Core Communities Initiative

Through the Core Communities Initiative, city and county managers from Kansas City, Missouri, Jackson County, Missouri, Johnson County, Kansas, Overland Park, Kansas, and the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas to collaborate on leadership on regional initiatives. The combined population of these jurisdictions represents approximately three-fourths of the metropolitan area.

The initiative manages an annual colloquium, where work sessions address topics, including leadership, regionalism, poverty, workforce, digital access, social determinants of health and welcoming communities. Members meet 3-4 times per year to discuss topics of mutual interest and share updates on projects and programs with regional impacts.

Projects have included the Regional Benchmarking Initiative, the Blue River Watershed and Leadership Exchange. Core Communities leadership contracts with the Mid-America Regional Council to provide dedicated staff support for project management and event logistics.

Core Communities initiatives are managed through the assignment of project teams or work groups. Work groups have addressed topics including human resources, information technology, parks and recreation, public communications, infrastructure, economic development, emergency management, procurement, data sharing and benchmarking, and much more.

The leadership of Core Communities contracts with MARC to provide dedicated staff support for project management and event logistics (particularly for the annual colloquium and special events).