There are 32 NFL teams that need summer training facilities, and many use college campuses in their home states. How do you become one of those sites? For Missouri Western State University, the answer was to get political, and now the school will host the Kansas City Chiefs' camp beginning in 2010.

Since 1991, the Chiefs have trained two states away at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, which has been a sore point for some Missouri residents. Missouri Western previously courted the Chiefs in 2002, but with no luck.

So when Dave Williams became Athletic Director at Missouri Western one year ago, he decided to see what he could do. His first step was to talk to his district's representative in the Missouri legislature, State Senator Charlie Shields.

At the same time, the Chiefs were talking to the state about getting more funding for its renovation of Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, which was running over budget. Shields proposed that the Chiefs move their training camp to Missouri Western to help the local economy, in return for tax breaks for the renovation project.

"That's how the conversation started," says Williams. "It was Charlie Shields finding a way to give the Chiefs the support they needed, but making it worthwhile for the state by bringing some economic activity to Missouri."

From there, Williams met with Chiefs Interim President Denny Thum to discuss campus improvements needed to provide the first-class training camp the Chiefs required. These included new locker rooms, weightrooms, athletic training facilities, and an indoor practice field.

Williams and his staff calculated a price tag of $13.7 million for the upgrades, and felt the university could raise about one quarter of that sum itself. As part of the original deal to bring the training camp to Missouri, the Chiefs received $25 million in tax credits to help finish its stadium renovations. The Chiefs then donated $10 million of that sum to Missouri Western's facility projects.

While raising the remaining $3.7 million is no cakewalk in this economy, Williams feels the deal is more than worth it. "We could see as many as 100,000 visitors to our campus over 21 days," he says. "Plus it provides advertising and marketing that you canít buy. The Missouri Western name will be out there, all over the region. In theory, the more people who hear about our school and visit, the more people will consider Missouri Western as a place to attend college."

Additionally, Williams believes the upgrades will put Missouri Western at the top of its conference in athletic facilities. He is especially excited that they will directly benefit the student-athletes.

"Luxury suites are great if they're making money, but in the end, how do they really help your student-athletes?" Williams says. "These new training facilities will definitely benefit all our teams, not just football. Everything we're doing to host the Chiefs will help us recruit, train, and provide a great experience to our student-athletes."

Missouri Western is publicizing these benefits as it works to bring in money. To start, the school has reached out to the city of St. Joseph and Buchanan County for taxpayer help. Williams says both parties have been supportive and itís possible the entire amount will be covered by taxes.

Once the $3.7 million goal is reached, construction can begin. The school hopes to have shovels in the ground by June to allow a full 12 months for construction.

Williams believes luring the Chiefs to Missouri Western wouldn't have been possible without Shields's help, and he encourages other administrators to seek similar aid from their legislators on any large undertaking. "The thing I didnít realize before is the true power of the political process," Williams says. "Get to know your legislators and let them know your issues, because they may have ways to help you solve them."