text: Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy Plan Metropolitan Kansas City This report was prepared under an award from the U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration Grant Project Number 05-86-04336 Mid-America Regional Council Community Services Corporation 600 Broadway, Suite 200 | Kansas City, MO 64105 816-474-4240 | www.marc.org Updated April 30, 2009 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy Plan Metropolitan Kansas City This report was prepared under an award from the U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration Grant Project Number 05-86-04336 Mid-America Regional Council Community Services Corporation 600 Broadway, Suite 200 | Kansas City, MO 64105 816-474-4240 | www.marc.org Updated April 30, 2009 This publication was prepared by the Mid-America Regional Council Community Services Corporation. The statements, findings, conclusions and recommendations are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Economic Development Administration. Abstract T he Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy Plan (CEDS) for Metropolitan Kansas City is designed to bring together the public and private sectors in the creation of an economic roadmap to diversify and strengthen the regional economy. The Plan provides an analysis of the regional economy and serves as a guide for establishing regional goals and objectives, developing and implementing a regional plan of action, and identifying investment priorities and funding sources. The Plan integrates the region's human and physical capital planning in the service of economic development. Integrated economic development planning provides the flexibility to adapt to global economic conditions and fully utilize the region's unique advantages to maximize economic opportunity for its residents by attracting the private investment that creates jobs for the region's residents. The Plan is a result of a continuing economic development planning process developed with broad-based and diverse public and private sector participation. It sets forth the goals and objectives necessary to solve the economic development problems of the region and clearly defines the metrics of success. Finally, the Plan provides useful benchmarks by which Metropolitan Kansas City's economy can evaluate opportunities with other regions in the national economy. i Executive Summary T he Kansas City metropolitan region is of the nation, it is growing much faster and its composed of 120 municipalities in nine concentration is increasing. Due to its centrality, counties spanning 4,400 square miles in the transportation and warehousing industry two states. In 2006, the Kansas City Metropolitan remains another area of specialization for the Statistical Area (MSA) was the 28th largest in the region. Surprisingly, manufacturing appears to be U.S., with approximately 2 million people, 1.2 the region's biggest opportunity for job growth. million jobs and 850,000 households. Like many The area boasts a high rate of productivity, with metropolitan areas, the population growth is not workers here producing about 40 percent more uniformly distributed within counties any more output per hour than the national average. than it is distributed evenly between them. The region was built on the advantages arising from its Goals and Objectives — Defining central location in the continental United States. Regional Expectations The future economy is dependent upon attracting Background and retaining talented people. At the metropolitan Kansas City grew as a marketplace for grain and level, talented people choose to live in regions livestock, with the nation's second largest rail with unique, high-quality natural and built hub, behind Chicago. As a result, the Kansas City features where institutions create opportunities area became a national center for food processing; to participate in a competitive economy. The stock yards, meatpackers, slaughter operations, following goals have been framed to reflect a the leading producer of red winter wheat, and a vision for development of the region: hub for in-bound shipping of grain for storage, 1. Economic competitiveness rooted in milling, baked goods, and out-bound shipping innovative capacity. Regions specialize in to markets. Kansas City evolved as not only an what they do best, creating highly developed east/west and north/south connector in the center clusters of activity where competing firms spur of a vast transportation network, but with the each other to higher levels of performance. most freeway miles per capita of any of the 30 University excellence is at the root of most largest U.S. metropolitan areas. Low congestion basic innovations. and few constraints on available land produced a sprawling metropolis. As the U.S. economy 2. High levels and use of human capacity, which began its inexorable shift from producing goods, requires universal quality education, strong where minimizing shipping costs is of particular family support systems, and a culture that importance, to producing services, Kansas City embraces diversity as a source of strength, became a "back-office" town and a distribution resilience and innovation. center for freight. In an information economy, 3. Inherent attractiveness of place and amenities, innovation has supplanted location as THE critical which include vital urban centers, world-class factor for business success. cultural and recreational opportunities, and thriving first suburbs. Economic Development Problems and Opportunities 4. Social cohesion based on a high level of trust across geographic and social communities, The economic weakness of greatest concern leading to agreement on actions and policies to the region is its ability to attract growth in that serve the common good. management occupations. These high-paying occupations are growing significantly slower in 5. Strategic decision-making capacity, which metropolitan Kansas City than nationally. The requires effective leadership institutions and an region's brightest opportunities are in life sciences engaged citizenry able to influence policy. research and production and logistics. Though 6. Efficiency in the use of resources found in the life sciences sector is still a smaller-than- healthy natural environments and strong average employer as compared to other parts mobility and accessibility networks. iii Community and Private Sector Participation Kansas City Smart Port is a non-profit economic The Kansas City area has a history of public and development organization formed to promote private sector cooperation when it comes to and enhance the Kansas City metro area's status economic development. While the Mid-America as America's inland port solution. Smart Port Regional Council works internally to provide has two main focuses in its mission. First, Smart public sector leadership with tools to develop a Port strives to grow the area's transportation great region, the Kansas City Area Development industry by attracting businesses with significant Council's markets the region to the outside world. transportation and logistics elements. Second, Together, these two organizations represent a the organization works to make it cheaper, faster, platform for the community to come together more efficient and secure for companies to move and discuss the future development of the goods to, from and through, the Kansas City area. Kansas City region. The Green Impact Zone in central Kansas Within the Kansas City region, several initiatives City's urban core offers a unique opportunity have taken off based on reorganizing for to demonstrate how regional strategies and key success. Regional organizations are bringing partnerships can reverse decline and create people together to form new alliances to solve economic reinvestment. economic development problems. The initiatives Strategic Projects, Programs, and Activities include One KC WIRED, the Center for Regional Competitiveness, Kansas City Area Life Science A review of local plans and discussions with Institute, and Kansas City Smart Port. local officials found that most communities have similar themes and statements of philosophy that One KC WIRED is an innovative approach to are essential for their communities and the region regional workforce and economic development — to achieve a high performing economy and a one that recognizes the new reality that a highly high quality of life for metro area residents. Local skilled, educated and trained workforce is the community goals represent a component of the essential foundation of a strong regional economy. region's goals and local effort enhances regional Through One KC WIRED, the region has created a opportunities for success. dynamic, entrepreneurial partnership strategically designed to drive significant economic and Consistent themes across local communities: workforce development transformation within 1. Create and maintain communities that are the region. The initiative's partners are integrating attractive places with amenities to meet the and building upon what were once independent needs of a diverse population. activities to develop a comprehensive system of 2. Raise the capacity of governmental agencies to workforce development, education and training, make strategic decisions. and economic development to meet the region's current and future needs. 3. Develop and retain human capital to compete globally. The Center for Regional Competitiveness brings university resources together with the private 4. Capitalize on the region's strengths for strategic sector to provide decision tools and leadership economic development, including creation mechanisms to support the region's competition of a world class Life Science/Animal Health in the global economy. Industry. The Kansas City Area Life Science Institute 5. Capitalize on the region's strengths to build (KCALSI) is a non-profit organization assisting a Transportation/Logistics/International Trade with the transformation of Kansas City into a Industry. center of excellence in life sciences research Throughout the region, organizations are and development. KCALSI and its stakeholder THINKING, ACTING, WORKING, and institutions share ambitious goals — to make new GROWING as ONE KC through public-private discoveries in aging and related diseases, neuron- partnerships, collaborative programs and services, degenerative and cardiovascular diseases, cancer and coordinated marketing. and infectious diseases, and to encourage related business development. iv Table of Contents Abstract ................................................................................................................................ i Executive Summary ............................................................................................................ iii List of Charts, Maps and Tables ...........................................................................................vii Chapter 1: Overview of the Kansas City Metropolitan Region .............................................. 1 About MARC .............................................................................................................. 2 Population Trends ....................................................................................................... 6 A Brief History of the Kansas City Area's Economy ...................................................... 9 Geography and Environment .................................................................................... 28 Chapter 2: Analysis of Economic Challenges and Opportunities......................................... 61 Chapter 3: Vision and Goals for Regional Economic Prosperity .......................................... 83 Chapter 4: Community and Private Sector Participation ..................................................... 85 Chapter 5: Strategic Projects, Programs and Activities ........................................................ 87 Chapter 6: CEDS Action Plan ............................................................................................. 95 Chapter 7: Performance Measures.................................................................................... 100 References and bibliography ............................................................................................ 103 Appendices MARC Community Services Governing Board ................................................................. 105 Economic Development District Strategic Committee ...................................................... 105 County Profile: Johnson County, Kan. .............................................................................. 106 County Profile: Leavenworth County, Kan. ...................................................................... 109 County Profile: Miami County, Kan. ................................................................................ 111 County Profile: Wyandotte County, Kan. ......................................................................... 113 County Profile: Cass County, Mo. .................................................................................... 115 County Profile: Clay County, Mo. .................................................................................... 117 County Profile: Jackson County, Mo. ............................................................................... 119 County Profile: Platte County, Mo. .................................................................................. 122 County Profile: Ray County, Mo. ..................................................................................... 124 v List of Charts, Maps and Tables Map: Cities and Counties in the Kansas City Metropolitan Region................................................ 1 Chart: Population Trends by County Components ....................................................................... 6 Chart: Population by Race and Hispanic Origin, 1990 and 2006 ................................................. 7 Map: Population Change 1970–2000 .......................................................................................... 8 Map: U.S. Rail Lines .................................................................................................................... 9 Chart: Kansas City Metro Population Change and Net Migration ................................................ 10 Chart: Population Change .......................................................................................................... 10 Map: U.S. Decade of Peak Population by Decade ..................................................................... 11 Map: Kansas City Metro Net Migration by County 1994-2004 ................................................... 12 Map: U.S. Interstate Highways ................................................................................................... 13 Map: Kansas City Metro Residential Land Consumption 1940-2000........................................... 14 Map: Population Growth and Decline in the Kansas City Urbanized Area ..............................15 Map: Percent White/Non White Population 2000 ...................................................................... 16 Map: Poverty by Race 2000 ....................................................................................................... 17 Map: Violent Crime 2005 .......................................................................................................... 17 Map: Neighborhood Household Income Relative to Regional Median 2000 .............................. 18 Map: Population Change by Race 1990–2000 ........................................................................... 18 Chart: Employment Growth: Manufacturing vs. Services 1969–2005 ......................................... 19 Chart: Kansas City vs. U.S. Total Employment Growth 1970-1980 ............................................. 20 Chart: Kansas City vs. U.S. Total Employment Growth 1980–1990 ............................................ 20 Chart: Kansas City vs. U.S. Total Employment Growth 1990–2000 ............................................ 21 Chart: Kansas City vs. U.S. Total Employment Growth 2000–2005 ............................................ 21 Chart: Kansas City Metro vs. U.S. Unemployment Rate 1990–2006 ........................................... 22 Map: Proposed "Megaregions" for Focusing Federal Investment ................................................ 23 Map: U.S. and State Highways in the Kansas City Region .......................................................... 25 Map: Travel Times ..................................................................................................................... 27 Map: The Greater Kansas City Region ........................................................................................ 28 Map: Watersheds in the Greater Kansas City Region .................................................................. 33 Table: Fauna in the Greater Kansas City Region ................................................................... 35–38 Table: Endangered Species in the Greater Kansas City Region.................................................... 39 Table: Former Manufactured Gas Plants..................................................................................... 47 Table: Wood Treating Facilities ................................................................................................. 47 Map: Planned Land Use in the Greater Kansas City Region ........................................................ 55 Chart: Change in Jobs by Industry in the Kansas City Region ...................................................... 61 Chart: Housing Index by Metro Area ......................................................................................... 62 Map: Employment Density 2000 ............................................................................................... 63 Map: Kansas City Region Major Employment Corridors ............................................................. 64 Table: Employment in High Density Employment Corridors ...................................................... 64 Chart: Educational Attainment 1990 and 2006........................................................................... 65 Chart: Occupational Employment 2006 ..................................................................................... 66 Chart: Relative Occupational Concentration and Growth........................................................... 67 Chart: Estimated Employment by Industry 2006 ......................................................................... 69 Chart: Estimated Output by Industry 2006 ................................................................................. 69 Chart: Relative Industry Concentration and Employment Growth 2001-2006 ............................. 70 Chart: 2006 Median Household Income .................................................................................... 73 Chart: 2004 Cost of Living Index ............................................................................................... 73 Chart: Housing Cost Index, 2004 ............................................................................................... 74 Chart: Neighborhood Self Rating, 2005 ..................................................................................... 