Missouri Governor Jay Nixon announced today that IBM has plans to open a facility in Columbia that will bring an estimated 800 jobs to the region, reports the Springfield Business Journal.  The facility, which will provide IT services throughout the U.S., as well as globally, opens the door to a slew of new technical and professional jobs.  IBM will move into an existing site, which will house a wide array of technical support and data systems.

IBM’s decision to come to Columbia stems from a wide range of incentives given by the state to stimulate the sluggish economy.  The incentives range, according to the article from funds for employee training to state funds for large-scale business development.