About the Mid-America Regional Council

The Mid-America Regional Council is a nonprofit association of city and county governments and the metropolitan planning organization for the bistate Kansas City region. Governed by a Board of Directors made up of local elected officials, we serve nine counties and 119 cities. We provide a forum for the region to work together to advance social, economic and environmental progress.

As a voluntary association of local governments, MARC convenes partners and coordinates planning efforts on a wide range of issues that are important to communities in the metro, including aging services, early learning, health care, community development, homeland security, emergency services, the regional 911 system and much more. We work with cities, counties and other entities to identify common objectives and achieve our collective goals. MARC has no taxation or regulatory authority.

MARC is funded by federal, state and private grants, local contributions and earned income. A major portion of our budget is passed through to local governments and other agencies for programs and services.

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MARC Board of Directors

MARC's work is guided by a Board of Directors that consists of 33 locally elected leaders from the nine member counties and the six largest cities in the region.

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Budget and work plan

MARC's annual Budget and Work Plan guides agency activities and provides a clear picture of how revenues are allocated to achieve overarching policy goals.

MARC’s role in regional planning 

MARC serves as both the federally designated Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the bistate Kansas City region and as the Council of Governments (COG) for the nine counties and 119 cities in the region.

As an MPO — one of more than 300 such organizations across the U.S. — MARC is responsible for transportation planning for the region. This includes both long- and short-range plans. MARC's Total Transportation Policy Committee (TTPC) oversees the allocation of millions of dollars in federal and state transportation funds each year. Transportation planning is closely connected to many of MARC's other programs, including air quality and land use forecasts.

Our role as MPO

Where we work

Legislative Agendas

Each year, the MARC Board of Directors adopts federal and state legislative platforms based on issues emerging from MARC committees and government officials.

2023 Federal Policy Agenda 2024 State Policy Agenda

Additional resources

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Regional Vision

MARC has a shared vision for our region that balances a thriving economy, social equity and a healthy environment, meeting today’s needs without compromising the needs of future generations.

The cover to the 2023 MARC Annual Review print edition

2023 Annual Review

The MARC Annual Review features important milestones across seven ambitious goal areas, reflecting on accomplishments from the past year and looking ahead to what’s next.

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