--There will be a new department-store on East Chestnut Street in Junction City at the location of the former Gordmans outlet. Information provided during the Chamber of Commerce Board meeting this week revealed a June 1st target date for the opening of Burkes.--Due diligence continues on a proposed slaughterhouse project. That project is not a given, and the company involved is still in their due diligence phase.--No final decision has been received concerning the possibility of a Veterans Home in Geary County. The Chamber has been involved in an effort to recruit that facility.--As part of the JMCI project designed to match Soldiers leaving the Army with high paying jobs it was noted that the local assets have been introduced to more than 100 companies with 500-plus employees.--There is no expectation for a third brigade of troops to be stationed at Fort Riley in the near future. There is a need for funding for barracks. Right now there is not any place to put them and there is not any growth planned in force structure.--There is an effort to attract smaller troop units in the 100 to approximate 500 Soldier range. MAC Director Craig Bender confirmed two or three of those are in the works, and local officials feel there may be an opportunity there. Since more barracks are needed there is an effort to work with Congressional leaders to get funding to build some more barracks.

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