Gov. Sam Brownback says Kansas officials are still trying to attract a Tyson chicken processing plant to the state, after plans stalled to build one in Leavenworth County. Brownback says things will be handled differently this time around.
When Tyson announced plans for the $300 million facility outside Tonganoxie, there was a sizable public outcry and the proposal was put on hold. One reason for the opposition was that the plans were developed in secret and only made public after local officials had already promised economic incentives.
Brownback says any community that wants to compete this time will have to be ready to say so publicly.
“With having non-disclosure agreements the first time around, then when you bring it out people say ‘wait a minute, what’s this?’ This is fully disclosed now what everybody is talking about,” Brownback says.
The governor says he isn’t sure Kansas will land the plant because Tyson is also considering other states. Brownback says almost 30 Kansas communities have expressed interest in the project, which would create around 1,600 jobs.
--Stephen Koranda is Statehouse reporter for Kansas Public Radio, a partner in the Kansas News Service. Follow him on Twitter @KPRKoranda.
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