74 vii Chart: Weeks of Work Delayed in Traffic, 2003 ......................................................................... 75 Chart: Change in Total Non-Farm Employment, 1990-2000, 2000-2005 .................................... 75 Chart: Change in Information Employment, 1990-2000, 2000-2005 .......................................... 76 Chart: Change in Transportation Employment, 1990-2000, 2000-2005 ...................................... 76 Chart: Change in Professional and Technical ServicesEmployment, 1990-2000, 2000-2005 ...... 77 Chart: Percent of Population Age 25 or Over, with at Least a Bachelor's Degree ........................ 77 Chart: Firm Births Per 1,000 Existing Enterprises ........................................................................ 78 Chart: Entrepreneurs per 100,000 People 2005 ......................................................................... 78 Chart: Total Patents 2003........................................................................................................... 79 Chart: Venture Capital Investments as a Percentage of Gross Metropolitan Product.................... 79 Chart: Net Migration Rate of the Young, Unmarried, College Educated...................................... 80 Chart: Manufacturing Productivity: Output per Production Worker Hour ................................... 80 Chart: Funding for Life Sciences, Metropolitan Kansas City ........................................................ 81 Map: Missouri Total Combined Truck Freight Flows 1998 ......................................................... 82 Table: Action Plan — Promoting Economic Development and Opportunity ............................... 96 Table: Action Plan — Fostering Effective Transportation Access ................................................. 97 Table: Action Plan — Enhancing and Protecting the Environment .............................................. 98 Table: Action Plan — Maximizing Effective Development and Use of the Workforce Consistent with Any Applicable State or Local Workforce Investment Strategy ................ 98 Table: Action Plan — Promoting the Use of Technology in Economic Development, Including Access to High-Speed Telecommunications .................................................... 99 Table: Action Plan — Balancing Resources Through Sound Management of Physical Development .................................................................................................... 99 Table: Performance Measures — Individual Community Response Measurements ................... 101 Table: Performance Measures — MARC/Partner Agency Measurements ................................... 101 Charts and Map: County Profile — Johnson County, Kan. ........................................................ 106 Utilities and Other Services, Johnson County, Kan. .......................................................... 107–108 Charts and Map: County Profile — Leavenworth County, Kan. ................................................. 109 Utilities and Other Services, Leavenworth County, Kan. .......................................................... 110 Charts and Map: County Profile — Miami County, Kan. ........................................................... 111 Utilities and Other Services, Miami County, Kan. .................................................................... 112 Charts and Map: County Profile — Wyandotte County, Kan. .................................................... 113 Utilities and Other Services, Wyandotte County, Kan. ............................................................. 114 Charts and Map: County Profile — Cass County, Mo. .............................................................. 115 Utilities and Other Services, Cass County, Mo. ........................................................................ 116 Charts and Map: County Profile — Clay County, Mo. .............................................................. 117 Utilities and Other Services, Clay County, Mo. ........................................................................ 118 Charts and Map: County Profile — Jackson County, Mo. ......................................................... 119 Utilities and Other Services, Jackson County, Mo. ........................................................... 120–121 Charts and Map: County Profile — Platte County, Mo. ............................................................. 122 Utilities and Other Services, Platte County, Mo ....................................................................... 123 Charts and Map: County Profile — Ray County, Mo. ................................................................ 124 Utilities and Other Services, Ray County, Mo .......................................................................... 125 viii CHAPTER 1: An Overview of MARC and the Kansas City Region T he Kansas City metropolitan region, as comprise roughly 94 percent of the population defined for this Comprehensive Economic of the 15-county Kansas City Metropolitan Development Strategy, is composed of 120 Statistical Area (MSA) as defined by the Office of municipalities in nine counties spanning 4,400 Management and Budget. square miles in two states. In 2006, the Kansas City MSA was the 28th largest The nine counties — Johnson, Leavenworth, metropolitan area in the U.S., with approximately Miami and Wyandotte in Kansas, and Cass, 2 million people, 1.2 million jobs and 850,000 Clay, Jackson, Platte and Ray in Missouri — households. Cities and Counties in the KC Metro Region Source: MARC 1 n About MARC The Mid-America Regional Council, commonly a wide range of transportation issues, working referred to as MARC, serves as the association in cooperation with the Kansas and Missouri of city and county governments and the Departments of Transportation, local governments metropolitan planning organization for the and transit providers. bistate Kansas City region. MARC seeks to MARC's transportation planning activities build a stronger regional community through encompass all of Cass, Wyandotte, Johnson and cooperation, leadership and planning. Through Jackson counties, and portions of Leavenworth, MARC's leadership, area jurisdictions and Platte and Clay counties. MARC works with these diverse community interests sit down together to communities, identified stakeholders and the address the region's problems and identify the public to plan for improvements to the region's opportunities for cooperative solutions. These surface transportation system over the next 30 efforts, in turn, enhance the effectiveness of local years as well as recommending investments government. through available federal and state grant funds. As a voluntary association, MARC strives to The primary products of the transportation foster better understanding and cooperation on planning process include: issues that extend beyond the jurisdiction of a single city, county or state. These issues include • The region's Long-Range Transportation Plan transportation, early education, older adult (LRTP). services, emergency services and homeland • The Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP), a security, public safety communications, listing of projects recommended for federal and environmental protection, health care, economic state transportation funds to support achieving development, sustainable development the long-range plan. and others. • A Congestion Management System (CMS), a MARC's Board of Directors consists of 33 locally plan to reduce congestion on major highways elected leaders representing the nine counties and and roadways. 120 cities in the bistate metropolitan Kansas City • Regional Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) region. Architecture, a plan to use technology to better MARC plays an active leadership role in manage the region's transportation system, strengthening the metropolitan community by including KC Scout, a freeway management providing: system, and Operation Green Light, a • A forum for addressing regional objectives and synchronized traffic signalization project on diverse community issues. major thoroughfares. • Long-range planning and public policy • The Smart Moves Plan, a long-range plan for coordination. the region's public transit system. • Technical assistance and services to enhance • MetroGreen a regional greenway trails system, the effectiveness of local government. and the Regional Bikeway Plan, a facility plan for non-motorized transportation. Transportation Together these documents provide a blueprint for MARC is the metropolitan planning organization the development of the region's transportation (MPO) for the bistate Kansas City region. Federal system and direct the expenditure of federal funds highway and transit statutes require urbanized for highways, transit, bikeways and other modes areas greater than 50,000 in population to of transportation. designate MPOs as a condition for spending Maintaining the region's transportation federal highway or transit funds. As the MPO, infrastructure is critical to continued economic MARC receives federal funds to develop growth and development for the Kansas City area. regional transportation plans and programs and The region's prominence as a major transportation to coordinate technical and policy studies on hub, its growing logistics industrial sector, 2 and the need for workers to travel to and from can range from the entire Kansas City region to a employment centers are all factors in the region's single municipality or neighborhood. transportation planning work. Local Government Services Community Development The Government Innovations Forum was MARC supports a coalition of officials from created when an organization of city and county inner-ring suburbs that works on housing and managers and administrators from the Greater commercial revitalization in those portions of Kansas City metropolitan area committed to the Kansas City region developed just prior to support a full-time staff person at MARC to or following the second World War. The First manage communications between managers and Suburbs Coalition has developed a marketing jurisdictions and follow through on Roundtable strategy to encourage reinvestment, partners with ideas and initiatives. Supported by contributions a local credit union to provide low cost financing from over 40 cities and counties, the Government for housing rehabilitation, and is working on the Innovations Forum provides staff support to the design of reinvestment in older suburban Managers' Roundtable and its initiatives and strip centers. connects members with a variety of regional MARC receives funds from the U.S. Economic research and decision-making mechanisms. Development Administration and has been The Government Training Institute (GTI) designated as an Economic Development District provides targeted cost-efficient, high quality for the Kansas City metro area. MARC provides training services to local governments and support to local agencies and organizations nonprofit partner organizations. GTI provides seeking to plan for, design and implement training to 7,500 employees and officials on investments that address economic distress an annual basis. The training programs include within the metro area. MARC maintains this leadership development, workshops for planning Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy commissioners, technical environmental training, Plan (CEDS) to support the region's economic computer skills, certificate programs and development efforts. customized training. MARC's Small Cities Program provides Workforce Development administrative, planning and informational MARC provides support to One KC Wired, an resources to smaller local governments. There initiative designed to help support a coordinated are 90 cities in the region with populations under workforce development system in the Kansas City 10,000, and only 23 of these cities employ a metro area. One KC Wired focuses on strategic city manager or administrator. It is increasingly economic development sectors, and ensures that difficult for smaller cities to address the problems training and workforce development systems that confront their communities due to limited are strengthened to support job creation resources. The Small Cities Program supplements and retention. local staff with resources, while focusing on a limited number of issues and program areas. Citizen Engagement Included in the Small Cities Program are: MARC supports a citizen engagement initiative • Initiatives to help communities gain access called One KC Voice that brings citizen input to state and federal programs through grant into local decision-making processes and helps writing and grant management services. the Greater Kansas City region find common ground on important issues. MARC supports a • Information on planning techniques for regional network of organizations using input infrastructure development, economic and techniques that include community conversations, community initiatives . workshops, online communities, blog-based • Training on the use of economic development discussions and surveys. Each of public tools to take advantage of private funding participation project is written and formatted opportunities. specifically for an individual topic, and the scale 3 • Assistance with "Best Practices," policy writing Environmental Protection and a master contract for goods and services. MARC's main environmental program areas of • Identification of revenue sources, use of special air quality, watershed management, solid waste improvement districts and budget structure. management and green infrastructure bring • Mapping support services. community partners together to address regional environmental issues in a cooperative setting. Research Services Each program includes a strong educational MARC's Research Services Department provides component based on the concepts of smart various services to member cities and counties growth and sustainability, with messages directed and regional initiatives. These services include at a variety of groups and audiences. MARC also data and research, Geographic Information works with several broad-based environmental Systems (GIS) and mapping, and information initiatives that cut across program lines to achieve technology. Resources available to support multiple objectives, including: economic development in the metro area include: • The Kansas City Environmental Education • KC Economy — A source for economic Network works with environmental educators information for the Kansas City Metropolitan and organizations to expand environmental Area. MARC updates this web-based resource education in the region. to provide recent data and analysis to keep • The Natural Resources Inventory (NRI) uses stakeholders up to date on Kansas City's digital map data to study valuable natural economy. resource assets and ecological features in the • Metro Outlook LIVE — The updated version Kansas City region. of Metro Outlook, first published by MARC • The region's green building program in 2001, is an interactive Web site that encourages more environmentally-sensitive measures regional progress through a variety of design and construction practices. indicators, including employment, education, • Sustainable Growth for Small Cities provides income, migration, poverty and more. tools to help growing communities with land • Metro Dataline — Data on the region's use practices, zoning policies and funding population, economy, social characteristics, resources. and other areas, as well as maps of the region • Creating Quality Places identifies how smart are housed on the Metro Dataline Web site. growth planning concepts may be applied to In addition, Metro Dataline provides unique the Kansas City region. reports from MARC's Research Services staff, and links to other major sources of data about Emergency Services, Homeland Security and the Kansas City region. Public Safety Communications • Geographic Information Systems (GIS)— MARC has provided support to the region's Local governments use GIS every day to emergency services agencies for over 30 years, assist regional planning efforts in the areas of bringing officials together to develop plans, transportation, environment and emergency protocols and programs, and to manage local, services. MARC supports collaboration state and federal resources. between area governments on cross- MARC coordinates the region's 9-1-1 jurisdictional GIS/mapping projects and cost- communications system, ensuring a high quality sharing endeavors. means for the public to access emergency • Publications — The Research Services response. Department publishes a wide variety of reports, MARC administers the region's homeland security including the annual Greater Kansas City funding, ensuring the region is working toward Economic Forecast, the Long Range Forecast, enhancing capabilities to reduce risks from and migration studies and Regional Data Snapshots. respond to all hazards, including those caused 4 by terrorist acts. MARC also supports the Mid- Aging Services America Local Emergency Planning Committee, MARC's Department of Aging Services functions charged with bringing industry and emergency as the Area Agency on Aging for Cass, Clay, response agencies together to reduce risks from Jackson, Platte and Ray counties in Missouri. hazardous chemical releases, and coordinates Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs), created through pre-hospital emergency care with hospitals and the Older Americans Act of 1965, advocate for, ambulance services. design and implement programs to meet the Early Education unique needs of older citizens within the counties they serve. Since 1989, MARC has worked with community partners to develop a system of high quality early MARC coordinates a wide variety of services education programs and services in metropolitan for older adults and their caregivers, including Kansas City. Early education is important to congregate and home-delivered meals, ensure that all young children have the skills transportation services, case management and support necessary to enter school ready to services, an information and assistance phone succeed. line, and a volunteer ombudsman program for residents of long-term care facilities. In 2005, MARC became the grantee for Mid- America Head Start (MAHS), serving Clay, Jackson and Platte counties in Missouri. MAHS ensures quality services for 2,733 children and their families each year. MARC's early education program advocates for community support and adequate funding to ensure that all families have access to quality early learning programs, particularly children from lower income working families that need support to enter or remain in the work force. Health Care MARC's Regional Health Care Initiative addresses ways to provide effective health care for citizens who do are uninsured or underinsured. The initiative's current work involves: • Developing a health information exchange network among safety net providers. • Making sure the region is fully utilizing federal and state programs. • Increasing access to health care services for those currently uninsured. The project addresses these priorities by building on existing community programs and initiatives. It also brings together stakeholders with the appropriate technical assistance to develop and implement strategies to address the issues associated with the uninsured. 