The USDA announced today that the KC region has been selected for the home offices of its Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), representing 568 new jobs. Congratulations to the entire team that led the KC region’s bid for this significant operation. Read more.
The USDA team continues to evaluate multiple Class A office properties in Kansas and Missouri for its 120,000-sq.-ft. space, which will house both agencies, and expects to be operational sometime this fall.
The KC region presented a strong and compelling case as the location of the ERS and NIFA offices, ultimately beating out Raleigh, NC and Indianapolis, Indiana.
The KC region was chosen for its existing concentration of USDA employees and operations, the more than 150 federal agencies in the area, proximity to 13 land grant universities and central location in the agricultural heart of the country. This concentration is enhanced by the area’s research capabilities and industry-led initiatives like the KC Animal Health Corridor (KCAHC). Kansas City’s affordability, capacity for growth, easy commutes, extraordinary livability and strong desire to partner with the USDA, makes the Kansas City area the ideal home for the ERS and NIFA.
On May 3, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Sonny Perdue, announced that the KC region had been selected as one of the top three options for the ERS and NIFA home offices. Multiple conversations followed that announcement, including a visit to Washington DC and meetings with the KC region’s federal delegation including all four U.S. Senators as well as Rep. Hartzler, and the senior staff for all Congressional members. The USDA team visited the KC region on May 22 to complete its decision making process and tour viable real estate properties.
Today’s announcement is the culmination of 10 months of preparation, response and client service by the entire KC regional team of nearly 300 organizations. The Kansas City Area Development Council and the KC Animal Health Corridor had an unprecedented level of unified support from the entire federal delegation representing the KC region who all believed this was the best place for the ERS and NIFA offices. Our sincere and heartfelt thank you to:
Elected Officials
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| Kansas |
Missouri |
| U.S. Senator Pat Roberts |
U.S. Senator Roy Blunt |
| U.S. Senator Jerry Moran |
U.S. Senator Josh Hawley |
| Representative Sharice L. Davids |
Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II |
| Representative Roger Marshall, M.D. |
Representative Sam Graves |
| Representative Steven Watkins |
Representative Vicky Hartzler |
| Representative Ron Estes |
Governor Michael L. Parson |
| Governor Laura Kelly |
Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe |
| Lieutenant Governor Lynn Rogers |
|
State of Kansas
|
| Kansas Department of Commerce |
Kansas Department of Agriculture |
| Kansas Board of Regents |
Kansas Corn Growers Association |
| Kansas Farm Bureau |
Kansas Livestock Association |
| Kansas Pork Association |
Kansas Sorghum Producers Association |
| Kansas Soybean Association |
Kansas Wheat Association |
| BioKansas |
Johnson County Community College |
| Baker University |
Kansas City Kansas Community College |
| Kansas State University |
Kansas State University-Olathe |
| University of Kansas |
City of Leavenworth, KS |
| City of Olathe, KS |
City of Tonganoxie, KS |
| Economic Development Corporation of Lawrence and Douglas County |
Franklin County Economic Development Council |
| Leavenworth County Development Corporation |
Lenexa Chamber of Commerce and EDC |
| Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce |
Manhattan Economic Development Corporation |
| Olathe Chamber of Commerce |
Overland Park Chamber of Commerce and EDC |
| Southwest Johnson County Economic Development Council |
The Chamber of Lawrence, Kansas |
| Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, KS |
Wyandotte Economic Development Council |
State of Missouri
|
| Missouri Department of Economic Development |
Missouri Partnership |
| Missouri Department of Agriculture |
FCS Financial |
| MFA Incorporated |
Missouri Agribusiness Association |
| Missouri Cattlemen’s Association |
Missouri Corn Growers Association |
| Missouri Corn Merchandising Council |
Missouri Cotton Growers Association |
