The U.S. Air Force plans to upgrade the missile defense system in the area and western Nebraska communities are seeking funds to prepare for it.
The Air Force has committed to the project. The remaining questions are how many, for what period of time and what the impact will be on Panhandle communities.
Sen. Brian Hardin of Gering sponsored LB712 that contains a multi-million dollar grant fund to establish aid for Panhandle communities in preparation for the influx of contractors to upgrade the ICBM missile system. 
LB712 would create the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent Deployment Fund and transfer $26 million to it from the state's Cash Reserve Fund, according to the Unicameral Update. A grant program for distributing the funds would be administered by the office of the State's Adjutant General.
Funds could be used to address deficiencies in infrastructure, transportation, schools, health care facilities, child care, law enforcement and workforce development to support an upcoming decommissioning and replacement of the Minuteman ICBM systems.
Hardin said the panhandle is home to roughly 80 missile launch facilities and nine missile alert facilities that were built in the 1960s.  The changeover is expected to last about 10 years and bring approximately 3,700 contract workers to the area.
Kimball city administrator Annette Brower testified in support of the bill, calling the Sentinel missile project an “absolute.”
“We are just too small to tackle it all on our own,” Brower said. “We’re not here asking for a handout; we’re asking for a partner.”
Christy Warner, Kimball County public transit administrator and member of the Kimball City Council, also testified in favor of LB712. 
Maj. Gen. Daryl Bohac, adjutant general of the Nebraska National Guard, testified that the bill as written does not provide any resources to the adjutant general’s office to administer the grant program.
 

No one testified in opposition to LB712 and the committee took no immediate action on the proposal.