State Farm keeping its regional office in Tulsa, plus its adding employees

You win some, you lose some. Wednesday, Tulsa won a big one. After months of studies and speculation, State Farm announced it is keeping its Tulsa office open. <br><br>News on 6 business reporter Steve

Wednesday, February 4th 2004, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

You win some, you lose some. Wednesday, Tulsa won a big one. After months of studies and speculation, State Farm announced it is keeping its Tulsa office open.

News on 6 business reporter Steve Berg says State Farm's decision preserves more than 700 jobs at the Tulsa regional office. And they say they might add as many as 250 more jobs at that location.

For the past year, State Farm had been reviewing the 3 locations in what it calls its Central Zone, those being Tulsa, Columbia, Missouri, and Monroe, Louisiana. State Farm decided to close the Monroe office, where more than 1,000 people work. They have room for about 250 of those in Tulsa and about 300 in Columbia.

A spokesman says those not staying with the company will be offered early retirement or severance deals.

Those in Tulsa meanwhile are relieved they "will" be staying with the company. State Farm employee Kevin Fuselier: â€œI definitely wanted to stay here in Tulsa. I grew up in Tulsa, and this is my community, and I really wanted to have an opportunity to have a State Farm job here in Tulsa."

State Farm still hasn't revealed much about how it decided what to close and what to keep open, saying it was a multitude of internal factors.

The closing at Monroe and the transfers to Tulsa and Columbia will take about a year-and-a-half.