An international corporation with a footprint in the Emporia community has announced the sale of property Thursday.
Fusion Connect, the parent company of Birch Telecomm, announced via a news release Thursday afternoon that it has sold its facility at 1301 Chestnut in Emporia. The news release stated, “while Fusion will no longer own the building, it will be maintaining its footprint in Emporia.”
In the same release, Fusion CFO Keith Soldan says, “Emporia has been an important part of Fusion Connect’s business, and we remain committed to being an engaged community member in the area.” The release went on to say that Fusion had been considering the move from the facility since before the COVID-19 pandemic with the move representing “Fusion Connect’s effort to advance towards the next chapter in its history.
Fusion purchased Birch back in 2018 for close to $600 million before the company filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy back in June of 2019. KVOE has reached out to Fusion for additional information on the sale of the facility and future plans for the company.
According to the Regional Development Association of East Central Kansas’ 2021 business survey, Birch employed 84 employees in Emporia. The buyer of the building at 1301 Chestnut has not been announced.
