Kansas lands a $650 million plant to make vaccines and fight biological threats

The facility near Manhattan will create 500 jobs and join the animal health corridor in the region.
MANHATTAN, Kansas — Kansas officials announced an agreement Monday to build a $650 million biological manufacturing plant near Manhattan that will create 500 jobs.

The facility in Pottawatomie County will develop vaccines to help combat biological threats. In addition, it will provide other manufacturing and testing services.

Gov. Laura Kelly joined hundreds of people to announce the agreement Monday with Scorpion Biological Services. The plan is for the 500,000-square-foot plant to create hundreds of jobs within seven years.

“This is a big deal,” Kelly said. “It’s big for Scorpion. It’s big for Manhattan. And it’s big for Kansas. We’re in the midst of a new era of economic growth.”