5 n Population Trends Jackson County is the region's largest county, period of decline. Jackson County's population followed by Johnson, Clay and Wyandotte began growing again in the 1980s. Wyandotte's respectively. turn-around is not yet evident in the officially Johnson County has grown both the most and published population estimates from the Census the fastest in recent years, though Cass County Bureau. However, in the first six years of this approaches it in percentage terms. decade it has more than doubled its housing production from that experienced during the Wyandotte and Jackson counties, which contain entire 1990s, suggesting that Wyandotte, too, has the region's oldest housing and industrial areas, begun growing again. grew steadily until 1970, then experienced a Population Trends by County Components Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Decennial Censuses 6 As the region grows it has also become more By 2006, the percent of the population that was diverse. The region's population is predominantly white fell to 78 percent and the Black population white, but it has seen increased diversity fell just slightly to 12 percent. The Hispanic since 1990. population grew considerably to 6.5 percent. In 1990, the white population accounted for The region saw net growth of 343,386 — 23 nearly 83 percent of the total, with 13 percent percent from the Hispanic population Black and 3 percent Hispanic. (79,174 out of 343,386). Population by Race and Hispanic Origin, 1990 and 2006 Metropolitan Kansas City Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 1990 Census, 2006 American Community Survey 7 Like many metropolitan areas, the population Here, the pattern of growth from 1970 to 2000 growth is not uniformly distributed within can be seen as one of increasing suburbanization counties any more than it is distributed evenly around an urban core still largely experiencing between them. population decline. Population Change, 1970-2000 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, MARC 8 n A Brief History of the Kansas City Area's Economy What are the three things most important to factories on the south side of the river, and a city business success? According to the old adage, the was born. answer is simple — "Location, location, location." The region grew to be the nation's second largest This adage served the Kansas City area well in the rail hub, behind Chicago. As a result, in the first hundred years following its beginnings in the mid- half of the 20th century, the Kansas City area 19th century. Starting as a series of trading posts became a national center for food processing. that marked the jumping off points for the three Most well-known is its role in the cattle industry. main trails heading west (the Santa Fe, California The Kansas City area was the nation's undisputed and Oregon trails), the region was built on the leader in stocker and feeder cattle. Over a million advantages arising from its central location in the head of cattle were processed annually in the continental United States. stock yards in the West Bottoms at the confluence As people moved west and began farming the rich of the Kansas and Missouri rivers. In addition, land, Kansas City grew as a marketplace for grain all five of the nation's major meatpackers ran and livestock. With the advent of the railroads, significant slaughter operations here. leaders in the Kansas City area came together Less well-known is the area's role in the grain to build the Hannibal Bridge as the first place industry. With Kansas becoming the world's where the intercontinental rail lines could cross largest producer of red winter wheat, the Kansas the Missouri River. Rail spawned warehouses and City Board of Trade grew until it became the U.S. Rail Lines Source: ESRI 9 place where the world's price for this KC Metro Population Change and Net Migration commodity was set. Not only were billions of bushels traded here, a significant portion of Kansas wheat was also shipped here, stored, milled into flour and turned into baked goods and shipped back out to feed the nation. Other manufacturing followed agriculture to take advantage of centrality, river Source: U.S. Census Bureau. Data for 2000s estimated by MARC by linearly extrapolating and rail. Henry Ford 2000-2006 trends to 2010 built the first auto assembly plant outside of Detroit here in 1912. General Motors soon followed suit at Leeds Population and Fairfax. Joyce Hall started Hallmark in 1910, kicking off a regional specialization in printing that continues to this day. The advantages of centrality for processing and shipping goods probably reached their peak economic influence in the 1950s. During this period, the Kansas City region grew its fastest, adding 250,000 people total, and experienced its highest level of migration — a net of some 90,000 people relocated here from other Source: U.S. Census Bureau. parts of the country over the decade. Consequently, roughly 100 years after its birth in 1853, the Kansas City region surpassed the increasing mechanization of agriculture and 1 million population mark. In 1960, the region the transformation from family to corporate reached its highest-ever population ranking, farming forced many people out of farming becoming the 19th largest metropolitan area in and into cities. Third, the destruction of much the U.S. of the rest of the world's industrial capacity in The region's surge in population growth appears the aftermath of World War II increased U.S. to have been related to three things. First, economic dominance and the opportunities for its the post-World War II baby-boom boosted manufacturers, which were largely concentrated births to nearly 30,000 per year, a level that in cities. has not been matched since. Second, the 10 As a result, many people left rural communities experienced their peak populations before 1940 searching for increased opportunities in (colored yellow or gold in the map below), with metropolitan areas. The remnants of this can still many counties closest to Kansas City actually be seen today. Most of the non-metropolitan having their peak population in 1900 or before. counties surrounding the Kansas City metro area U.S. Decade of Peak Population, By County Source: U.S. Census Bureau, City of Kansas City, Missouri. Green circles represent the 50 largest metropolitan areas in 2000. 11 Interestingly, even when examining population net migrants from the rural and smaller metros change in the last 10 years or so, the Kansas City surrounding it. region still exhibits the same tendency to draw KC Metro Net Migration by County, 1994-2004 Source: U.S. Internal Revenue Service, tabulated by MARC. 12 The rising economic prosperity associated with nation's interstate highway system. Kansas City a manufacturing-based economy produced emerged as not only an east/west and north/south improved incomes in wide segments of the connector in the center of a vast transportation population and, with them, increased demands network, but as having the most freeway miles per for housing and automobiles. These were capita of any of the 30 largest U.S. metropolitan accommodated by large federal subsidies, areas. especially for roads, as construction began on the U.S. Interstate Highways Source: ESRI. 13 Low congestion and few constraints on available 1980, the region's residential land area has land produced a sprawling metropolis. Some increased three times faster than population. might argue it sprawled too far, too fast. Since KC Metro Residential Land Consumption, 1940-2000 1940 1960 1980 2000 Source: Land records of Johnson, Leavenworth, Wyandotte, Clay and Jackson counties. 14 One of the problems created when land use grow. In metropolitan Kansas City, most of the expands faster than population is that some decline has been concentrated in its older and previously developed areas of the region more centrally located areas. experience population decline, even as new areas Population Growth and Decline in the KC Urbanized Area, 1940-2000 1940 1960 1980 2000 Source: U.S. Census Bureau. Shaded areas are contiguous census tracts with 1000 persons per square mile and approximate the urbanized area of the region. Census tract boundaries are as defined in 2000. MARC reallocated data from prior censuses to the 2000 definitions. **Areas experiencing population decline are measured over previous 20-year period. So the 1940 map depicts areas declining between 1920 and 1940, the 1960 map depicts areas declining between 1940 and 1960, etc. 15 The decline in metropolitan Kansas City's the map below. Interestingly, minority areas are urban core is fueled, in large part, by continuing also largely bounded by the gray areas, which geographic patterns of racial segregation represent sparsely populated locations such as and poverty. flood plains, industrial areas and parks. There are Before the civil rights era began in the 1950s, two general exceptions to this: to the southeast in Troost Avenue served as the legally sanctioned Kansas City, Missouri, and to the west in Kansas boundary between black and white communities City, Kansas. These directions coincide with the in Kansas City, Missouri. It still shows up as a historical movement of the African-American sharp north/south racial divide 50 years later in population within the region. Percent White/Non-White, 2000 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2000 Census. 16 Social isolation is correlated with a host of social concentrations are highest in the Kansas City area ills, from poorer performing schools to increased for African-Americans. Poor whites, on the other rates of crime. Such isolation increases when it hand, live throughout the region. is combined with concentrated poverty. Poverty Poverty by Race, 2000 Whites in Poverty, 2000 Blacks in Poverty, 2000 Source: U.S. Census Bureau. Violent Crime, 2005 There is a clear spatial correlation of concentrated poverty with violent crime shown in comparing the maps above with the map to the right. Source: Kansas City, Missouri, and Kansas City, Kansas, police departments, through the UMKC Center of Economic Information, FBI Uniform Crime Reports, Kansas Bureau of Investigation, Johnson County Sun. 17 Due in part to a desire to avoid experiencing greater social problems, Neighborhood Household Income many middle class households left the region's urban core, resulting in a loss of Relative to Regional Median, 2000 income and purchasing power. As a result, the center part of the region continues to lose population as more people move outward than stay, both whites and minorities. At the exact same time the Kansas City region was facing these internal issues, several external events conspired to diminish centrality's ability to spur the progress of the entire metropolitan economy. The flood of 1951 caused meatpackers to consider replacing their aging Kansas City plants. The technology of cattle and grain production began changing in favor of processing even nearer to the place of food production. And, most importantly, the U.S. economy began its inexorable shift from producing goods — where minimizing shipping costs is of particular importance — to producing services — where proximity to markets Source: U.S. Census Bureau. is of particular importance, markets that were largely concentrated on the coasts. Population Change, by Race, 1990-2000 Change in White Population, 1990-2000 Change in Black Population, 1990-2000 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Geolytics 18 As a result, demand for centralized processing speed of transforming discoveries into products declined, though most goods continued to move and services, speed of getting them to market. through here. Meanwhile headquarters moved In short, "innovation, innovation, innovation" closer to markets. Kansas City became a "back- supplanted location as THE critical factor for office" town and a distribution center for freight. business success. In the last quarter of the 20th Century, the base But as a back-office town, the Kansas City area of the U.S. economy shifted further, so that economy experienced difficulty in transforming the primary value added by American workers itself to acquire the necessary innovation capacity. was not the production of goods and services In the 1970s, despite employment growth themselves, but the information needed to approximately equal to the U.S. for most of the produce them better, faster, cheaper. In an decade, it was unable to provide enough jobs for information economy, there is a premium placed its residents, and experienced a net out-migration on speed — speed of processing and transmission of 41,000 people, mostly young baby-boomers of course, but also speed of knowledge discovery, looking for their first jobs. Employment growth: Manufacturing vs. Services, 1969-2005 Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis 19 Beginning in 1979 and continuing into the early (pharmaceuticals), Sprint (telecommunications) 1980s, the region permanently lost 20,000 and DST (financial system data processing) manufacturing jobs and employment growth signaled the region would not be left out of the lagged the nation. The net outflow of people shift to an information and technology economy. stopped however, with net migration returning to Firms like Cerner (health care management positive territory, reaching 15,000 for the decade. software) and Garmin (global positioning systems) The Kansas City area economy began to followed in their footsteps. recover its footing. The growth of Marion Labs Total Employment Growth, 1970-1980 Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis Total Employment Growth, 1980-1990 Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis 20 Because of the area's success in adapting its more people than it lost, a level of net migration economy to meet new demands for information- is near its 1950s record. based services and products, employment While the Kansas City region continues to grow began to grow faster. Indeed, during the 1990s, in population, its relative economic performance employment growth exceeded the national appears to have reversed again in the first half of average. As a result, the region attracted 80,000 the 2000s. Total Employment Growth, 1990-2000 Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis Total Employment Growth, 2000-2005 Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis 21 This period looks more like the early 1980s Nonetheless, it is apparent that something than the 1990s in terms of employment growth. significant has changed, and not for the better. In large part, this is due to the difficulties Historically, even in recessions, the Kansas experienced by the telecommunications industry City region has had an unemployment rate at following the dot-com bust in 2000 and the least one-half percentage point below the U.S. transportation industry following the terrorism average. That is no longer the case. In fact, area attack on 9/11/2001. Significantly, both the U.S. unemployment is now running about one-half and the Kansas City metropolitan area economies percentage point above the national average. have grown at a rate much slower than the average for the first five years in the decade. KC Metro vs. U.S. Unemployment Rates, 1990-2006 Unemployment Rates US vs. KC 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 KC US 1 0 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 22 Some have expressed concern that Kansas City's Is this the economic future of metropolitan Kansas best days are behind it. Such talk is reinforced City — to be passed over or ignored? when the Regional Plan Association proposes 10 In a nutshell, the purpose of this Comprehensive "Megaregions" as the basis for federal investment Economic Development Strategy is to make sure in improving global economic competitiveness it is not. and the Kansas City region finds it is not a member of any of them. Proposed "Megaregions" for Focusing Federal Investment Source: Regional Plan Association, "America 2050: A Prospectus," New York: September 2006. 23 n Metropolitan Kansas City's Regional Transportation System The Kansas City region, a major transportation averages. Kansas City's percentage of roads hub, is one of only five U.S. metro areas served classified as "mediocre" is similar to peer city and by three intersecting interstate highways. In national averages, but the area has fewer roads addition to Interstates 70, 35 and 29, the region is classified as "fair" and "good." Overall, pavement served by many federal and state highways, with conditions in Kansas City have deteriorated the most freeway miles per capita of any urban notably since 2000. area in the nation. TRIP's report uses 2002 FHWA data, which is Major trucking concerns, including YRC, operate based on the Highway Performance Monitoring out of the Kansas City area. Air transportation, System. including considerable air freight operations and general aviation activity, is served by Kansas City Bicycle/Pedestrian Trails International Airport and a number of smaller Bicycle and pedestrian trails in the Kansas airports. Kansas City is the second busiest railroad City metropolitan area are being developed center in the nation, with major rail yards for at an increasing rate under the auspices of Union Pacific, Burlington Northern, and Canadian MetroGreen®, a plan for an 1,100-mile, area- Pacific. The region is also served by barge wide, interconnected system of public and private transportation, with 11 regulated barge lines open spaces, greenways and trails that will link transporting goods through the metropolitan area seven counties in the Kansas City metropolitan on the Missouri River. area. Many communities in the region have adopted local plans for both on-road and off-road Roadway System Infrastructure facilities. Kansas City's system of roadways is among the most extensive in the nation. Recently, Freight and Goods Movement Facilities new statistics made available from the Federal Kansas City's importance as a freight center is due Highway Administration confirm that Kansas City in no small part to its infrastructure. continues to possess the most freeway miles per The Kansas City region is generally considered person of all urbanized areas with populations the nation's second most important rail center, greater than 500,000. The Kansas City metro area with service by four of the eight Class I railroads, also has the fourth highest total roadway miles per three regional carriers and a local switching person, the second highest estimated freeway lane carrier. Amtrak serves the Kansas City area with miles per person, and the thirteenth highest daily stops at Union Station in Kansas City, Mo., in vehicle miles traveled (DMVT) per person. These Independence and in Lee's Summit. rankings are due in large part to the extensive highway projects implemented in the Kansas City Recent developments in rail facilities include region during the 1970s and 1980s, such as the the completion of the Sheffield Flyover in 2000, construction of the Interstate 435 loop. the rehabilitation of the Highline Bridge, and the completion of the Argentine Connection flyover Roadway System Condition bridge in 2004. These advances, partly financed According to data collected from The Road by private funds, helped to increase rail efficiency Information Program (TRIP), Kansas City's average and capacity and relieve freight rail congestion pavement conditions are in worse