Kansas pursues a federal lab
BYLINE: JASON GERTZEN, The Kansas City Star
Kansas is not resting on its laurels as a cattle- and animal-health industry hub in seeking a $450 million federal bioterrorism research lab.
Last week, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius promised to assemble a task force in pursuit of the National Bio- and Agro-Defense Facility. TheKansas Bioscience Authorityagreed to provide $250,000 to hire a lobbyist and otherwise aid the state's bid for the big Department of Homeland Securityproject.
"On the merits and the science, Kansas should be in the mix," said Thomas Thornton, president and chief executive of the bioscience authority. "But we recognize this is a political game. We will be as aggressive as we can."
Kansas has two locations - one in Manhattan and the other in Leavenworth County - that made the initial cut, and Missouri has one. Officials are considering 18 sites for a highly secure facility that is intended to replace an aging complex in New York.
The complex houses hundreds of federal scientists who study threats of certain animal diseases or a terrorist attack on the nation's food supply.
The project is considered a major economic boon. Kansas backers say it could bring the state 1,500 jobs.
Also, don't discount the prestige factor. The biotech aspirations of a state such as Kansas surely would advance with such a high-profile stamp of approval.
Winning won't be easy. Kansas' rivals for this project include Georgia, Kentucky and Texas, all states with powerful congressional delegations.
Thornton, a relatively recent arrival to Kansas, also knows something about Washington political games.
Most recently, he served as president of the Illinois Technology Development Alliance, an organization that pursued high-tech economic development initiatives. In addition to leading another Illinois organization that specialized in winning major federal grants for universities and research laboratories, Thornton also served as director of policy for U.S. Rep. Dennis Hastert, the former House speaker.
To help prepare the state's package, the Kansas delegation has hired a Washington consultant who once worked in the Homeland Security Department. Besides hiring a lobbyist, the state also intends to encourage leaders with Kansas ties such as former U.S. Sen. Bob Dole and Dan Glickman, a former congressman from Kansas who went on to serve as secretary of agriculture, to advocate the project.
"A lot of this is to try to put us on an even footing," Thornton said.
Sen. Pat Roberts, a Kansas Republican, has been pushing the project for more than a year.
Just last week, Roberts brought in officials from the U.S. Department of Agricultureto check out the existing Biosecurity Research Instituteat Kansas State Universityand learn about the rich pool of talent the state has in these fields. Roberts has spoken directly to other federal officials, including those at Homeland Security.
Roberts outlined many of the region's strengths in a letter he wrote in November to Michael Chertoff, the Homeland Security secretary.
Officials in the contending states are in the process of responding to questions federal officials posed after reviewing initial applications. Site visits could come this spring.
After that, federal officials are expected to compile a short list of finalists and begin an even more intensive review.
Missouri so far has not mustered a lobbying campaign similar to Kansas', but the state is submitting a strong proposal, said Jim Coleman, vice chancellor for research at the University of Missouri-Columbia.
The proposed Columbia-area site is close to the MU campus, which has agricultural, medical and veterinary schools to support the facility. The area also offers a suitable work force.
To reach Jason Gertzen, call (816) 234-4899 or send e-mail to jgertzen@kcstar.com.