Last Thursday, Jan. 23, the governor met with William Schlacks, the president of EquipmentShare, to discuss expanding their business in mid-Missouri. EquipmentShare is a high-tech rental company that offers rentals of equipment ranging from small tools to earth-moving equipment.
Mr. Schlacks and his brother, Jabbok, along with several partners, started this company in 2014 in the San Francisco Bay area, but decided to move back to their native Missouri, establishing the headquarters in Columbia. The company employs around 1,300 individuals nationwide, but Mr. Schlacks is looking to double those numbers, with about 800 of those jobs being brought to Missouri.
This year, workforce development is one of the governor’s top priorities, along with attracting companies to our state that will bring new jobs with them. I am thrilled Mr. Schlacks and the other founders are invested in Missouri and are committed to growing their business here. I look forward to the vast number of jobs this expansion will bring to our state, and I am excited for the future of this company and their contribution to our state’s economy.
Lastly, now that Pinnacle Hospital has closed, it is imperative our community works together to develop long-term solutions for sustainable health care options for the citizens of Cooper County. I am committed to working with MU Health Care, Boone Hospital Center and Cooper County to provide quality health care options for my constituents.