condition than for rail carriers in the Kansas City region. Six the national and peer city averages. intermodal trade facilities are also located in the region, serving both rail and truck freight In 2000, Kansas City's percentage of roads movement. classified as "poor" was lower than both national and peer city averages, but TRIP's 2004 Bumpy A major intermodal facility is under development Roads Ahead research report found that Kansas in the Gardner, Kan., area. Burlington Northern City's "poor" pavement conditions significantly Santa Fe Railroad will move its switching yard exceeded both the national and peer city operations from Kansas City, Kan., to this new 24 U.S. and State Highways in the Kansas City Region Source: MARC Geographic Information Systems facility. Major warehouse space is also under River near the confluence of the Kansas and development. Projections for rail activity indicate Missouri Rivers. The Port is an intermodal facility, a major increase in activity in the Kansas City transferring freight between barge, truck and region over the next 20 years. rail. In addition, the Kansas City region benefits The Kansas City area has three airports that are from numerous private ports, which are used by capable of supporting large air cargo aircraft, companies shipping commodities such as grains, the largest of which is Kansas City International sand and gravel, fertilizer, chemicals, coal and Airport (KCI). KCI is also the region's only airport coke, to name only a few. with scheduled air cargo service. The Kansas City area is also one of the nation's The Kansas City Port Authority operates the area's top five trucking centers. Freight and goods only public port, located along the Missouri movement has continued to increase in recent 25 years, though trucking has gained a larger Census data, over 93 percent of all commute percentage of freight movement than rail. trips made in the region are by automobile (82.8 Between 1992 and 2000, the total tonnage in percent drive alone; 10.4 percent carpool). freight movement grew from nearly 79 million Public transportation accounts for 1.3 percent tons to nearly 137 million tons, a dramatic of all commute trips in the region, with a similar increase of 73 percent. Specifically, barge freight percentage of commuters walking and fewer traffic has grown during the period from 1.4 bicycling. million tons to 5.3 million tons, an astounding growth rate of 290 percent. Vehicle Occupancy Commute trips are generally characterized by Transit Service very low vehicle occupancy rates. MARC studies MARC, the Kansas City Area Transportation indicate that the average vehicle occupancy rate Authority (KCATA), Johnson County Transit during the afternoon peak hour is slightly over 1.2 (JCT) and Unified Government Transit (UGT) persons per vehicle. This represents a stabilization have worked cooperatively on the Smart Moves in vehicle occupancy rates, since a large decline Transit Plan, a regional transportation plan for was observed between 1993 and 1997. This expanded transit service throughout a seven- figure includes a number of non-work trips, so the county region. Smart Moves builds on the actual work trip occupancy rate is considerably comprehensive assessment of Kansas City's transit lower. For example, U.S. Census Journey-to-Work needs identified in the 1998 Metropolitan Transit data indicates a vehicle occupancy rate of 1.08 Initiative, the 2001 Transit Investment Strategy, for the Kansas City metropolitan area in 1990. and the Creating Quality Places initiative begun in 1999. Congestion The plan is bus-based, proposing to more than Congestion is increasing in metropolitan Kansas double the amount of transit services currently City. According to the Texas Transportation offered in the Kansas City metro area and elevate Institute (TTI), the percent of congested travel the system to a level more comparable to Kansas during peak vehicle miles traveled increased from City's peer cities. Two corridors, I-35 from Olathe, 5 percent in 1982 to 32 percent in 2002. These Kan., to downtown Kansas City and I-70 from levels are relatively low when compared with Odessa, Mo., to downtown Kansas City, are also other metropolitan areas of comparable size. As currently being evaluated for fixed-guideway a whole, large metropolitan areas saw congested transit potential. travel increase from 24 percent of peak vehicle miles traveled in 1982 to 65 percent in 2002. Smart Moves proposes services within a quarter- mile walking distance for the highest-density Travel Time areas of the metropolitan region, with less dense Because of its relatively low congestion levels, areas being served by a mixture of fixed routes, metropolitan Kansas City generally experiences demand-response service and park-and-ride shorter travel times than many other metropolitan lots. According to recent figures, reliance on areas. Travel time is a function of both the the private automobile continues to grow in the distance traveled and the degree of traffic Kansas City area. The region's extensive roadway congestion. While travel distances can be system prevents congestion from becoming relatively long in Greater Kansas City because of as bad as some peer cities. Nevertheless, the low-density urban form, limited congestion in some locations, especially during peak keeps travel times low. In the Travel Time and periods, significant congestion is experienced. Delay Study conducted by MARC in 2000 Furthermore, all studies and statistics indicate that and 2001, regional travel speeds significantly this congestion is growing increasingly heavier. increased for all three functional classifications Modes of Travel of roads surveyed (freeway/expressway, principal arterials and minor arterials). The study, available The Kansas City metropolitan area is heavily online at www.marc.org/transportation/data.htm, dependent on the automobile as the dominant includes a full description of methodology. mode of transportation. According to 2000 26 City's daily VMT has decreased in three of the last Travel Times four years for which we have data. Between 1982 Average Distance from Downtown Drivers and 2002, daily VMT per person grew 56 percent Can Travel in 20 Minutes, 1957-2006 in metropolitan Kansas City. During the same period, daily VMT per person grew an average of 44 percent in similarly sized metropolitan areas across the country. However between 1998 and 2002, daily VMT decreased by 1.87 percent in metro Kansas City while it grew by 1.42 percent in the comparison cities. Transit Ridership In 2008, the Kansas City area's three transit providers saw an increase in transit ridership due to expanded services and dramatically increasing gasoline prices. The three transit providers include the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA), Johnson County Transit and Unified Government Transit. KCATA's ridership dropped sharply during the early 1980s, in part due to the significant reduction in service implemented at that time. In 1997, average weekday ridership Source: MARC Travel Time Surveys on KCATA increased for the first time since the 1979-1980 peak of 93,000 daily riders. In 1999, Commuters into the central business district this trend continued and ridership surpassed continue to experience a decrease in travel time. 50,000 for the first time since 1993. Ridership For most of the metro area, the 20-minute drive has continued to fluctuate as gasoline prices and ring has continued to move outward, with one economic conditions impact ridership. notable exception. The eastern portion of the Efforts are underway to expand transit services loop has rescinded significantly in recent years, to meet a growing demand and increase illustrating the growing congestion along I-70 and productivity. In the metro area, 12 percent of other corridors in the eastern part of the region. adults don't own a car, and many rely on transit MARC is currently updating the Travel Time Study services. Rush hour congestion more than for the Kansas City metropolitan area as part of a tripled on the region's roadways between 1983 continuing effort to monitor the performance of and 2003, leading to an increased demand for the roadway system. transit services. The region's labor force loses an estimated $570 million in productivity each to Vehicle Miles of Travel sitting in traffic. Travelers in Greater Kansas City take advantage A number of planning efforts are underway in of short travel times and low levels of congestion the region, including light rail and commuter by traveling more miles per person each day than rail studies; bus rapid transit studies and project residents of most other metropolitan areas. implementation along Troost Avenue in Kansas MARC analysis of data from the Texas City, Mo.; State Avenue in Kansas City, Kan.; and Transportation Institute's 2004 Urban Mobility Metcalf Avenue in Overland Park, Kan. Study indicates that metro area residents generated 28.65 vehicle miles of travel (VMT) per person each day in 2002. The average for metropolitan areas of similar size for 2002 was 24.03 VMT per person each day. While daily VMT grew faster in Greater Kansas City than in other metropolitan areas, Kansas 27 n Geography and Environment The nine Missouri and Kansas counties that make the Missouri Ecological Classification System. up the Kansas City metropolitan area—Cass, Clay, Soil types in Cass County are formed of loess, Jackson, Platte and Ray in Missouri and Johnson, residuum and alluvium, and are deep and nearly Leavenworth, Miami and Wyandotte in Kansas — level to sloping. The bedrock underlying the have a combined area of 4,000 square miles. The surface soils is primarily sandstone, shale and region is located in the west-central and northwest limestone. Elevations in the county range from parts of Missouri and northeast parts of Kansas. 730 feet to 1,120 feet above sea level. Cass County, Mo. Clay County, Mo. Cass County, the 27th largest county in Missouri, Clay County is Missouri's 109th largest county, has an area of 699 square miles. Cass County with an area of 396 square miles. Clay County is is located in the west-central part of the state, located in the northwest part of the state and lies entirely within the Osage Plains section of entirely within the Central Dissected Till Plains The Greater Kansas City Region Source: MARC 28 section. The floodplain of the Missouri River Ray County, Mo. forms the southern portion of the county; the rest Ray County, the state's 60th largest county, has an of the county consists of gently to moderately area of 569 square miles. Ray County is located sloping uplands and floodplains. The bedrock in the northwest part of the state and lies entirely underlying Clay County is limestone and shale. within the Central Dissected Till Plains section. Elevations in Clay County range from 849 feet to Ray County is primarily uplands and bottomlands. 1,020 feet above sea level. The uplands are located in the northern part of Jackson County, Mo. the county and are characterized by gently rolling to broken topography, whereas the bottomlands Jackson County, the state's 52nd largest county, are in the southern part of the county near the has an area of 605 square miles. Jackson County Missouri River. Near the Missouri River, the land is located in the west-central part of the state is undulating to flat, and the soil is fertile. The and lies within the Central Dissected Till Plains underlying bedrock in the county is shale and and Osage Plains ecological sections. The far limestone. Elevations in Ray County range from northern portion of Jackson County consists of 702 feet to 1,024 feet above sea level. the nearly level floodplain of the Missouri River, the county's northern boundary. This area is Johnson County, Kan. bordered on the south by moderately sloping to Johnson County has grown to become the state's steep bluffs and hills. The remainder of the county most populous county with over 525,000 persons. consists of gently to moderately sloping uplands The county has an area of 477 square miles. and floodplains. The soil in Jackson County is Johnson County is located in the northeast part mostly loess, and ranges from deep and gently of the state and lies partly within the Dissected sloping to steep and poorly to well drained. The Till Plains and partly in the Osage Plains. Johnson soil is fertile, but only a small portion is devoted County is primarily uplands with hilly areas to agriculture because of the large urban and along the streams. North flowing streams that suburban areas of the county. The northern are tributaries to the Kansas River, such as Kill portion of the county represents the southern Creek, Cedar Creek and Mill Creek, have steeper extreme of glacial action in Missouri. The bedrock gradients and greater local relief of 150 to 250 underlying the county is limestone and shale. feet. Elevations in Johnson County range from 742 Elevations in Jackson County range from 748 feet feet to 1,134 feet above sea level. to 1,009 feet above sea level. Leavenworth County, Kan. Platte County, Mo. Leavenworth County has experienced steady Platte County is the 105th largest county in growth as development moves outward from the Missouri, with an area of 420 square miles. Platte urban center. The county is now home to almost County is located in northwest Missouri and lies 74,000 persons. The county has an area of 463 within the Central Dissected Till Plains section square miles. Leavenworth County is located of the state. The topography of Platte County is in the northeast part of the state. Elevations in heavily influenced by the Missouri River. Most Leavenworth County range from 860 feet to 1,062 of the county is level to sloping and is mainly a feet above sea level. floodplain, although there are some areas with bluffs. Platte County's soil is generally deep and Miami County, Kan. well to moderately well drained. The soil near the Miami County has experienced modest growth Missouri River is alluvial, but farther west, the soil as development moves outward from Johnson is composed of loess and residuum. The bedrock County, which lies to the north of Miami County. underlying the county is limestone and shale. The county is now home to just over 31,000 Elevations in Platte County range from 359 feet to persons, and has an area of 592 square miles. 1,026 feet above sea level. Miami County is located in east-central Kansas 29 and lies entirely within the Osage Plains section 54.4°F in March to 74.6°F in May. Normal of the Central Lowlands. The major topographic low temperatures during this period range from features are the southeast-trending Marais des 33.2°F in March to 53.9°F in May. Normal Cygnes River valley and the gently sloping upland mean springtime temperatures in the region plains formed by erosion of flat-lying sedimentary range from 43.8°F in March to 64.3°F in May. rocks underlying the county. The highest point in Spring precipitation in the Kansas City area ranges the county, 1,150 feet above sea level, is south from 2.44 inches in March to 5.39 inches in and east of Louisburg. The lowest point, 790 feet May. Snowfall in the region during the spring is above sea level, is along the Marais des Cygnes minimal, ranging from 3.4 inches in March, 0.8 River at the south edge of the county. inches in April and normally no snow in May. Summer (June, July and August) in the region Wyandotte County, Kan. is warm and relatively humid. Normal high After years of population decline, Wyandotte temperatures in the summer range from 83.9°F County has experienced growth in the western in June to 87.1°F in July. Hotter temperatures part of the county around the NASCAR racetrack. are not uncommon, however, with a record high The county is now home to about 155,000 temperature for the Kansas City metropolitan area persons. The county has an area of 151 square set at 113°F on August 13, 1936. The average miles. Wyandotte County is located in the relative humidity, a percentage measure of the northeast part of the state and lies entirely amount of moisture in the air compared to the within the Central Dissected Till Plains section. maximum amount of moisture the air can hold Wyandotte County is primarily uplands and at the same temperature and pressure, ranges bottomlands. The uplands are located in the from 85 percent in the morning and 63 percent northern part of the county and are characterized in the afternoon in June to 86 percent in the by gently rolling to broken topography, whereas morning and 64 percent in the afternoon in the bottomlands are in the southern part of the August. Normal low temperatures during this county near the Missouri River. Near the Missouri period range from 63.2°F in June to 68.2°F in River, the land is undulating to flat, and the soil July. Normal mean summertime temperatures in is fertile. The underlying bedrock in the county the region range from 73.6°F in June to 78.5°F in is shale and limestone. Elevations in Wyandotte July. Summer precipitation in the Kansas City area County range from 702 feet to 1,024 feet above ranges from 3.54 inches in August to 4.44 inches sea level. in June. Mean annual precipitation in the region is 37.98 inches, with the summer months being the Climate wettest season, usually contributing about 12.4 The weather in the Kansas City area is highly inches of precipitation to the annual total. changeable. Rapid changes in the region's Fall (September, October and November) in weather result from the wide range of potential the Kansas City area is usually quite pleasant, weather influences. The climate in the region with warm days and cool nights. The weather is classified as a modified continental climate. during the fall is generally drier and milder than Because there are no physical geographic features the during summer months, contributing to the nearby to obstruct or alter the flow of air currents, pleasant "feel" of the weather during this time of such as mountain ranges or large bodies of water, year. Normal high temperatures in the fall range the region is affected by currents of moist air from a high of 79°F in September to a low of from the Gulf of Mexico, dry air currents from the 52°F in November. Normal low temperatures desert southwest and cold polar air from the arctic during this period are 57.2°F in September, and Canada. decreasing to 33.4°F in November. Normal mean Spring (March, April and May) in the Kansas fall temperatures in the region decrease from City area is the season with the most changeable 68.1°F in September to 42.7°F in November. Fall weather, particularly early in the season. The precipitation in the Kansas City area is greatest last freeze normally occurs in early April, in September, with a mean of 4.64 inches, to although freezes can occur in early May. November, with a mean of 2.30 inches (NCDC, Normal high temperatures in spring range from online data). The first freeze is usually in mid to 30 late October. Snowfall in the region during the fall typical of the shelf action of a shallow sea. The is minimal, with generally a snowless September arrangement of the rock layers is indicative of and 1.2 inches of snow in November. the alternating deposition of sand, mud and Winters (December, January and February) in calcareous materials (i.e., materials containing the Kansas City region are generally not severe. calcium carbonate) as the shallow prehistoric Although there can be