LINN  —  Osage Industries, Inc. (Osage Ambulances) and State Tech have something in common — exceptional growth.

Osage Industries was founded in 1983 and is celebrating its 40th year in business. The company started by building personal-use conversion vans and later moved into the emergency vehicle space.

Their website states, “It has always been our goal to create high-quality custom ambulances for communities across America. We’ve been doing that for 40 years, and we have no intention of stopping. Industries change, and new players are always emerging. You can trust in Osage to be a constant face with a high quality and well-supported vehicle line-up.”

State Tech is also no stranger to growth. In fact, the college has grown 75% in the past six years and expects to set another enrollment record this fall. This makes State Tech the fastest-growing college in Missouri.

State Tech has been able to continue to grow its footprint with the addition of the new Utility Technology Center, the Commercial Turf Center with the new Top Tracer Driving Range, and the ongoing clubhouse replacement project scheduled to be completed sometime this summer.

Osage Industries, however, was landlocked until recently. 

“Osage Industries approached us some time ago about our interest in selling property as they were landlocked and quickly running out of room,” said State Tech President Dr. Shawn Strong. “Given our growth, we indicated we wanted to help them out but just could not afford to reduce our footprint.”

The 35 acres located at the corner of CRs 301 and 302 going on the market reopened the door.

After months of negotiating, Osage Industries closed on that property on March 20. On April 4, State Tech purchased that same property from Osage Industries while also swapping 20 acres adjacent to the ambulance company, land currently used for the college’s Heavy Equipment Operations program.

“We could not be more pleased for our employees, our business partners, and the entire organization to have worked out this agreement with State Tech for these 20 acres,” said Osage Industries President Kyle Shimmens.  “Our goal with this purchase is to ensure we have the continued capability to be flexible, grow, and stay entrenched right here in Linn over the next 40 years. We want to extend our gratitude to all involved with State Tech for working on this agreement with us.”

“We are happy to have partners like Osage Industries and are pleased that we are in a position to help them with their long-term growth plan,” Dr. Strong added. “This is a mutually beneficial agreement that nets State Tech 15 additional acres. That said, the incentive of just being a good neighbor and helping long-term economic development in Osage County was the deciding factor.”

State Tech will continue to operate heavy equipment on the property until Osage Industries is ready to expand.