State Suspends IBM Incentives After Layoffs

The Missouri Department of Economic Development has suspended its last remaining incentive to an IBM service center in Columbia.

The Columbia Daily Tribune reports that the move comes after a large round of layoffs in January.

Department of Economic Development spokeswoman Amy Susan said in an email that the company has 453 full-time employees at its Columbia service center. Documents the Tribune received through an open records request show that's 112 fewer employees than the center had in June of last year.

When IBM first came to Columbia in 2010, there were predictions it would bring 800 well-paying jobs to the city by the end of 2012. The city and state partnered to offer an incentive package worth up to $31.2 million, including a $3 million city-owned building.