cold, snowy days, seas advanced and withdrew. The end of the temperatures and snowfall amounts are usually Pennsylvanian period marked the last recession not extreme. Normal high temperatures in the of the seas in the region and the beginning of the winter are 40°F in December, 36°F in January processes of erosion which continue to transform and 42.6°F in February. Normal low temperatures the physical features of the area. during this period are 22.5°F in December, Glaciation has also had a tremendous impact 17.8°F in January and 23.2°F in February. on the geology of the Kansas City area. First Normal mean wintertime temperatures in the Nebraskan and later Kansan ice sheets spread region are 31.3°F in December, 26.9°F in January across the area, with the Kansan ice sheet and 33°F in February. Winter precipitation in the expanding south of the Missouri River (the Kansas City area is 1.64 inches in December, 1.15 southernmost expansion of glacial ice sheets in inches in January and 1.31 inches in February. North America). The movement of ice resulted Winter snowfall in the region is 4.5 inches in in the excavation of rock and soil and altered December, 5.6 inches in January and 4.4 inches the topography of the region. The material in February. The annual snowfall amount is transported by the movement of ice was generally around 20 inches. deposited across the area in the form of glacial drift, which covers most of the northern half of the Geology Kansas City metropolitan area. The material that The rock strata underlying the Kansas City comprises glacial drift is boulder clay, which is region reflects the significant changes to the clay with a mixture of sand, gravel and boulders. area's geology over time. The base layer of the The rocks and gravel that make up this material region's rock strata is igneous and metamorphic originated both locally and in more northern parts rock and is part of the southern extension of the of present-day North America, exemplifying the Canadian Shield, the rock foundation of the North vast distances that glacial material was moved. American continent. Although this layer of rock is Following the withdrawal of ice sheets from now buried about 2,000 feet below the surface, the region, windblown silt known as loess was millions of years ago it was at or near the surface deposited. The Missouri River transported this until the region became covered by a warm, silt and it was carried by the wind to hills near shallow sea. When the waters of this prehistoric the river. Loess is made up of quartz, muscovite, sea covered the region, the principal geologic mica, magnetite, dolomite and calcite, materials action affecting the area changed from surface common to glacial drifts. Loess is composed of erosion to sediment deposition. The deposition small, uniform particles, and its deposition is of sediment provided material necessary for the greatest on bluffs overlooking the Missouri River, formation of the earliest sedimentary rocks in the although it can also be found four to five miles area, which were sandstone. away from the river as well. Over several geologic periods of advancing and In more recent times, geologic activity across receding seas, material was deposited which, the region is represented by the erosion, over time, transformed into limestone and shale. transportation and deposition of base material. These geologic periods left systems of rock layers These geologic actions resulted in alluvial in the region, the most significant being the deposits in the valleys of the region's principal Pennsylvanian system. Pennsylvanian system streams. Although alluvial materials vary in their rocks are clearly evident today in the form of composition, their primary ingredients include outcroppings which are common across the clay, sand, gravel and boulders. The specific region. The rock formations in the Pennsylvanian composition of alluvial material is related to the system are about 250 million years old and are parent material in a given stream's watershed. 31 Soils potential for shrink and swell combine to make alluvial areas unsuitable for most uses except The fertile soils found across the Kansas City agriculture and wildlife habitat. area are a major natural resource of the region. These soils are well-drained and productive, Waterways and Water Resources and they are well-suited to agriculture. These soils are also generally well-suited for Water, particularly surface water, is a great natural construction and development activities without resource in the Kansas City area. The region is severe limitations. In the Kansas City region, drained by three river basins; the Lower Missouri- there are 55 different soil series grouped into 33 Grand-Chariton River Basin, the Lower Missouri- different soil associations. Shale and limestone Blackwater-Lamine River Basin and the Osage are the parent materials for 13 of these soil River Basin. The vast majority of the region's associations and loess is the parent material for watersheds drain into the Missouri River, which is 12 associations. The remaining soil associations one of Missouri's (and the nation's) major rivers, are derived from glacial till and alluvium. The along with the Mississippi River on the eastern region's soils are partially the product of the side of the state. In Cass County, however, the disintegration of bedrock and partially caused by watersheds drain into the Osage River Basin. transported material. According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the average flow of the region's major Loess is concentrated in the hills above the rivers and streams range from a high of 35,070 Missouri River valley. In some parts of the million gallons per day in the Missouri River to region, the depth of this loess may exceed 50 a low of less than 13 million gallons per day in feet. Loess is derived from the deposition of silt some of the region's small streams. Some of the from the river valleys by wind. This silt may region's rivers, such as the Missouri River, are have been deposited along the region's streams subject to minimum flow requirements in order to as glaciers receded, although the actual source maintain water quality standards. The minimum of this material is unknown. Loess soils are flow requirement for the Missouri River is 2,620 good for most uses, but they are easily eroded million gallons per day. This requirement is and their slope may reach 20 percent in some maintained by the Corps' regulation of upstream soil associations. With loess soil, shrinking reservoirs and their respective dams in Montana, and swelling (characteristics that may affect North and South Dakota and Nebraska — Fort construction) are generally less than in soils from Peck, Garrison, Oahe, Big Bend, Fort Randall and other parent material. In addition, loess soils have Gavins Point. adequate drainage and permeability. Glacial till soils in the region have similar characteristics. In the Kansas City area, significant quantities of ground water are found only in alluvial deposits In the Kansas City area, soil associations from along the Missouri River. These alluvial deposits rock material are primarily derived from shale can be more than 100 feet deep in the Missouri and limestone. These soils are generally shallow river valley (the average depth is 80 to 90 feet) to bedrock, clayey and have a moderate to high and saturated water-bearing materials range potential to shrink and swell. Consequently, in depth from 30 to 60 feet, although they are these soils are less suitable than loessial soils for generally found near a depth of 40 feet. Water most uses. wells in these alluvial deposits can yield from All of the major streams in the Kansas City region 1,500 to 2,000 gallons per minute, although the have provided alluvial deposits. Generally, the average yield is between 500 and 1,000 gallons depth of the deposit is directly related to the per minute. width of a stream's floodplain. Alluvium in the In the region's tributary valleys, the availability of Missouri River valley is about 100 feet thick. ground water is limited. The alluvial deposits in Depositions along other streams in the region these areas range in thickness from 20 to 70 feet are shallower and have finer material. Alluvial in the lower reaches to less than 10 feet in the soils occur in areas subject to frequent flooding. upper reaches. In addition, the large amounts of The high flood threat in alluvial areas, the shale in these tributary valleys results in mainly soil's excessive wetness, low strength and high clay fill sediments in the alluvial aquifer. Because 32 Watersheds in the Greater Kansas City Region Source: MARC this material has a low water transmissibility, of glacial deposits can exceed 100 gallons per water well yields in these areas can be as low minute, the varying thickness of glacial deposits as one to 10 gallons per minute. Tributaries in results in highly variable yields of ground water areas comprised mainly of sandstone, however, may produce wells with higher yields, since Ground water from areas with deposits of material these areas have sediments with greater water over bedrock provide yields that are generally transmissibility. less than 10 gallons per minute, although some isolated yields can be greater. In addition, water Aquifers in the region's uplands are found in from bedrock tends to be mineralized and materials of glacial origin or from weathered contains hardness and iron that exceed national materials above bedrock. Neither of these areas drinking water standards. produces substantial yields of ground water. Although some ground water yields in areas 33 Ecosystems also common. Small remnants of native prairie remain in some counties, but true forests are The Missouri Ecological Classification System almost nonexistent and areas of pre-settlement (ECS) is a very useful tool for natural resource timber are uncommon. Second-growth woodlands planning and management, and for describing and forests of oak and mixed hardwoods are the varied and complex ecosystems of the Kansas confined to the area's roughest terrain, and City region. The Missouri ECS, developed by invasive timber exists along fence lines and on the Missouri Resource Assessment Partnership abandoned farmland. (MoRAP) and its partner agencies, divides the state "into a nested system of units from broad Land cover devoted to cropland or pasture ranges ecoregions to subregions, through landscapes to from 34 percent in Jackson County, Mo., to 68 local sites." The Missouri ECS is also integrated percent in Ray County, Mo. Major crops include into the U.S.Forest Service's (USFS) National corn, soybeans, sorghum, wheat and hay. Hierarchical Framework of Ecological Units, a system that describes the nation's ecological Fauna regions. This integrated system of ecological The varied ecosystems of the Kansas City area classification divides Missouri into sections, are home to a large number of mammals, birds, subsections and landtype associations (LTAs). reptiles, amphibians and fish. Despite widespread Sections and subsections are determined by urbanization, farming and ranching, many "geomorphology (land form, relative relief, animals, even large species like white-tailed lithology, structure and geomorphic process), deer, have successfully adapted to the alteration potential vegetation and major soil groups." LTAs of the natural environment and loss of habitat in "are based on more local patterns in topography, the region. geologic parent materials, soil types and There are 44 different species of mammals in the vegetation communities." This plan describes the Missouri counties of Cass, Clay, Jackson, Platte natural environment of the Kansas City region in and Ray. These mammals range in size from the the context of the Missouri ECS. tiny shrew to the large white-tailed deer (and even the occasional black bear in Jackson County). Flora The Kansas City area is home to 258 species of Historically, the terrestrial natural communities of birds. Many of these species, like starlings and the Kansas City area included a complex mixture sparrows, are quite common in the area. of grassland (prairie), savanna, woodland and Others are rare and endangered, such as the forest. Today, only remnants of these natural peregrine falcon. communities exist, largely replaced by cropland, pasture, invasive and second-growth vegetation. The region is home to 46 species of reptiles, Current land cover in the Kansas City area is the including poisonous snakes like Osage result of both natural and man-made processes copperheads and timber rattlesnakes. that have dramatically altered the area's natural Twenty different kinds of amphibians inhabit communities: long- and short-term climate the region. Some of these amphibians are found change (such as excessively wet or dry years), throughout the Kansas City area, such as bullfrogs natural disasters (e.g., floods, tornadoes, fires and eastern American toads. Other amphibians and drought), the conversion of areas of natural are limited to a single county in the region, such vegetation to cropland and pastures, urban as the dwarf American toad, which is only found development and transportation uses. in Cass County. In most of the Kansas City metropolitan area, Seventy-four species of fish ply the region's lakes, agriculture and urbanization have significantly rivers and streams. Several species of fish found in altered land cover. Historically, much of the the region, such as the pallid sturgeon and Topeka region was covered by tall grass prairie, with oak shiner, are listed as endangered by the U.S. Fish savannas and woodlands in steeper scarped areas and Wildlife Service and Missouri Department and valleys. Marshes and bottomland forests were of Conservation. The waters of the Kansas City 34 area are also home to several species of primitive The following tables list the mammals, birds, fishes, including bowfin; longnose and shortnose reptiles, amphibians and fish of the Kansas City gar; pallid, lake and shovelnose sturgeon; and area according to the Missouri Fish and Wildlife paddlefish. Interestingly, only two species of Information System of the Missouri Department of paddlefish exist today; one in the midwestern Conservation. United States and the other in China. Fauna in the Greater Kansas City Region Mammals Armadillo Nine-Banded Dasypus Novemcinctus Mexicanus Mouse, White-Footed (Peromyscus Leucopus) Badger (Taxidea Taxus Taxus) Muskrat (Ondatra Zibethicus) Bat, Big Brown (Eptesicus Fuscus Fuscus) Opossum, Virginia (Didelphis Virginiana Virginiana) Bat, Brazilian Free-Tailed (Tadarida Brasiliensis Mexicana) Otter, River (Lontra Canadensis) Bat, Evening (Nycticeius Humeralis Humeralis) Rabbit, Eastern Cottontail (Sylvilagus Floridanus Alacer) Bat, Hoary (Nycteris Cinerea Cinerea) Raccoon (Procyon Lotor Hirtus) Bat, Red (Nycteris Borealis Borealis) Rat, Eastern Wood (Neotoma Floridana) Bear, Black (Ursus Americanus Americanus) Rat, Hispid Cotton (Sigmodon Hispidus) Beaver (Castor Canadensis Carolinensis) Rat, Norway (Rattus Norvegicus Norvegicus) Bobcat (Felis Rufus Rufus) Shrew, Least (Cryptotis Parva Parva) Chipmunk, Eastern (Tamias Striatus Griseus) Shrew, Southeastern (Sorex Longirostris) Coyote (Canis Latrans Frustror) Skunk, Eastern Spotted (Spilogale Putorius) Deer, White-Tailed (Odocoileus Virginianus) Skunk, Striped (Mephitis Mephitis Avia) Fox, Gray (Urocyon Cinereoargenteus) Squirrel, Fox (Sciurus Niger Rufiventer) Fox, Red (Vulpes Vulpes Fulva) Squirrel, Franklin's Ground (Spermophilus Franklinii) Gopher, Plains Pocket (Geomys Bursarius Missouriensis) Squirrel, Gray (Sciurus Carolinensis Carolinensis) Jackrabbit, Black-Tailed (Lepus Californicus Melanotis) Squirrel, Southern Flying (Glaucomys Volans) Mink (Mustela Vison Letifera) Squirrel, Gray (Sciurus Carolinensis Carolinensis) Mole, Eastern (Scalopus Aquaticus Machrinoides) Squirrel, Southern Flying (Glaucomys Volans) Mouse, Deer (Peromyscus Maniculatus) Squirrel, Thirteen-Lined Ground Mouse, House (Mus Musculus Domesticus) Vole, Prairie (Microtus Ochrogaster) Mouse, Meadow Jumping (Zapus Hudsonius Pallidus) Vole, Woodland (Microtus Pinetorum) Mouse, Western Harvest (Reithrodontomys Megalotis) Woodchuck (Marmota Monax Monax) Birds Avocet, American (Recurvirostra Americana) Cuckoo, Black-Billed (Coccyzus Erythropthalmus) Bittern, American (Botaurus Lentiginosus) Cuckoo, Yellow-Billed (Coccyzus Americanus Americanus) Bittern, Least (Ixobrychus Exilis Exilis) Dickcissel (Spiza Americana) Blackbird, Brewer's (Euphagus Cyanocephalus) Dove, Mourning (Zenaida Macroura Carolinensis) Blackbird, Red-Winged (Agelaius Phoenicus) Dove, Rock (Columba Livia) Blackbird, Rusty (Euphagus Carolinus) Duck, American Black (Anas Rubripes) Blackbird, Yellow-Headed (Xanthocephalus Xanthocephalus) Duck, Ring-Necked (Athya Collaris) Bluebird, Eastern (Sialia Sialis Sialis) Duck, Ring-Necked (Athya Collaris) Bobolink (Dolichonyx Oryzivorus) Duck, Ruddy (Oxyura Jamaicensis Rubida) Bobwhite, Northern (Colinus Virginianus Virginianus) Duck, Wood (Aix Sponsa) Bufflehead (Bucephala Albeola) Dunlin (Calidris Alpina) Bunting, Indigo (Passerina Cyanea) Eagle, Bald (Haliaeetus Leucocephalus Alascensis) Bunting, Painted (Passerina Ciris Ciris) Eagle, Golden (Aquila Chrysaetos Canadensis) Bunting, Snow (Plextrophenax Nivalis Nivalis) Egret, Cattle (Bulbulcus Ibis Ibis) Canvasback (Athya Valisineria) Egret, Great (Ardea Alba) Cardinal, Northern (Cardinalis Cardinalis Cardinalis) Egret, Snowy (Egretta Thula Thula) Catbird, Gray (Dumetella Carolinensis) Falcon, Peregrine (Falco Peregrinus Tundrius) Chat, Yellow-Breasted (Icteria Virens Virens) Finch, House (Carpodacus Mexicanus) Chickadee, Black-Capped (Parus Atricapillus Atricapillus) Finch, Purple (Carpodacus Purpureus Purpureus) Chickadee, Carolina (Parus Carolinensis Extimus) Flicker, Northern (Colaptes Auratus Auratus) Chuck-Will's Widow (Caprimulgus Carolinensis) Flycatcher, Acadian (Empidonax Virescens) Coot, American (Fulica Americana Americana) Flycatcher, Alder (Empidonax Alnorum) Cormorant, Double-Crested (Phalacrocorax Auritus Auritus) Flycatcher, Great Crested (Myiarchus Crinitus) Cowbird, Brown-Headed (Molothrus Ater) Flycatcher, Least (Empidonax Minimus) Crane, Sandhill (Grus Canadensis) Flycatcher, Olive-Sided (Nuttallornis Borealis) Creeper, Brown (Certhia Americana) Flycatcher, Scissor-Tailed (Muscivora Forficata) Crossbill, Red (Loxia Curvirostra Minor) Flycatcher, Willow (Empidonax Trailii) Crossbill, White-Winged (Loxia Leucoptera Leucoptera) Gadwall (Anas Strepera) Crow, American (Corvus Brachyrhynchos) Gallinule, Purple (Porphyrula Martinica) continued on next page 35 Birds, continued Gnatcatcher, Blue-Gray (Polioptila Caerulea Caerulea) Osprey (Pandion Haliaetus Carolinensis) Godwit, Hudsonian (Limosa Haemastica) Ovenbird (Seiurus Aurocapillus) Goldeneye, Common (Bucephala Clangula Americana) Owl, Barn (Tyto Alba) Goldfinch, American (Carduelis Tristis Tristis) Owl, Barred (Strix Varia) Goose, Canada (Branta Canadensis) Owl, Eastern Screech (Otus Asio Asio) Goose, Greater White-Fronted (Anser Albifrons Frontalis) Owl, Great Horned (Bubo Virginianus) Goose, Lesser Snow (Chen Caerulescens) Owl, Long-Eared (Asio Otus) Goshawk, Northern (Accipiter Gentilis Atricapillus) Owl, Short-Eared (Asio Flammeus Flammeus) Grackle, Common (Quiscalus Quiscula) Parula, Northern (Parula Americana) Grackle, Great-Tailed (Quiscalus