Junction City and Geary County want to be a part of NBAF related development where there is an overflow.

The National Bio and Agro Defense Center will be located in Manhattan, but is expected to attract related biotechnology type businesses to the region.

Geary County Commissioner Ben Bennett feels communication is the biggest issue right now for Geary. “When they had the groundbreaking there was nobody from Geary County and Junction City invited to attend that event.” Bennett added, If we’re supposed to be a part of this corridor, and we’re supposed to be a partner in all things as we continue to talk about our partnerships in the region, we need to all remember that when we do something that’s a major issue. We all should be a part of that, and not just a select few.”

Bennett is a member of the Flint Hills Regional Council which received a briefing on NBAF Friday. He noted the construction timeline for the facility has started this year, but is a multi-phase process that will spread over multiple years. The center is expected to be open for usage in 2022.