A new alliance is hoping to grow the Manhattan economy through new businesses and retaining and expanding existing businesses.

The Greater Manhattan Economic Parternship was announced Tuesday at the Flint Hills Discovery Center. The Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce (MACC) and Pottawatomie County Economic Development Corporation (PDCEDC) formally announced the partnership which has been in discussion for a decade.

Matt Crocker, chair of the MACC board, said regional leaders have been asking for a combined organization since the federal government announced the NBAF (National Bio-and Agro-defense Facility) would be built in Manhattan.

Jim Gordon will serve as the first advisory board chair for GMEP. He says he's glad the partnership is official. “Manhattan has been one of the fastest growing regions of the entire state. Pottawatomie County has been one of the fastest growing counties we’d like that to continue in an organized way and really one of the keys is workforce. Trying to get those employers and employees together," said Gordon.

GMEP is a regional economic development organization and a division of the Manhattan chamber of commerce.

They plan to work together to grow the areas economy through the pursuit of new businesses.