Mexicanus) Pelican, American White Grebe, Eared (Podiceps Nigricollis) Pewee, Eastern Wood (Contopus Virens) Grebe, Horned (Podiceps Auritus) Phalarope, Wilson (Phalaropus Tricolor) Grebe, Pied-Billed (Podilymbus Podiceps Podiceps) Pheasant, Ring-Necked (Phasianus Colchicus) Grebe, Western (Aechmophorus Occidentalis) Phoebe, Eastern (Sayornis Phoebe) Grosbeak, Blue (Guiraca Caerulea Caerulea) Pintail, Northern (Anas Acuta) Grosbeak, Evening (Hesperiphona Vespertina Vespertina) Pipit, American (Anthus Rubescens) Grosbeak, Pine (Pinicola Enucleator Leucura) Pipit, Sprague's (Anthus Spragueii) Grosbeak, Rose-Breasted (Pheucticus Ludovicianus) Plover, American Golden (Pluvialis Dominicus) Grouse, Ruffed (Bonasa Umbellus Mediana) Plover, Piping (Charadrius Melodus) Gull, Franklin's (Larus Pipixcan) Rail, King (Rallus Elegans) Gull, Herring (Larus Argentatus) Redhead (Athya Americana) Gull, Ring-Billed (Larus Delawarensis) Redpoll, Common (Carduelis Flammea Flammea) Harrier, Northern (Circus Cyaneus) Redstart, American (Setophaga Ruticilla) Hawk, Broad-Winged (Buteo Platypterus Platypterus) Robin, American (Turdus Migratorius Migratorius) Hawk, Cooper's (Accipiter Cooperii) Sanderling (Calidris Alba) Hawk, Red-Shouldered (Buteo Lineatus Lineatus) Sandpiper, Buff-Breasted (Tryngites Subruficollis) Hawk, Red-Tailed (Buteo Jamaicensis Borealis) Sandpiper, Spotted (Actitus Macularia) Hawk, Rough-Legged (Buteo Lagopus Sanctijohannis) Sandpiper, Upland (Bartramia Longicauda) Hawk, Sharp-Shinned (Accipiter Striatus Velox) Sapsucker, Yellow-Bellied (Sphyrapicus Varius) Hawk, Swainson's (Buteo Swainsoni) Scaup, Greater (Athya Marila Nearctica) Heron, Black-Crowned Night (Nycticorax Nycticorax Hoactli) Scaup, Lesser (Athya Affinis) Heron, Great Blue (Ardea Herodias) Scoter, Black (Melanitta Nigra) Heron, Green (Butorides Virescens) Scoter, Surf (Melanitta Perspicillata) Heron, Little Blue (Egretta Caerulea Caerulea) Scoter, White-Winged (Melanitta Fusca) Heron, Yellow-Crowned Night (Nyctanassa Violacea Violacea) Shoveler, Northern (Anas Clypeata) Hummingbird, Ruby-Throated (Archilochus Colubris) Shrike, Loggerhead (Lanius Ludovicianus Migrans) Jay, Blue (Cyanocitta Cristata Cristata) Shrike, Northern (Lanius Excubitor Invictus) Junco, Dark-Eyed (Junco Hyemalis) Siskin, Pine (Carduelis Pinus Pinus) Kestrel, American (Falco Sparverius Sparverius) Snipe, Common (Gallinago Gallinago Delicata) Killdeer (Charadrius Vociferus) Solitaire, Townsend's (Myadestes Townsendi Townsendi) Kingbird, Eastern (Tyrannus Tyrannus) Sora (Porzana Carolina) Kingbird, Western (Tyrannus Verticalis) Sparrow, American Tree (Spizella Arborea Arborea) Kingfisher, Belted (Megaceryle Alcyon Alcyon) Sparrow, Baird's (Ammodramus Bairdii) Kinglet, Golden-Crowned Sparrow, Chipping (Spizella Passerina Passerina) Kinglet, Ruby-Crowned Sparrow, Clay-Colored (Spizella Pallida) Kite, Mississippi (Ictinia Mississippiensis) Sparrow, Field (Spizella Pusilla Pusilla) Lark, Horned (Eremophila Alpestris Praticola) Sparrow, Fox (Passerella Iliaca Iliaca) Longspur, Lapland Sparrow, Grasshopper Loon, Common (Gavia Immer) Sparrow, Harris' (Zonotricha Querula) Mallard (Anas Platyrhynchos Platyrhynchos) Sparrow, Henslow's (Ammodramus Henslowii Henslowii) Martin, Purple (Progne Subis Subis) Sparrow, House (Passer Domesticus) Meadowlark, Eastern (Sturnella Magna) Sparrow, Lark (Chondestes Grammacus) Meadowlark, Western (Sturnella Neglecta) Sparrow, Leconte's (Ammospiza Leconteii) Merganser, Common Sparrow, Lincoln's (Melospiza Lincolnii Lincolnii) Merganser, Hooded (Lophodytes Cucullatus) Sparrow, Savannah (Passerculus Sandwichensis Oblitus) Merganser, Red-Breasted Sparrow, Song (Melospiza Melodia Melodia) Merlin (Falco Columbarius Richardsonii) Sparrow, Swamp (Melospiza Georgiana Georgiana) Mockingbird, Northern Sparrow, Vesper (Pooecetes Gramineus Gramineus) Moorhen, Common Sparrow, White-Crowned Nighthawk, Common (Chordeiles Minor) Sparrow, White-Throated (Zonotricha Albicollis) Nuthatch, Red-Breasted (Sitta Canadensis) Starling, European (Sturnus Vulgaris Vulgaris) Nuthatch, White-Breasted Swallow, Bank (Riparia Riparia Riparia) Oldsquaw (Clangula Hyemalis) Swallow, Barn (Hirundo Rustico) Oriole, Baltimore (Icterus Galbula) Swallow, Cliff (Petrochelidon Pyrrhonota Pyrrhonota) Oriole, Orchard (Icterus Spurius) Swallow, Northern Rough-Winged continued on next page 36 Birds, continued Swallow, Tree (Iridoprocne Bicolor) Warbler, Golden-Winged (Vermivora Chrysoptera) Swift, Chimney (Chaetura Pelagica) Warbler, Hooded (Wilsonia Citrina) Tanager, Scarlet (Piranga Olivacea) Warbler, Kentucky (Oporornis Formosus) Tanager, Summer (Piranga Rubra) Warbler, Mourning (Oporornis Philadelphia) Teal, Blue-Winged (Anas Discors Discors) Warbler, Nashville (Vermivora Ruficapilla) Teal, Green-Winged (Anas Crecca) Warbler, Orange-Crowned (Vermivora Celata) Tern, Black (Chlidonias Niger) Warbler, Palm (Dendroica Palmarum) Tern, Caspian (Sterna Caspia) Warbler, Pine (Dendroica Pinus Pinus) Tern, Common (Sterna Hirundo) Warbler, Prairie (Dendroica Discolor) Tern, Interior Least (Sterna Antillarum Athalassos) Warbler, Prothonotary (Protonotaria Citrea) Thrasher, Brown (Toxostoma Rufum Rufum) Warbler, Tennessee (Vermivora Peregrina) Thrush, Gray-Cheeked (Catharus Minimus) Warbler, Wilson's (Wilsonia Pusilla) Thrush, Hermit (Hylocichla Guttata Faxoni) Warbler, Yellow-Rumped (Dendroica Coronata) Thrush, Swainson's (Hylocichla Ustulata Swainsoni) Warbler, Yellow-Throated (Dendroica Dominica) Thrush, Wood (Hylocichla Mustelina) Warbler, Yellow (Dendroica Petechia) Titmouse, Tufted (Parus Bicolor) Waterthrush, Louisiana (Seiurus Motacilla) Towhee, Eastern (Pipilo Erythrophthalmus) Waterthrush, Northern (Seiurus Noveboracensis) Turkey, Wild (Meleagris Gallopavo Silvestris) Waxwing, Cedar (Bombycilla Cedrorum) Veery (Hylocichla Fuscescens Fuscescens) Whip-Poor-Will (Caprimulgus Vociferus) Vireo, Bell's (Vireo Bellii) Wigeon, American (Anas Americana) Vireo, Philadelphia (Vireo Philadelphicus) Willet (Catoptrophorus Semipalmatus) Vireo, Red-Eyed (Vireo Olivaceus) Woodcock, American (Philohela Minor) Vireo, Solitary (Vireo Solitarius) Woodpecker, Downy (Picoides Pubescens Pubescens) Vireo, Warbling (Vireo Gilvus) Woodpecker, Hairy (Picoides Villosus) Vireo, White-Eyed (Vireo Griseus) Woodpecker, Pileated (Dryocopus Pileatus) Vireo, Yellow-Throated (Vireo Flavifrons) Woodpecker, Red-Bellied (Melanerpes Carolinus) Vulture, Turkey (Cathartes Aura Septentrionalis) Woodpecker, Red-Headed (Melanerpes Erythrocephalus) Warbler, Bay-Breasted (Dendroica Castanea) Wren, Bewick's (Troglodytes Bewickii Bewickii) Warbler, Black-And-White (Mniotilta Varia) Wren, Carolina (Thryothorus Ludovicianus Ludovicianus) Warbler, Black-Throated Green (Dendroica Virens) Wren, House (Troglodytes Aedon Parkmanii) Warbler, Blackburnian (Dendroica Fusca) Wren, Marsh (Cistothorus Palustris Dissaeptus) Warbler, Blackpoll (Dendroica Striata) Wren, Sedge (Cistothorus Platensis Stellaris) Warbler, Canada (Wilsonia Canadensis) Wren, Winter (Troglodytes Troglodytes Hiemalis) Warbler, Cape May (Dendroica Tigrina) Yellowlegs, Lesser (Tringa Flavipes) Warbler, Cerulean (Dendroica Cerulea) Yellowthroat, Common Warbler, Chestnut-Sided (Dendroica Pensylvanica) Reptiles Bullsnake (Pituophis Catenifer Sayi) Snake, Flathead (Tantilla Gracilis) Coachwhip, Eastern Snake, Graham's Crayfish (Regina Grahamii) Copperhead, Osage Snake, Great Plains Rat (Elaphe Emoryi) Kingsnake, Prairie Snake, Lined (Tropidoclonion Lineatum) Kingsnake, Speckled Snake, Northern Redbelly Lizard, Eastern Collared Snake, Northern Water (Nerodia Sipedon Sipedon) Lizard, Northern Fence Snake, Prairie Ringneck Lizard, Western Slender Glass Snake, Red Milk (Lampropeltis Triangulum Syspila) Massasauga, Eastern Snake, Red-Sided Garter Racer, Yellowbelly (Coluber Constrictor Flaviventris) Snake, Rough Green (Opheodrys Aestivus) Racerunner, Prairie Snake, Texas Brown (Storeria Dekayi Texana) Racerunner, Six-Lined Snake, Western Earth (Virginia Valeriae Elegans) Rattlesnake, Timber (Crotalus Horridus) Snake, Western Plains Garter Skink, Five-Lined (Eumeces Fasciatus) Snake, Western Ribbon Skink, Great Plains (Eumeces Obsoletus) Snake, Western Worm (Carphophis Vermis) Skink, Ground (Scincella Lateralis) Softshell, Midland Smooth (Apalone Mutica Mutica) Skink, Northern Prairie Softshell, Western Spiny Slider, Red-Eared (Trachemys Scripta Elegans) Turtle, Common Musk (Sternotherus Odoratus) Snake, Black Rat (Elaphe Obsoleta Obsoleta) Turtle, Common Snapping Snake, Blotched Water Turtle, False Map Snake, Diamondback Water Turtle, Ornate Box (Terrapene Ornata Ornata) Snake, Eastern Hognose (Heterodon Platirhinos) Turtle, Three-Toed Box Snake, Eastern Plains Garter Turtle, Western Painted (Chrysemys Picta Bellii) continued on next page 37 Amphibians Bullfrog (Rana Catesbeiana) Salamander, Smallmouth (Ambystoma Texanum) Common Mudpuppy (Necturus Maculosus) Salamander, Spotted (Ambystoma Maculatum) Frog, Blanchard's Cricket Spadefoot, Plains (Spea Bombifrons) Frog, Green (Rana Clamitans Melanota) Toad, Dwarf American Frog, Northern Crawfish (Rana Areolata Circulosa) Toad, Eastern American Frog, Plains Leopard (Rana Blairi) Toad, Great Plains Narrowmouth Frog, Southern Leopard Toad, Great Plains (Bufo Cognatus) Frog, Western Chorus (Pseudacris Triseriata) Toad, Woodhouse's Peeper, Northern Spring Treefrog, Cope's Gray (Hyla Chrysocelis) Salamander, Eastern Tiger (Ambystoma Tigrinum) Treefrog, Gray (Hyla Versicolor Fish Bass, Largemouth (Micropterus Salmoides) Minnow, Bluntnose (Pimephales Notatus) Bass, Striped (Morone Saxatilis) Minnow, Brassy (Hybognathus Hankinsoni) Bass, White (Morone Chrysops) Minnow, Fathead (Pimephales Promelas) Bluegill (Lepomis Macrochirus) Minnow, Brassy (Hybognathus Hankinsoni) Bowfin (Amia Calva) Minnow, Fathead (Pimephales Promelas) Buffalo, Bigmouth (Ictiobus Cyprinellus) Minnow, Plains (Hybognathus Placitus) Buffalo, Black (Ictiobus Niger) Minnow, Suckermouth (Phenacobius Mirabilis) Bullhead, Black (Ameiurus Melas) Minnow, Western Silvery (Hybognathus Argyritis) Bullhead, Yellow (Ameiurus Natalis) Mosquitofish, Western (Gambusia Affinis) Burbot (Lota Lota) Paddlefish (Polyodon Spathula) Carp, Bighead (Hypophthalmichthys Nobilis) Pike, Northern (Esox Lucius) Carp, Common (Cyprinus Carpio) Quillback (Carpiodes Cyprinus) Carp, Grass (Ctenopharyngodon Idella) Redhorse, Shorthead (Moxostoma Macrolepidotum) Carpsucker, River (Carpiodes Carpio) Sauger (Stizostedion Canadense) Catfish, Blue (Ictalurus Furcatus) Shad, Gizzard (Dorosoma Cepedianum) Catfish, Channel (Ictalurus Punctatus) Shiner, Bigmouth (Notropis Dorsalis) Catfish, Flathead (Pylodictis Olivaris) Shiner, Common (Luxilus Cornutus) Chub, Creek (Semotilus Atromaculatus) Shiner, Emerald (Notropis Atherinoides) Chub, Flathead (Platygobio Gracilis) Shiner, Golden (Notemigonus Crysoleucas) Chub, Hornyhead (Nocomis Biguttatus) Shiner, Redfin (Lythrurus Umbratilis) Chub, Sicklefin (Macrhybopsis Meeki) Shiner, Red (Cyprinella Lutrensis) Chub, Silver (Macrhybopsis Storeriana) Shiner, River (Notropis Blennius) Chub, Speckled (Macrhybopsis Aestivalis) Shiner, Sand (Notropis Stramineus) Chub, Sturgeon (Macrhybopsis Gelida) Shiner, Silverband (Notropis Shumardi) Crappie, Black (Pomoxis Nigromaculatus) Shiner, Topeka (Notropis Topeka) Crappie, White (Pomoxis Annularis) Smelt, Rainbow (Osmerus Mordax) Darter, Johnny (Etheostoma Nigrum) Stonecat (Noturus Flavus) Darter, Orangethroat (Etheostoma Spectabile) Stoneroller, Central (Campostoma Pullum) Darter, Slenderhead (Percina Phoxocephala) Sturgeon, Lake (Acipenser Fulvescens) Drum, Freshwater (Aplodinotus Grunniens) Sturgeon, Pallid (Scaphirhynchus Albus) Gar, Longnose (Lepisosteus Osseus) Sturgeon, Shovelnose (Scaphirhynchus Platorynchus) Gar, Shortnose (Lepisosteus Platostomus) Sucker, Blue (Cycleptus Elongatus) Goldeye (Hiodon Alosoides) Sucker, White (Catostomus Commersoni) Goldfish (Carassius Auratus) Sunfish, Green (Lepomis Cyanellus) Herring, Skipjack (Alosa Chrysochloris) Sunfish, Longear (Lepomis Megalotis) Killifish, Plains (Fundulus Zebrinus) Sunfish, Orangespotted (Lepomis Humilis) Logperch (Percina Caprodes) Walleye (Stizostedion Vitreum Vitreum) Madtom, Slender (Noturus Exilis) Warmouth (Lepomis Gulosus) Source: Missouri Department of Conservation 38 Endangered Species contains the common name of the mammal, bird, reptile, amphibian, fish or plant; its scientific The Kansas City region is home to several species name; its habitat; and its status as an endangered, of mammals, birds, reptiles, fish and plants listed threatened or candidate species according to as endangered or threatened by the U.S. Fish and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and/or the Wildlife Service. These species are listed below. Missouri Department of Conservation. Detailed This list also contains "candidate species"— information on endangered or threatened species species that have been studied and proposed for in the Kansas City area is available through the addition to the federal endangered and threatened MOFWIS database at http://www.conservation. species list by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service state.mo.us/nathis/mofwis/search.htm. — and species classified as endangered by the Missouri Department of Conservation. The table Endangered Species in the Greater Kansas City Region Species Habitat Status American Bittern Lakes, reservoirs, non-forested wetlands State endangered Bald Eagle Forest land (deciduous, evergreen and mixed), water, streams and canals, Federal threatened lakes, reservoirs, forested and non-forested wetland State endangered Barn Owl Residential, cropland and pasture, orchards, groves, vineyards, nurseries, State endangered herbaceous rangeland Black-Tailed Jackrabbit Residential, cropland and pasture, orchards, groves, mixed rangeland, State endangered other agricultural land, herbaceous rangeland Eastern Massasauga Herbaceous rangeland, shrub and brush rangeland, non-forested wetland State endangered Eastern Spotted Skunk Cropland and pasture, orchards, groves, herbaceous rangeland, shrub and State endangered brush rangeland, mixed rangeland, forest land (deciduous, evergreen and mixed) Flathead Chub Streams and canals State endangered Indiana Bat Hibernacula habitat: caves and mines; maternity and foraging habitat: Federal endangered small stream corridors with well developed riparian woods, upland forests Interior Least Tern Water, streams and canals, lakes, beaches, strip mines, quarries and Federal endangered gravel pits State endangered King Rail Cropland and pasture, streams and canals, non-forested wetland State endangered Lake Sturgeon Streams and canals State endangered Mead's Milkweed Virgin prairies Federal threatened State endangered Northern Harrier Cropland and pasture, rangeland, herbaceous rangeland, shrub and brush State endangered rangeland, mixed rangeland, non-forested wetland Pallid Sturgeon Missouri and Mississippi Rivers Federal endangered State endangered Peregrine Falcon Cropland and pasture, herbaceous rangeland, mixed rangeland Federal endangered State endangered Sicklefin Chub Streams and canals Federal candidate Snowy Egret Evergreen forest land, lakes, reservoirs, forested and non-forested wetland State endangered Sturgeon Chub Streams and canals Federal candidate Topeka Shiner Streams and canals Federal endangered State endangered Source: Missouri Department of Conservation 39 Environmental Concerns The Missouri River Alluvial Plain subsection, which includes portions of Clay, Jackson, Platte Conservation and Ray counties, has been significantly altered Agriculture and urban development have by channelization, drainage and conversion to significantly transformed the natural environment agricultural uses. Dams on the upper Missouri of the Kansas City region since its settlement in River have altered the natural hydrologic the early 1800s. The conversion of native prairies, processes and conditions of the river. Critical wetlands, woodlands and forests into cropland conservation challenges exist in this ecological and pastures and residential, commercial and subsection. The need for flood protection, industrial areas has substantially impacted the the economic realities of urban and industrial natural environment of the region. Across the development along the river and agriculture in the region, direct impacts include the conversion of alluvial plain must be balanced with the desire land to urban or agricultural uses, resulting in to minimize pollution from these activities and the alteration or elimination of natural habitats. preserve native ecosystems. Innovative land use Indirect impacts of this process include air and and natural resource management strategies can water pollution, the deposition of sediments help achieve this necessary balance. For example, in waterways and of the introduction of allowing land set aside for the preservation of solid wastes into the natural environment. In native plant and animal species to be used for addition, residential, commercial and industrial flood storage during periods of high water and development creates a need for roads and emulating the Missouri River's natural hydrograph highways, utilities, flood control measures and in river management can promote native species other collateral development that can adversely and ecosystems in the subsection. impact natural areas. In the Loess Hills subsection, which includes Environmental concerns and conservation the majority of Platte and Clay counties and challenges exist in each of the ecological portions of Jackson and Ray counties, the loess subsections in the region. In the Scarped soils are highly susceptible to erosion in the Osage Plains ecological subsection, which absence of good farming practices. Erosion of includes large portions of Cass and Jackson these soils has economic as well as environmental counties, agriculture has had a profound effect consequences. Excessive erosion degrades the on the natural environment. The conversion of productivity of the farmland and sends large wildland into cropland and pastures has resulted amounts of sediments into rivers and streams. in the significant loss of natural vegetation; Most of the land in this subsection has been natural vegetation is now rare and limited converted to agricultural uses, leaving very little to small patches, many less than 50 acres in of the natural vegetation. In this subsection, only size. Preserving the remaining areas of natural one remnant of natural glacial prairie is known habitats is the challenge for conservation in to exist and it is not owned by either a public or this subsection. Oak savanna and remnants of private conservation organization. None of the woodland have been degraded over the years, known wetlands in this subsection are owned by but restoration efforts with the prescribed use of conservation groups. The conservation challenge fire appear promising. Remnants of native prairie in this subsection is the preservation and/or still exist under mostly conservation ownership. restoration of native glacial prairies and wetlands. In addition, streams, though severely impacted, In the Grand River Hills ecological subsection, still offer an opportunity to preserve rare species the majority of the land has been converted of fish and other aquatic life. Conservation and to agriculture, with very little of the natural ecosystem restoration activities in this subsection vegetation remaining. The majority of Ray will require public-private cooperation. The County, a portion of Clay County and a very small benefits of such efforts will not only be the section of Platte County lie within this ecological preservation of native flora and fauna, but also subsection. As in the Loess Hills ecological an increase in forage and timber resources and subsection, most of the original glacial prairie in protection of area watersheds. the Grand River Hills subsection no longer exists. 