on Waco road is the 15th-largest employer in Columbia/Boone County, according to Columbia Regional Economic Development Incorporated (REDI). The latest REDI statistics show the Kraft Heinz plant has about 450 employees. Boone County Presiding Commissioner Kip Kendrick says the average wage of those jobs is about $48,000. REDI President Stacey Button joined host Fred Parry in-studio for the hour Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable” program. Ms. Button praises elected officials for recently approving a property tax abatement for the Kraft Heinz plant, which makes Oscar Mayer hot dogs. Ms. Button tells listeners the plant makes six-million hot dogs a day. She and host Parry also discussed the plan by Kraft Heinz for a $92-million improvement project at the plant. She indicates the property tax abatement was critical for the $92-million expansion and preserving those jobs. REDI entrepreneurship program specialist Trish Koetting and REDI global entrepreneurship specialist Lesley Sapp also appeared on the program. Ms. Koetting, who many of you remember from Hoss’s Market & Rotisserie, discussed the Hub in-detail. The Hub is located in the same building with REDI, across the street from the downtown Columbia post office. It provides co-working space for entrepreneurs and they can meet clients there. Ms. Koetting describes the Hub as an amazing place and a great spot for collaboration. Ms. Sapp discussed Columbia’s growing number of immigrants and refugees, and talked about efforts to help them learn marketable skills and support themselves. She and Mr. Parry praise their work ethic and drive and they also talked about the growing number of international restaurants, such as the Syrian kitchen:
Columbia Regjonal Economic Development Incorporated (REDI) says Columbia's Oscar Mayer plant makes six-million hot dogs a day (undated photo courtesy of the Kraft Heinz website)
