The city of Columbia is seeking a new lessee or owner for the former IBM/Kyndryl property on LeMone Industrial Boulevard. The 93,145-square-foot facility, owned by the city, is located on 9.5 acres of land in an Industrial General Zone. IBM, an international information technology corporation, previously occupied the building, but Kyndryl, an information technology service company, did not renew its lease which expired on October 31. The company cited the remote working arrangement of its staff as the reason for not needing the office space. It is unclear if any employees were laid off as a result.

In 2020, IBM announced the closure of its service center in Dubuque, Iowa, and the relocation of operations to Columbia. The move was expected to bring at least 800 jobs to Columbia with a minimum average annual wage of $43,750. However, it is uncertain how many jobs were actually added.

The city of Columbia is now accepting interest proposals for the lease or purchase of the former IBM/Kyndryl property. Interested parties must submit their applications by November 27, and finalists will be selected and notified in December. The future of the property remains uncertain, but the city is actively seeking a new tenant or owner.