40 Although several forests in this subsection have near Independence, is a seven-square-mile, been preserved, none of the once widespread government-owned, contractor-operated savannas or woodlands in the subsection are plant that began operation in 1941. It is the known to exist. Like the Loess Hills subsection, largest small arms ammunition plant in the the conservation challenge in the Grand river nation. Industrial operations generated large Hills subsection is the preservation and/or quantities of potentially hazardous waste, restoration of native glacial prairies and wetlands. including solvents, explosives, heavy metals (such as barium, cadmium, chromium, lead, Hazardous Waste Sites mercury and silver) and depleted uranium. The Kansas City area is also home to a number Since 1941, the facility disposed of operational of sites used for the disposal of industrial wastes in lagoons, landfills and burn pits byproducts and hazardous wastes. These sites are located throughout the facility. Groundwater listed as Class 1 through Class 5 in the Missouri beneath the site, soil, and surface water are Department of Natural Resources' Registry contaminated with volatile organic compounds of Confirmed Abandoned or Uncontrolled and heavy metals. Air strippers and Hazardous Waste Disposal Sites in Missouri, groundwater extraction wells were installed referred to as the Registry. to remove contaminants from extracted groundwater and to contain contaminated Class 1 Sites groundwater plumes. Further investigations Class 1 sites are defined in the Missouri Registry leading to final cleanup activities are taking Annual Report as "sites that are causing or place. Current disposal practices are in presenting an imminent danger of causing accordance with state and federal regulations. irreversible or irreparable damage to the public However, recent investigations indicate health or environment—immediate action contaminants have migrated off site. required." According to the Missouri Registry Class 2 Sites Annual Report, the Kansas City area contains two of these Class 1 sites: The Missouri Registry Annual Report defines Class 2 sites as "a significant threat to the environment • Armour Road Site (Clay County) — action required." There are five of these sites in The Armour Road Site, located at 2251 the Kansas City area, including: Armour Road in North Kansas City, was the • BFI Missouri City Landfill (Clay County) location of a herbicide blending facility from 1943 until 1983. The soil is contaminated Browning-Ferris Industries (BFI) Missouri City with extremely high levels of arsenic, Landfill is located along Stillhouse Road on a antimony, pentachlorophenol and lesser bluff above the Missouri River, about one mile levels of numerous other substances and the north of Missouri City, west of County Road JJ groundwater at the site is also contaminated. in Clay County. The site consists of about 200 This contamination is believed to be a result acres, of which the southern 90 acres were of spills and general operational practices at used for waste management activities. The site the facility. The 25,000 square foot building was originally developed as a sanitary landfill. on site is also contaminated. The site, Additional industrial waste disposal trenches which covers an area of 1.8 acres, is located were constructed, filled and closed after BFI between an industrial area and a residential of Kansas City Inc. leased the site in 1972 neighborhood. South of the property are rail from Lincoln Brothers Land, Inc. BFI operated yards, warehouses and industrial facilities. The the facility from 1972 until 1983. Waste site is adjacent to a commercial development management facilities included a sanitary zone and homes are about 1,200 feet away. landfill, a chemical processing center where bulk liquid wastes were received for temporary • Lake City Army Ammunition Plant storage prior to treatment by fixation units, (Jackson County) gelatin basins, seven bulk sludge disposal The Lake City Army Ammunition Plant, trenches, a chemical landfill, a wastewater located at the junction of Highways 7 and 78 treatment pond, a stormwater retention pond 41 and sludge drying beds. At least 160 million to the HCI Chemtech — Stillwell Street facility. pounds of industrial wastes were deposited During previous site operations, as many as at the site. Contaminants at the site include 66 above-ground storage tanks (ASTs) have solvents, herbicide wastes, organophosphates, been used. 46 of those tanks were located waste acids, waste oils, industrial wastewater in containment areas with earthen floors treatment sludge, paint sludge and heavy until 1995, when the floors were paved with metals sludge. Currently, the waste facility concrete. Bulk chemicals were delivered to is adequately capped, vegetated and well- the facility by trucks, barges and rail car and maintained, and a fence and locked gate stored in ASTs. Chemicals have been mixed control access to the site. Several residences or repackaged prior to sale or sold in bulk. are within less than half a mile. The truck fleet distributed the chemicals, • Conservation Chemical Company primarily via tank truck or drums. Spills are (Jackson County) the probable source of on-site contamination of soils and groundwater with volatile organic The Conservation Chemical Company site compounds, semi-volatile organic compounds is located in an industrial area at 8900 Front and herbicides. The potential exists for Street, about 1.75 miles east of Interstate 435 contaminants to discharge into the along Levee Road in Kansas City. The site Missouri River. covers about six acres and is situated on the flood plain of the Missouri River near the • HCI Chemtech — Stillwell Street confluence of the Missouri and Blue Rivers on (Jackson County) the river side of the levee. This site operated as The HCI Chemtech — Stillwell Street site, a chemical storage and disposal facility from located at 5200 Stillwell Street in Kansas City, 1960 to 1980. Waste disposal basins, which is a bulk chemical storage and distribution were either unlined or poorly lined, were used facility in operation since 1981. The site is to receive and store wastes and also served in the Missouri River flood plain, occupying as containers and drying beds for byproduct 6.5 acres along the northern bank of the sludges. Pesticides, herbicides, waste oils, Missouri River levee in a mixed commercial organic solvents, arsenic, acids, cyanide and industrial area. Residences are located compounds and other materials were disposed approximately one-half mile from the site. at the facility; an estimated 93,000 cubic yards Bulk chemicals are delivered to the facility of material was disposed and eventually buried by trucks and rail cars and are stored in ASTs. at the site. In 1975, the Missouri Department Chemicals may be mixed, repackaged prior to of Natural Resources investigated the operation sale or sold in bulk. Releases and spills are the and ordered it closed and cleaned up. The site probable source of contamination of soils and was closed in 1979. Post-closure activities, groundwater. Volatile and semi-volatile organic which concluded in 1990, included capping compounds were detected in groundwater at six lagoons, grading, and placing vegetation on concentrations above health-based screening the remaining portion of the site. levels. Groundwater contaminants originating • HCI Chemtech — Birmingham Road on the HCI Chemtech property are migrating (Clay County) off site to the north, and the potential exists for site contaminants to discharge into the The HCI Chemtech — Birmingham Road site is Missouri River. located at 6301 Northeast Birmingham Road in North Kansas City. The facility encompasses 11 • Riverfront Landfill (Jackson County) acres along the northern bank of the Missouri The Riverfront Landfill is located on Levee River. Residences are located about 1,000 feet Road at Chouteau along the south bank of the north of the site. This site is a bulk chemical Missouri River from River Mile 363.5 to 359.0 storage and distribution facility that has been in Kansas City. The 492-acre site operated as a in operation since 1968. Current storage and municipal landfill from 1950 until 1972. The handling activities are restricted to caustics and site contains myriad hazardous wastes; waste asphalt, due to the transfer of some operations disposed at the site was unregulated and no 42 records exist about the wastes dumped at the The location of the site next to the Missouri site. A portion of the landfill was capped in River presents problems because of flooding 1992 and the western portion of the landfill and groundwater contamination. Surface soil was developed as a city park. Groundwater contamination is widespread but is contained contamination is possible, due to the site's within berms. During the flood of 1993, the history, the quantity and type of waste disposed inactive sludge disposal area was covered by at the site and the hydrogeologic setting of floodwater. Groundwater contamination has the area. The site was excavated to the water resulted from past activities at the site, but table and filled a liner, so infiltrating materials the groundwater discharge to the Missouri are likely to contaminate groundwater. River has had minor impacts on water quality. Due to burning of liquid wastes at the site, The Missouri River is used as a drinking polychlorinated dibenzofurans may have water supply by the city of Lexington 31 resulted from the burning of environmentally miles downstream and the Missouri River persistent polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). alluvium supplies drinking water to the city At one time, final cover material at the site of Independence 2.5 miles downstream. eroded, exposing solid wastes, which entered An exposure assessment conducted by the the Missouri River (Kansas City corrected this Missouri Department of Health and Senior problem). Principal concerns at this site are the Services did not uncover any evidence of potential for human contact with contaminated human exposure occurring off site. However, soils and groundwater. according to the Missouri Registry Annual Report, the site poses a health risk because of Class 3 Sites the toxicity of the chemicals present and the According to the Missouri Registry Annual Report, known groundwater contamination. Class 3 sites "do not present a significant threat • Independence FMGP #1 (Jackson County) to the public health or the environment — action The Independence Former Manufactured may be deferred." There are five Class 3 sites in Gas Plant (FMGP) #1 site is located in a the Kansas City area: combination residential, commercial and light • Amoco Oil Sugar Creek Refinery industrial area northwest of the intersection (Jackson County) of West Pacific Avenue and South River The Amoco Oil Sugar Creek Refinery is Boulevard in Independence. Gas plant located at 1000 North Sterling in Sugar operations occurred on property currently Creek. This site is the location of a former owned by the Reorganized Church of Jesus active oil refinery which began operations in Christ of Latter Day Saints (RLDS). In addition, 1904 and ceased refinement of crude oil and several of the plant operations buildings were production of petroleum products in 1982. located beneath what is now West Pacific The former refinery area consists of about Avenue. The site is located within the drainage 423 acres. Amoco now operates a marketing basin along the southeast edge of the RLDS terminal and an asphalt plant on the property. Auditorium parking lot and extends beneath Five separate disposal areas of the Amoco West Pacific Avenue. No visual remains of property, totaling about 22 acres, are located former gas plant structures remain and the next to the Missouri River. The registered areas entire basin area of the site is covered by include four inactive tank bottom disposal vegetation. Waste present on the site is coal areas and one inactive sludge disposal area. tar. Subsurface soil samples collected from the There is also a land farm for the disposal of site contained volatile organic compounds and leaded gasoline storage sludge near the river, carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons which the EPA has identified as having high at concentrations exceeding health-based concentrations of lead and chromium. Other screening levels, as well as leachable benzene contaminants identified at the site include exceeding the Toxicity Characteristic Leaching cadmium, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons Procedure regulatory limit of 0.5 parts per (PAHs), oil and sludges, arsenic, mercury, million. Although coal tar residuals are present benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene and xylene. in surface and subsurface soil at the site, the 43 majority of contamination is located between its closure in 1978. Between 1969 and 1972, six to seven feet below the ground and is and prior to the Resource Conservation and not expected to pose a significant air or soil Recovery Act (RCRA), a variety of industrial exposure risk. In addition, the potential for and residential wastes were deposited at the exposure to contaminants and their migration site. Since no waste identification records or off site is minimal. However, disturbance transport receipts exist, the exact quantities of the soil (other than regular lawn care and and characteristics of industrial waste in the parking lot maintenance) would increase landfill can only be speculated. Intermittent the chance for public exposure to the buried inspection reports by the Missouri Department hazardous wastes. of Health and Senior Services and statements • Lake Lotawana Sportsmen's Club by the former operator indicate that the landfill (Jackson County) accepted waste liquids, sludges and solids from local commercial and industrial operations The Lake Lotawana Sportsmen's Club until 1972. The presence of ignitable, corrosive is located at 29709 Alley Road in Lake and toxic wastes in significant quantities is Lotawana. It is a 60 acre private sport club probable, but unconfirmed. The wastes that with a recreational small arms firing range. may have been disposed at the site include The site is surrounded by nearby residences. wastewater treatment sludges and refinery The principal environmental concern is sludges from industrial firms, including clarifier lead associated with the operation of the sludges, filtration sludges, paint sludges, firing range. Surface soils contain elevated solvent wastes, off-spec pesticides, refractory concentrations of lead (as high as 4,700 slag and air pollution residues. The main parts per million) and one sample contained source of off-site migration of contaminants leachable lead at a concentration of 181 has been discharge periodically observed parts per million, exceeding the Toxicity emanating from the leachate collection sump Characteristic Leaching Procedure regulatory area. Surface discharge could lead to exposure limit of 5.0 parts per million. In addition, through ingestion of contaminated surface or low concentrations of lead were detected groundwater. Contamination of the Missouri in sediment samples collected from a River alluvial aquifer may also be possible. The downgradient intermittent stream, indicating potential for exposure exists due to the absence that some lead is migrating off site. No of sampling data and uncertainty about significant accumulation of lead is expected in the kinds and concentrations of hazardous the stream, however. The Missouri Department substances at the site (MDNR, 138-140). of Natural Resources has determined that no significant exposure risk is present through the • Prier Brass Manufacturing Company soil or surface water. In addition, the potential (Jackson County) for groundwater contamination is low to The Prier Brass Manufacturing Company is moderate. The chief health concern with this located in an industrial area at 7801 Truman site is human exposure to unacceptable levels Road in Kansas City and operated from 1907 to of lead-contaminated dust through inhalation 1985 as a manufacturer of brass products. The or ingestion. Tracking lead-contaminated site contained unacceptable levels of leachable dust off site is also a concern because of the lead and cadmium. Contaminated material documented high levels of such contaminants has been removed from the site and excavated found in the area. areas have been filled with clean fill. However, • Plattco Landfill — Riverview Property contaminated foundry wastes remain under (Platte County) a portion of the main building. The potential exists for off-site contamination via surface The Plattco Landfill — Riverview Property is water, due to the proximity of waste materials located on FF Highway in Parkville, on the to the Blue River (it is possible for floodwaters bluffs above the Missouri River and within and surface runoff to wash contaminants a quarter mile of Rush Creek. The site was into the river). The completion of removal operated as a sanitary landfill from 1969 until action has decreased this threat, however. 