North Carolina has thrown its hat into the ring in hopes of attracting a new homeland security facility.
The Department of Homeland Security is considering proposals from several states vying to house the National Bio- and Agro-Defense Facility.
NBAF will study human and animal diseases and educate national security agencies about how to combat foreign diseases.
N.C. State University, renowned for its veterinary program, is spearheading the proposal to showcase North Carolina as the best site for the $450 million facility.
"This would be the animal equivalent of the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta," said Barrett Slenning, leader of the Animal Biosecurity Risk Management Group at N.C. State.
Slenning helped draft the proposal and said this is just the first step in pursuing the facility.
"Currently, all we are saying with this proposal is, 'North Carolina thinks we have the capabilities to house this facility in North Carolina,'" he said.
Several other states including Texas, Mississippi and Georgia also have submitted proposals to house NBAF.
Slenning said that DHS plans on evaluating the site for the facility this fall - the shortlist of locations could be made as soon as July.
He said that North Carolina has the pieces in place to accommodate the facility and that he is confident in the state's chances of being selected.
"Maybe I'm too close, but I can't think of any weaknesses," he said.
"The only thing I can think of is if DHS is looking for something more centrally located, they might not want a place on the East Coast."
NBAF will replace an existing research center that is also on the East Coast. The Plum Island Animal Disease Center, located near Long Island, has been the primary location for the study of animal diseases for almost 50 years, according to a DHS press release.
The Plum Island facility doesn't have adequate containment, security and equipment to meet current homeland security standards, the release states.
Slenning said that the new facility would bring more to the state than economic swells and increased prominence on the national stage.
"As a benefit to North Carolina, this is going to have a life cycle of 50 years," he said.
"I really like the idea that these people are going to be North Carolinians and their kids will be in our schools."
He also said that having the facility in North Carolina would further incorporate the state into national operations.
"The things they do there will frame North Carolina, which doesn't happen much nowadays," he said.
"You know there's going to be a North Carolina stamp on their thoughts and actions."
Contact the State & National Editor at stntdesk@unc.edu.
