March 2016
Kansas State, Manhattan, Manhattan Chamber sign partnership Manhattan officials have set an aggressive goal for an economic development partnership that has already attracted
nearly a dozen new companies and created hundreds of full­time jobs in the Manhattan area. Lyle Butler, president of the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce, presented a proclamation to recognize
Knowledge Based Economic Development (KBED) during the Chamber's annual business meeting on February 19. KBED was established in 2008 to align the city's strategy for economic development in a way that capitalized on
Kansas State University's research strengths and the area's growth opportunities. It is a combined effort by the city
of Manhattan, Manhattan Chamber, Kansas State University, the KSU Foundation, the K­State Institute for
Commercialization, the K­State Research Foundation and the North Central Kansas Community Network. Since 2007, KBED has helped 12 companies relocate or grow operations in Manhattan. Recent examples include
Garmin International, CivicPlus, the Veterinary and Biomedical Research Center, Avatekh and General Electric
Aviation.
As of 2015, KBED estimates it has helped create 321 full­time jobs in the region, and projects 672 more over the next
five years. The average salary of jobs created is $52,238.
The proclamation signed at the chamber's annual meeting sets a goal of creating 5,000 new jobs for the area in the
next 20 years, with an associated annual payroll and operating budget of $450 million. "As a land­grant institution, Kansas State University's mission is not only serving students, but also improving the
quality of life for Kansas residents," said Kirk Schulz, university president. "As we see in the numbers, our
partnership with KBED is helping stimulate innovation and economic growth in the state. The benefits from this
partnership will only increase for the state as Kansas State University advances to becoming a Top 50 public
research university by 2025."
Schulz said KBED also works to develop partnerships with local businesses, part of the university's commitment to
the immediate area. The Princeton Review has previously rated Manhattan and Kansas State University as one of
the Top 5 "Town and Gown" relationships in the country.
K­State and several city groups also have worked successfully in early development of the university's north campus
corridor, which is now known as the Bio­Agro Science and Innovation Corridor, or BASIC.
Read more information about KBED and Manhattan's economic development strategy. Researchers at K­State Olathe develop rapid anemia test Identifying a blood disorder may be as easy as running a blood sample from a finger prick under a smartphone. That
is the concept behind a new biomedical device being developed by Kansas State University researchers.
Kim Plevniak, master's student in biological and agricultural engineering at the Kansas State University Olathe
campus, and Mei He, assistant professor of biological and agricultural engineering, are working on a low cost, point­
of­care device for home use. Point­of­care devices give the user fast, easy­to­understand results from a rest
performed outside of a lab, such as a blood glucose test or pregnancy test. The device is made with a 3­D printer and designed to detect anemia for individuals who have limited access to health
care, such as those living in developing countries. Anemia is a condition affecting 2 billion people worldwide in which
the blood does not have enough healthy red blood cells to transport oxygen to the body's organs. Plevniak has spent nearly a year designing an inexpensive prototype device and test that taps into smartphone
access. The device consists of 3­D printed clear plastic slides containing microfluidics that attach to a smartphone.
The user adds a drop of their blood to a slide, which is used for a color scale­based test. The test results are
produced in less than 60 seconds and can be read using a smartphone. The researchers are developing a companion app with Steve Warren, associate professor in electrical and computer
engineering at Kansas State University, that could manage data from the blood sample and even send the results to a
doctor.
