A movement to try and bring a state owned casino to Junction City is gaining momentum.

The Economic Development Commission Advisory Committee has approved a motion support the effort to locate a casino in Junction City.

Board member Gary Schoenrock made the motion. He called it a no-brainer. “It certainly is. I mean from an economic development perspective, any time that we have an opportunity to potentially create 400-plus jobs I think the Economic Development Commission needs to fully support that opportunity.

Junction City Manager Gerald Smith announced on Tuesday that the City Commission will consider adoption of a resolution restating one they adopted a year ago, expressing their support for the casino effort.  “We certainly don’t want to lose the opportunity to go to the state capitol if we can find a sliver of support to get this thing done, to get this approval. ” Smith added officials are just trying to rally the supporters and stakeholders in the community who are supportive of it.

State Representative Allan Rothlisberg has a bill in the Kansas House seeking to have Geary County designated as a zone for a future state-owned casino.  He expects a hearing to be held before a Kansas House committee in February.