KANSAS CITY, Mo. — After months of lobbying by legislative leaders, Kansas City made the short list Friday to become the home for two United States Department of Agriculture agencies.
The two agencies are the National Institute of Food and Agriculture and the Economic Research Service.
USDA Secretary Sonny Purdue made the announcement Friday.
In addition to the greater Kansas City region, two other bids, which include multiple locations in Indiana and the Research Triangle Region in North Carolina, were named finalists.
The Kansas City bid was prepared by the Kansas City Area Development Council and the Kansas City Animal Health Corridor.
In a statement, Sen. Jerry Moran, R–Kansas, said the greater Kansas City region's animal health corridor running from Manhattan, Kansas to Columbia, Missouri, as well as the future National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility in Manhattan, should play a role in Kansas City’s selection.
“The concentration of animal health companies and location of NBAF will not only complement the research capabilities of NIFA and ERS, but have also fostered a talented workforce that will help meet the personnel needs of USDA,” Moran said Friday in a release. “As a member of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee, I will continue advocating to Secretary Purdue and USDA that Kansas City be chosen as ERS and NIFA’s new home.”
Across the state line, Sen. Roy Blunt, R–Missouri, was equally happy with the announcement.
“As a national ag leader, Missouri would be a great fit for ERS and NIFA,” Blunt said in a release. “This is an encouraging announcement and I hope USDA will consider all the benefits Missouri brings to the table as the selection process moves forward.”
The USDA received 136 bids from 35 different states.
