KIRKSVILLE, MO. -- Missouri Governor Jay Nixon will visit Wi-Fi Sensors in Kirksville Thursday to make an announcement regarding job creation.
A community development loan provided by the Missouri Department of Economic Development will allow Wi-Fi to hire 40 people at above-average wages.
Wi-Fi recently moved to Kirksville with plans to hire 100 employees over the next three years.
“A state incentive package is of critical importance in attracting a company like this and in the creation of new jobs and of course in this case we were competing with a couple of other states. So often times it comes down to the state incentive package here verse other states,” said Director of Job Creation Phil Tate.
The average hourly wage in Adair County is $11.80. The Wi-Fi wage for the 40 new jobs is estimated at $20.30.
“Kirksville is a little higher than most other areas because of the wage that's paid at Truman State and A. T. Still University. So that's very good for not only creating new jobs but creating new jobs at higher wages that's what KREDI and that's what we're all about,” said Tate.
Tate says it's important to note that the average wage includes all employees from management down. He also says one reason Wi-Fi Sensors chose to bring their business to Kirksville is because of state programs like this.
Tate says Kirksville Regional Economic Development Inc., or KREDI is always working to bring more companies and jobs to Kirksville.
He says they're constantly competing with other states and communities like they did with Wi-Fi.
According to officials working on the project, the hiring will continue past this loan.
“The loan through the state is secured by only 40 people. That does not mean that that's all they will be hiring. That's all that is required in the way of new job creation for this particular program. Wi-Fi Sensors has agreed that they will be, over a 3 year period, hiring up to 100 new people,” said Tate.
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