Xpanxion, a UST Global Group Company, Commits to Growing Software Development in Rural America
Kearney, Nebraska – Xpanxion, a UST Global Group company, commits to create 29 new full-time information technology positions and will construct a new client briefing center in the Tech oNE Crossing technology park in Kearney, Nebraska. Since establishing a Kearney software quality assurance center in 2006 with two employees, Xpanxion has aggressively grown one of the finest information technology workforces in rural America. With today’s announcement, Xpanxion has entered into an agreement with the City of Kearney and the Economic Development Council of Buffalo County to continue to grow Kearney’s technology sector.
In the agreement, Xpanxion will construct an approximate 20,000 sf client briefing center in the Tech oNE Crossing tech park. In addition, Xpanxion will maintain its current baseline employment of approximately 90 employees and create 29 new full-time information technology positions over a period of 36-months. In return for the commitment by Xpanxion, the Economic Development Council of Buffalo County will provide 10 acres of land at no cost, the City of Kearney will install approximately $600,000 of infrastructure, and by separate agreement, Xpanxion will receive $500,000 from the Nebraska Department of Economic Development Sites and Building Development Funds.
“This is a significant commitment to continue expanding software development in rural Nebraska. Kearney has a very low unemployment rate, and with the expense of recruitment and training, this project would not be possible without the public/private partnership,” said Paul Eurek, Xpanxion Chief Executive Officer. “This partnership provides additional opportunities for area residents to be part of a dynamic and exciting software development company. I’m thankful that the City of Kearney, the local EDC, and the Nebraska Department of Economic Development are supportive and understand that building the technology sector in central Nebraska adds diversity and good jobs to the economy” Eurek stated.
Xpanxion’s history of growth can be linked to business practices that screen individuals with capacity in software development and train the individual for work. Employee backgrounds range from a UNK student to a business professional of 25 years, seeking a change. “Xpanxion and UST Global are top-notch companies and we are fortunate to have them in Kearney. When the City Council took the initiative to invest in technology, they really committed to providing job diversity and opportunities not commonly found in rural Nebraska.” said Darren Robinson, President of the Economic Development Council of Buffalo County.
The new center, scheduled to open in the Fall of 2016, is intended to operate as a client briefing center where companies can visit Kearney and meet the software development professionals behind the scenes. Also related, the City of Kearney and Buffalo County were recently announced as a participating community in the White House TechHire program. This program is designed to fast-track training and fill technology positions. “With the combination of the new facility, our training model, and the TechHire initiative, Nebraska’s rural technology growth could exponentially increase” Eurek said.
Additional details of the TechHire initiative will be released later this year.
(News release from the Nebraska Department of Economic Development)