Fort Riley
Photo Courtesy of Fort Riley
The Fort Riley Garrison Commander will address area leaders Friday at the Flint Hills Regional Growth Summit in Manhattan, Kansas, highlighting the installation’s $2 billon economic impact. Col. Jerry Nunziato will stress that the commitment to Soldier and Family quality of life made by Fort Riley and the 1st Infantry Division drives both combat readiness and regional economic prosperity.
“Caring for our Soldiers, Civilians, and Families isn’t secondary to our mission—it is the mission,” Nunziato says. “You cannot build warfighting readiness without taking care of people, and that’s where our community partnerships become critical to national defense.”
Key Topics
The commander’s remarks will address:
- Economic Impact: Fort Riley’s $2 billion in direct economic expenditures, including $1.27 billion in payroll, $95 million in healthcare spending directly into the regional healthcare system, and $386 million in veteran expenditures
- Strategic Partnerships: Five active Intergovernmental Support Agreements (IGSAs) that have saved more than $34 million over five years while strengthening community collaboration with the City of Manhattan, Kansas State University, USD 475, and state agencies
- Deployment Readiness: The 1st Infantry Division’s operational tempo, including upcoming rotations to the National Training Center and deployments to Europe in support of the EUCOM mission
- Workforce Development: Fort Riley’s Transition Assistance Program, which supports approximately 2,400 transitioning service members annually, and the Kansas Employment Exploration Program (KEEP) designed to retain talent in the state
- Future Investments: More than $400 million in planned infrastructure improvements, including new barracks, childcare facilities, and readiness infrastructure
Col. Nunziato is scheduled to speak during the afternoon session of the Flint Hills Regional Growth Summit being held at the Kansas State University Alumni Association. Fort Riley’s Fiscal Year 2025 Economic Impact Summary is available at https://home.army.mil/riley/8517/6832/4952/Fort_Riley_Annual_Economic_Impact_Summary.pdf.