Plevniak and He recently received approval to begin receiving and testing patient samples from the University of
Kansas Medical Center. This will help researchers optimize the device for diagnosing different levels of anemia in
human blood. K­State music professor wins
Grammy Award
Bryan Pinkall, assistant professor of music in the
School of Music, Theater, and Dance at K­State, along
with the Kansas City Chorale, Phoenix Chorale and
K­State holds annual Cats in the
Capitol event Kansas State University hosted the 2016 Cats in the
Capitol event on February 17 at the
Kansas Statehouse. Held annually, Cats in the Capitol
celebrates K­State's birthday and recognizes the
conductor Charles Bruffy, won the Grammy Award for
dedication of state leaders to Kansas State
Best Choral Performance at the February 2016 award
University. ceremony in Los Angeles. Pinkall was a soloist and
chorister on the winning album, "Rachmaninoff: All
This is a day many in the Statehouse look forward to
Night Vespers."
as K­State students, faculty and staff shared over
1,000 scoops of Call Hall ice cream with legislators,
Since Pinkall began performing with the Kansas City
staff and visitors. Many in attendance proudly
Chorale in 2012, the ensemble and its conductor have
displayed their purple wardrobe and favorite K­State
earned four Grammy nominations and three Grammy
items. wins. Pinkall's achievements also include serving as
manager of performance operations and direction for
Members of the student Governing Association,
the Emmy­winning 2014 Sochi Olympic Winter Games
University Support Staff Senate, Faculty Senate, and
Opening Ceremony, and managing the production of
the K­State Alumni Association volunteered to serve
Pope Francis' mass in Philadelphia in September
ice cream and make the event a success. 2015. Kansas Forest Service and
NRCS partner to provide
assistance to improve water
quality A five­year partnership agreement between the
Kansas Forest Service and the Natural Resources
Conservation Service (NRCS) will provide $8.1 million
in financial support and free technical assistance to
To commemorate Kansas State University's 153rd
birthday and personally invite everyone to the Cats in
the Capitol event, the Governmental Relations office
delivered nearly 50 dozen K­State sugar cookies
throughout the Statehouse on February 16.
K­State selects noted scientist
to lead international project on
postharvest food losses landowners who implement conservation practices,
A scientist with extensive experience in addressing
such as planting trees to control erosion and improve
international food and agriculture challenges has been
water quality. named the new director of a Kansas State University
project to reduce postharvest loss and food waste
According to the Kansas Water Office, federal
across the world.
reservoirs in Kansas serve as the source of municipal
and industrial water for more than two­thirds of the
Jagger Harvey will lead the U.S. Agency for
state's population. Runoff and erosion contribute to
International Development's (USAID) Feed the Future
sedimentation of these reservoirs. Trees help stabilize
Innovation Lab for the Reduction of Post­Harvest
river banks, keep debris off of fields, and ultimately
Lossat the university. The $8.5 million project is
improve water quality.
helping the countries of Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Ghana
and Guatemala reduce the amount of food that is lost
This type of partnership agreement is a new feature
or contaminated after harvest.
included in the 2014 Farm Bill. Called the Regional
Conservation Partnership Program, it encourages
"Jagger is an excellent scientist, an accomplished
partners to join in efforts with producers to increase
researcher and a leader with an international
the restoration and sustainable use of soil, water,
reputation," said John Floros, dean of the College of
wildlife, and related natural resources on regional or
Agriculture and director of K­State Research and
watershed scales. The program allows the Kansas
Extension.
Forest Service to stretch their resources and share
expertise to help producers install and maintain
Feed the Future Innovation labs are part of the U.S.
conservation activities in selected project areas. government's global hunger and food security
initiative, and are administered by the U.S. Agency for
International Development. Twenty­five such labs are
DID YOU KNOW?
hosted by universities across the United States, with
The 37th annual K­State All­University Open Housewill
four of those labs located at Kansas State University. be held on Saturday, April 16th from 9am to 3pm. The
family­friendly event offers academic exhibits, live
entertainment, interactive displays and fun for
everyone.
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K­State Governmental Relations Staff
Sue Peterson, Director of Governmental Relations
Kristin Holt, Assistant to the Director
Asher Gilliland, Legislative Assistant
Jim Nickolas, Legislative Assistant
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Website
Contact Information
Office of Governmental Relations
110 Anderson Hall
Manhattan, KS 66506­0112
785­532­6227
www.ksu.edu/govrelations