Manhattan is one of five finalists for the new National Bio- and Agro-Defense Facility, Kansas officials announced Wednesday morning.

Manhattan and Leavenworth had been among the final 16 sites; Rep. Nancy Boyda, D-Kan., and U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan. announced that Manhattan had survived the cutdown.

“I’m thrilled that Kansas remains a strong contender to host the NBAF facility,” she said in a press release. “Not only would Manhattan’s scientific resources prove invaluable to NBAF, but the facility would tremendously benefit Kansas. Its construction would pump half a billion dollars into our local economy, enhance our state’s reputation for excellence in bioscience research, and, most importantly, allow Kansans to lead the way in modernizing America’s biodefense capabilities.”

“Kansas has so much to celebrate with the decision to include Manhattan in the list of sites still under consideration,” Roberts said. “While both Leavenworth and Manhattan had excellent qualifications, there is no mistaking the big win for Kansas. There is still much work to be done, but our state can be proud that we are considered one of the premier centers of biological and agricultural research, businesses and education. The merits are on our side.”

The federal government is expected to spend $450 million developing the new facility. Other finalists are reportedly in Texas, Georgia, Mississippi and North Carolina; an official announcement from the Department of Homeland Security was expected later Wednesday.

Jay Cohen, undersecretary for science and technology for the Department of Homeland Security, briefly inspected the Leavenworth and Manhattan sites during a May tour, following an April tour by a larger group of federal officials.

The high-security facility will replace an aging lab in New York and be used to work on potential threats to plant, animal and human health.