A military microchip development planned for Coffey County is bound to have an impact on Allen County, Jonathon Goering with Thrive Allen County told commissioners on Tuesday.
Coffey County officials have been meeting with neighboring counties about the project.
The plan would build six large industries to manufacture microchips for the military on about 200 acres near Beto Junction in Coffey County, with access to I-35. It would be about a $2.5 billion investment that would create 1,200 jobs in its first year and 3,500 jobs in its fifth year, Goering said.
“This is a massive project in Southeast Kansas. Coffey County will change,” Goering said.
“Coffey County can’t accommodate all the additional industries so we’ll see a residual effect.”
That means Allen County should start thinking of ways to encourage those ancillary developments, he said.
“It’s good to have a neighbor so close with this much success,” he said.
Goering also is asking commissioners and other stakeholders to encourage the state to provide APEX funding. Gov. Laura Kelly announced a plan, “Attracting Powerful Economic Expansion,” to assist companies that invest $1 billion or more to expand or relocate operations in Kansas.
The federal government is expected to officially announce the project in January, and work could begin in 2023. Each state is expected to receive two such projects, Goering said, as the U.S. seeks to increase microchip manufacturing in the country.
Wichita is the other location tapped for a microchip project, but on a much smaller scale than Coffey County.
China currently produces about a quarter of all semiconductors made in the world. Supply chain issues and political tensions have led to greater desire for the U.S.-made products, and the products are increasingly in demand as more industries rely on technology.
The automotive industry has been particularly hard-hit by the shortage. Goering said the Coffey County project will be used for military supplies.
Noxious weeds
Mitch Garner, Public Works director, introduced Kevin Turner, a new leader for the noxious weed department as the county adjusts its efforts in combating the spread of invasive and dangerous weeds.
County commissioners in July sought advice from Hunter Nickell, livestock production agent for the Southwind Extension District, on how to better address noxious weeds. He recommended the county start spraying in March, rather than May as they’ve done in the past.