| Missouri Dairy Association |
Missouri Dairy Industry Alliance |
| Missouri Egg Council |
Missouri Farm Bureau |
| Missouri Forest Products Association |
Missouri Pork Association |
| Missouri Rice Research and Merchandising Council |
Missouri Soybean Association |
| Missouri Technology Corporation |
The Poultry Federation |
| Lincoln University |
Metropolitan Community College |
| Northwest Missouri State University |
Park University |
| University of Central Missouri |
University of Missouri |
| University of Missouri-Kansas City |
William Jewell College |
| City of Lee’s Summit, MO |
City of Platte City, MO |
| Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City, MO |
Kansas City Aviation Department |
| Lee’s Summit EDC |
Platte County EDC |
| Port KC St. Joseph Economic Development Partnership |
|
Other Partners
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| Aerotek, Inc. |
Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City |
| Agriculture Future of America |
Ajilon Professional Staffing |
| Allied Global Services |
AMC Theatres |
| American Hereford Association |
American Royal |
| Animalytix |
AREA Real Estate Advisors |
| Arvest Bank |
Bank Midwest |
| Bank of America, N.A. |
Bank of Blue Valley |
| Bayer Animal Health |
BIOMIN America, Inc. |
| BioNexus KC |
BMO Harris Bank |
| Boehringer Ingelheim |
Boulevard Brewing |
| Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, LLP |
Burns & McDonnell |
| Capitol Federal Savings & Loan |
CBRE |
| Central Bank of the Midwest |
Charlie Hustle Clothing Co. |
| JPMorgan Chase |
Children’s Mercy Hospital |
| Citizens Bank & Trust |
Civic Council of Greater Kansas City |
| College Basketball Experience |
Colliers International |
| Commerce Bank |
CommunityAmerica Credit Union |
| Copaken Brooks |
CrossFirst Bank |
| Crown Center |
Cushman & Wakefield |
| Dairy Farmers of America |
DEG |
| EFL Associates |
Enterprise Bank & Trust |
| Evergy |
Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation |
| Fenaroli & Associates |
First National Bank |
| Fry-Wagner Relocation & Logistics |
Garmin International Inc. |
| Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce |
Greater Kansas City Federal Executive Board |
| Group O’Dell |
H&R Block |
| Hallmark Cards, Inc. |
Honeywell |
| Hunt Midwest Real Estate Development Inc. |
IMKO Workforce Solutions |
| INTRUST Bank |
Iowa State University |
| Jay Wolfe Acura |
JE Dunn Construction |
| JLL |
Kansas City Royals |
| Kansas City Regional Association of REALTORS |
Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts |
| Lang Chevrolet-Buick-GMC |
Likarda, LLC |
| Livestock Marketing Association |
Made in Kansas City |
| Malfer & Associates Real Estate Services |
Mark One Electric Company, Inc. |
| Mazuma Credit Union |
McCownGordon Construction |
| Merck Animal Health |
Mobank | BOK Financial |
| MRIGlobal |
National Association of Farm Broadcasting |
| Newmark Grubb Zimmer |
Norbrook, Inc. |
| Oakes Auto |
OpenAir Equity Partners/FarmLink |
| Parker + Lynch |
PNC Bank |
| Shatto Milk Company |
Shook, Hardy & Bacon |
| Sporting KC |
TeamKC |
| The Barstow School |
The Fontaine |
| The Vue |
Tradebot Properties |
| Union Station |
U.S. Bank |
| U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services-NBC |
U.S. Federal Properties Trust |
| UMB Bank, n.a. |
University of Nebraska-Lincoln |
| VanTrust Real Estate LLC |
VisitKC |
| VMLY&R |
Waters Farm, Inc. |
| Western Equipment Dealers Association |
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About the Economic Research Service (ERS)
The mission of USDA's Economic Research Service is to anticipate trends and emerging issues in agriculture, food, the environment, and rural America and to conduct high-quality, objective economic research to inform and enhance public and private decision making. Learn more.
About National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA)
The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) provides leadership and funding for programs that advance agriculture-related sciences. It invests in and supports initiatives that ensure the long-term viability of agriculture. NIFA applies an integrated approach to ensure that groundbreaking discoveries in agriculture-related sciences and technologies reach the people who can put them into practice. Learn more.