After almost a year of speculation about the future of State Farm Insurance Company in Columbia, the company announced Wednesday the transfer of roughly 300 jobs to Columbia from its Monroe, La., facility.
State Farm will add roughly 300 jobs at its Columbia operations center at 4700 South Providence Road and move at least 200 more jobs from Monroe to Tulsa, Okla.
"This is certainly a compliment to the people of Columbia, and to the quality of workforce that State Farm employees here in Columbia exhibit," said Michael Staloch, vice president of operations.
After a year-long internal review, the insurance company will consolidate offices in Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri and Oklahoma and over the next 18 months will phase out its Monroe, La., facility, which employs about 1,100 workers.
Staloch made the announcment at an early afternoon news conference Wednesday before state and local legislators at the Columbia Chamber of Commerce headquarters.
State Farm officials said the move was based on many factors, including the city's business clientele, tranportation and overall quality of life.
"This is a great place to be and we're going to do business here a lot," Staloch said.