According to Forbes magazine, the city of Manhattan is at the top of the list for "best small places for business and careers" in the nation. And the area is no stranger to such rankings. In 2009, the Associated Press ranked Riley County -- where Manhattan is the county seat -- as the "least economically stressed" county in the country. So what makes Manhattan's economy so seemingly bullet-proof? John Pagen, with the local Chamber of Commerce, thinks he knows part of the answer.
NBAF is the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility, which is scheduled to begin construction in Manhattan early next year. Last year, the city ranked third on the Forbes list of best small places for business and careers.