Dr. Ron Trewyn, Vice President of Research at Kansas State University, was one of the speakers at Fridays Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce Partner Appreciation Day.

Trewyn went over what NBAF is and it’s  purpose, why the Department of Homeland Security and USDA chose Manhattan as the site and what kind of economic impact it will have on the region.

“The mission is to protect U.S. livestock from foreign animal diseases that could get here to this country that currently don’t exist,” Trewyn explained. The facility will be researching diseases such as African Swine Fever, Classical Swine Fever, Rift Valley Fever and Foot and Mouth Disease.

Trewyn said that it’s about time that they start engaging in discussions on what the economic impact will be because other companies will be coming to the area in order to be around NBAF,”I don’t think we have to have a lot of stuff constructed, I think a lot of its going to be having an area where their is infrastructure in place so they can come in and build something and take off from there.”

The $1.25 billion facility is expected to be completed around 2021-2022.