44 According to the Missouri Registry Annual indicates a health threat exists at this site, based Report, municipal drinking water systems on available data (MDNR, 175-177). downstream are not expected to be adversely • Lee Chemical (Clay County) impacted by contaminants from the site unless a major release occurs. Also, it is likely that The 2.5-acre Lee Chemical site is located any effects of contamination on groundwater south of old Highway 210 and north of the would be localized. Reoccupation of the site railroad tracks, approximately 0.7 miles east and ongoing renovation, however, raise the of Highway 291 in Liberty. This site was used possibility of worker and visitor exposure to for packaging a variety of chemicals from contaminants still present under the main 1966 to 1974, when Lee Chemical abandoned building on the site. the facility. City of Liberty officials removed several hundred drums of chemicals on the site Class 4 Sites in 1977. Although the visible contamination has been removed, analyses indicate The Missouri Registry Annual Report defines trichloroethylene (TCE) and volatile organic Class 4 sites as being "properly closed--require compounds are still present in groundwater continued management" (MDNR, 3). Two Class 4 and soil. In 1980, a drinking water study sites exist in the Kansas City area: detected TCE in the city's drinking water • ARMCO (Jackson County) wells and Lee Chemical was identified as the ARMCO is an active steel manufacturing plant source of the TCE in the city's well, located a located at 7000 Winner Road in an industrial quarter-mile east of the site. Interim response area of Kansas City. From 1962 to 1980, the and remedial actions by the city of Liberty, as company used two landfills at the site for the well as well field management techniques and disposal of electric furnace baghouse dust treatment modifications, have reduced TCE generated by steel manufacturing processes. levels in the drinking water to below detection This dust was found to contain leachable limits; no wells currently supplying drinking quantities of lead and cadmium, as well as water to the city contain detectable levels of 10 to 12 percent zinc. This industrial waste TCE. In addition, a new municipal well field became regulated by RCRA after 1980, and was developed about two miles from the site. the two landfills are capped and covered Although the city of Liberty's remedial actions with vegetation. Although no environmental were very effective, a health risk still exists at problems currently exist, the potential exists for the Lee Chemical site, since levels of TCE in surface and groundwater contamination due the groundwater (but not in the city's public to the leachable nature of the waste. A study drinking water system) are still above the conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey and public drinking water standard (MDNR, Missouri Department of Natural Resources 16, 201-204). found that the only release of contaminants from the site appears to be from surface run- Class 5 Sites off into the Blue River. This study revealed a The Missouri Registry Annual Report defines Class doubling of zinc levels and smaller increases 5 sites as "properly closed with no evidence of in the concentration of lead in the river present or potential adverse impact — no further immediately following rainstorms. Cancer action required" (MDNR, 3). Since Class 5 sites deaths between 1983 and 1993 for this site's are removed from the registry, they are not study population were higher than expected, included in this plan. compared to statewide cancer deaths. However, two natality studies found no significant National Priorities List differences compared to state averages and Four of the aforementioned Class 1 through 4 an exposure investigation by the Missouri sites are also included in the U.S. Environmental Department of Health and Senior Services did Protection Agency's (EPA) National Priorities not document any significant exposure from List (NPL). The NPL is the EPA's list of national this site. The Missouri Registry Annual Report priorities among the known or threatened 45 releases of hazardous substances, pollutants or include chromated copper arsenate (CCA), copper contaminants throughout the United States (www. napthenate, creosote and pentachlorophenol. epa.gov). Registry sites on the NPL include: Past mismanagement of these preservatives at • Armour Road site in North Kansas City wood-treating facilities has caused significant contamination of soil and groundwater at some • Conservation Chemical Company site in sites. Contamination is generally caused by Kansas City excess preservative from the treated wood • Lake City Army Ammunition Plant in dripping onto the ground. These chemicals Independence contaminate the soil and groundwater and can • Lee Chemical site in Liberty potentially be transported a considerable distance from the site. The Missouri Registry Annual Former Manufactured Gas Plants Report lists five confirmed wood treater sites in the Kansas City area. Prior to the availability of natural gas, many municipal and industrial gas plants manufactured "Tier II" Facilities gas from coal. These sites are now known as "former manufactured gas plants" (FMGPs). Many Federal and state Emergency Planning and wastes, including coal tar, were generated by Community Right-to-Know regulations require the coal gas production process at these plants. that facilities that have on site (1) more than These wastes were often spilled or buried on site. 10,000 pounds of hazardous materials for which a The primary chemical contaminants in coal tar Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) is required; (2) are potentially carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic more than 500 pounds, or the threshold planning hydrocarbons and volatile organic compounds. quantity, of extremely hazardous substances as Other contaminants that may present a risk at defined by 40 CFR Parts 300 and 355; or (3) more FMGP sites are cyanide and several kinds of than 100 pounds of explosives or blasting agents, metals. The Missouri Registry Annual Report must provide the Missouri Emergency Response lists eight confirmed FMGP sites in the Kansas Commission (MERC), Local Emergency Planning City area. Committees (LEPC) and local fire departments with annual reports (known as Tier II reports) Wood Treating Facilities of the types and quantities of these hazardous materials (MERC website, online data). There are The wood preservation process involves the more than 700 of these "Tier II" facilities in Cass, penetration of a preservative, usually under Clay, Jackson, Platte and Ray counties. pressurized applications, into the timber. Common preservatives used in this process 46 FORMER MANUFACTURED GAS PLANTS Site Address County Status Excelsior Springs FMGP (Excelsior 400 West Excelsior, Excelsior Clay Negotiations for cleanup Springs Light & Power) Springs ongoing; EPA removal ongoing Independence FMGP #1 Pacific and Grand Avenue, Jackson Listed in Registry Independence Independence FMGP #2 (Missouri 23rd Street and Pleasant Avenue, Jackson MDNR Site Evaluation Gas Energy) Independence Unit investigation planned; SAU investigation planned Kansas City FMGP #1 (Kansas City East 1st Street and Campbell, Jackson Voluntary Cleanup Coal Gas Station A) Kansas City Program; cleanup ongoing Kansas City FMGP #2 (Kansas City Campbell and East 3rd Street, Jackson Voluntary Cleanup Coal Gas Station B) Kansas City Program; cleanup ongoing Kansas City FMGP #3 (MGE Natural 20th and Indiana Avenue, Jackson Voluntary Cleanup Gas Storage/Kansas City Gas Light) Kansas City Program – Complete Kansas City FMGP #5 (Missouri Gas Southwest Station (south of 25th Jackson Voluntary deed restriction Company) Street), Kansas City filed SAU Parkville FMGP (Parkville Oil Not applicable Platte MDNR Site Evaluation Company/Hugh T. Jones) Unit; no further action planned Source: Missouri Registry Annual Report, 2008 WOOD TREATING FACILITIES Site Address County Status A.K. Gibbon Lumber (Gibbon 1301 West 13th Street, Kansas Jackson MDNR Site Evaluation Lumber) City Unit investigation planned; cleanup pending Curt Bean Lumber Company, Inc. 1320 E. Old Lexington Road, Jackson EPA investigation ongoing Buckner Kerr-McGee Chemical Corporation 2300 Oakland, Kansas City Jackson Remedial action ongoing – Kansas City Koppers Company, Inc. Forest 6740 Stadium Drive, Kansas City Jackson Remedial action ongoing Products Division (Beazer East) Southeast Wood (Georgia Pacific; Walker Road & Highway 58, Cass Voluntary Cleanup International Paper Company) Pleasant Hill Program; cleanup complete Universal Forest Products 2600 Precision Drive, Cass EPA investigation planned (Southwest Company, Inc.) Harrisonville Source: Missouri Registry Annual Report, 2008 47 General Thomas Ewing issued Field Order History of development and Number 11 on August 25, 1863, which required development trends all residents to leave Cass County (as well as Bates, Jackson and portions of Vernon counties) Cass County, Mo. so they could not assist Confederate forces in the Prior to the arrival of the first white settlers in the area. This action virtually depopulated the county, area now known as Cass County, Kansa Indians and many residents did not return at the end of occupied much of this territory, including the sites the Civil War. of modern Pleasant Hill, Garden City, Archie and Though still largely rural, Cass County saw its Drexel. Indians of the Osage tribe may have also population grow by 28.7 percent between 1990 been present in this area, although neither of these and 2000. Urbanized areas of the county include tribes probably had a truly permanent settlement the extreme southern portion of Kansas City, in this area. Belton, Harrisonville, Pleasant Hill, Peculiar The first white settler of the Cass County area is and Raymore. According to the Kansas City disputed. David Creek from Indiana reportedly Area Development Council, "Cass County is a settled in this area in 1828. However, some claim blossoming collection of urbanized cities, rural that a squatter named John Walker was the first housing developments and agricultural areas. settler. Another squatter, John Lackey, was the first It offers easy access to the Kansas City white settler on the site of modern Harrisonville. metropolitan area but is distant enough to In 1830, he built a cabin and fenced a field on retain its 'small-town' charm." lland that would become the county seat. Cass County was originally called Van Buren Clay County, Mo. County and was created on May 3, 1835 by Before the arrival of the first European settlers separation from Jackson County. Named for to the territory now known as Clay County, the President Martin Van Buren, the county's name area was inhabited by the Missouri, Sac and Iowa was changed on February 19, 1849, when Indians. As part of the Louisiana Territory, it was Bates County was detached from Cass County. under French control until 1803, when France President Van Buren riled Missouri's Democrats sold the territory to the United States as part of the by his alliance with the Free-Soil Party and, Louisiana Purchase. Clay County was first settled consequently, the county was named after by French fur trappers in 1800 at Randolph Bluff, General Lewis Cass of Michigan, who was the along the Missouri River; however, no trace of Democratic candidate for president in 1848. their settlement remains. In 1835, Cass County's government was The county's first permanent settlers arrived organized and the site of the town of Harrisonville in 1819 from Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, was established by an act of the Missouri General Maryland and North Carolina. Named for Henry Assembly. In 1837, Harrisonville was laid out Clay, Kentucky statesman and Whig Party leader, over an area of 160 acres and included four Clay County was created on January 2, 1822 by streets: Wall and Pearl going from east to west the detachment of the county's territory from and Lexington and Independence going north and Ray County. south. The town's first lots were sold in June of The town of Liberty was platted in 1822 near the 1837; lots facing the public square sold for $20 site of Hixon's Mill. Liberty has been the county each and the others were $10. Hopwell (or New seat since its founding. The county's first road Hope) Baptist Church, Harrisonville's first church, connected the town of Liberty to Bluffton Road. was established in 1835 and the town's first The county's first bridge was built in 1830 over house was built in 1836. Harrisonville's first the Fishing River at the crossing of the State Road. jail, and the second jail for the county, was The first church in Clay County was the Little constructed in 1838. Shoal Creek Church, established on May 28, The turbulence of the Civil War significantly 1823 in Liberty. impacted Cass County. Because most county The Civil War caused much suffering among residents supported the South, Union Brigadier the citizens of Clay County and hampered the 48 development of agriculture in the area. The belonging to Cass and Bates counties. Jackson county was the home of the notorious outlaws County is named for Andrew Jackson, the "Hero Frank and Jesse James, and the area was a favorite of New Orleans," a general in the War of 1812 hideout for them. and the seventh president of the United States. Today, commerce and industry have replaced Settlers began arriving in the Jackson County area agriculture as Clay County's principal economic in the early 1820s; the first settlers in what is now enterprise. About half the land area in the Kansas City reportedly arrived in 1821, the year county has been developed, and the remaining Missouri was admitted to the Union. Francois undeveloped land is prime for business, industrial Chouteau, a French trader, built a trading post and residential development. Clay County's along the Missouri River near what is now the population grew by 19.9 percent between city's Northeast Industrial District. After being 1990 and 2000; the county is one of the fastest flooded out in 1826, Chouteau and other growing in the Kansas City metropolitan area. French families established Kansas City's first Principal communities in Clay County include non-Indian settlement at the foot of present-day Excelsior Springs, Gladstone, Kansas City, Troost Avenue. Kearney, Lawson, Liberty, North Kansas City Jackson County government was organized and Smithville. According to the Clay County in 1826 and the city of Independence was Economic Development Council, "population selected as the county seat in 1827. The county's growth in Clay County has increased the need for first courthouse — constructed of logs — was service providers and retail stores. Clay County completed in 1828. continues to enjoy a strong manufacturing, transportation and distribution base, with The 1830s and 1840s were a period of growth significant new growth in the services sector." and prosperity for Jackson County. By 1832, most of the wagons making the journey westward on Jackson County, Mo. the Santa Fe Trail were outfitted in Independence. Businesses selling supplies and services to The first settlements in what is now Jackson westbound settlers made Independence a County were established in "Six-Mile," an area of prosperous community by the early 1840s. In 23,040 acres purchased from the Osage Indians 1833, John McCoy purchased land he called in 1808. That same year, Fort Osage was built "Westport" and established a landing on the along the Missouri River near what is now the Missouri River, allowing supplies to be transferred town of Sibley. The construction of Fort Osage from the river to westward-bound wagon was directed by William Clark, co-commander routes at a point 22 miles farther west than of the famed Lewis and Clark expedition. The Independence. By 1845, Westport's growth as a purpose of the fort was threefold: it was a military supply center, influenced by McCoy and others, outpost created to guard the United States' newly and an 1844 flood that significantly hampered acquired Louisiana Purchase territory and protect freight operations at the Independence (Wayne the United States Factory Trade House at the site; City) landing, resulted in Westport replacing its establishment aided the federal government's Independence as a supply and departure point efforts to befriend the area's Osage Indians; and it for westward-bound wagons. In 1838, the Town offered Missouri's early settlers a sanctuary from of Kansas Company, comprised of John McCoy which they could venture farther west. Fort Osage and 13 other investors, bought the 271-acre was abandoned in 1827, due to settlers pushing Gabriel Prudhomme farm (McCoy's Missouri the frontier farther west and the termination of the River landing was on this property), which would federal "Factory System." become Kansas City's first downtown district. Nearly all the land comprising Jackson County The 1830s were also a period of strife for the was acquired from the Osage and Kansa Indians county. In 1831, thousands of Mormons from through a treaty signed on June 2, 1825. New York and Ohio followed their leader, Joseph Between 1804 and 1827, this land was under Smith, to Jackson County after he proclaimed the successive jurisdictions of St. Louis, Howard, Independence as the City of Zion. In 1833, Cooper and Lafayette counties. From 1827 to settlers who supported slavery succeeded in 1835, Jackson County included territory now 49 driving the Mormons out of Jackson County and the major cattle markets in the world. In 1872, into neighboring Clay County. the first county courthouse in Kansas City was In 1848, William Ray established a blacksmith built (interestingly, it was intended as an annex shop along the Santa Fe Trail in Jackson County. to the primary courthouse in Independence. Others settled in the same area, and by 1858 the Blue Springs was incorporated in 1880. In 1896, community was referred to as "Ray's Town" or 1,344-acre (now 1,769-acre) Swope Park was "Raytown" (Raytown did not incorporate as a city dedicated, and in 1897, Kansas City annexed the until 1950). In 1849, Independence became an Westport area. Several significant Kansas City incorporated city. Kansas City was incorporated buildings were constructed during this period. In by Jackson County on June 1, 1850; at this time, 1890, Kansas City's first "skyscraper" — the New it was called the Town of Kansas, named after York Life Building – was built on West 9th Street. the area's original inhabitants, the Kansa Indians. In 1899, Kansas City's first convention center was The Town of Kansas was incorporated as the City constructed at 12th and Wyandotte Streets (it was of Kansas by the state in 1853 and in 1889 it destroyed by fire and rebuilt in 1900). officially became Kansas City. In 1853, William The county's growth continued in the early Gregory was elected as Kansas City's first mayor twentieth century. Some highlights of the area's and the first city council meeting was held. growth and development during this period The Civil War dramatically impacted the include: lives of Jackson County's citizens. The Battles • 1904 — Standard Oil Company (later Chevron) of Independence (in which Confederate builds a refinery in Sugar Creek forces captured the city) and Lone Jack were • 1909 — Annexation increases the size of Confederate victories and resulted in Confederate Kansas City from 25.4 to 59.7 square miles military domination of the region for a short period of time. Because many of Jackson County's • 1920 — Sugar Creek is incorporated residents were sympathetic to the South, Union • 1922 — J.C. Nichols builds the Country Club Brigadier General Thomas Ewing, commander Plaza, the nation's first planned shopping of the District of the Border, issued Field Order center Number 11 in 1863, which required the county's • 1926 — Liberty Memorial is dedicated residents (and those of Bates, Cass and portions of Vernon counties) to leave the county. In 1864, the • 1929 — The University of Kansas City (now Union Army of the Border, commanded by Major the University of Missouri–Kansas City) is General Samuel Curtis, routed Confederate Major chartered General Sterling Price's Missouri Expedition at the • 1930 — Buckner is incorporated Battle of Westport, the largest and most decisive • 1934 — The county courthouse at 415 East Civil War battle in Missouri. This battle resulted 12th Street in Kansas City is constructed in the loss of Confederate military power in the Kansas City area and the retreat of Price's forces • 1935 — Construction of Kansas City's for the remainder of the war. Municipal Auditorium, at 13th and Wyandotte Streets, is completed Several notable events occurred in Jackson County in the late nineteenth century which • 1937 — City Hall in Kansas City is completed fostered the growth and development of the Following World War II, many of Jackson area. On November 4, 1865, Lee's Summit was County's smaller communities became incorporated; the town was platted by William incorporated cities. These incorporations included Howard, a local farmer and stockman. 1869 Raytown in 1950; Unity Village in 1953; Sibley in saw the opening of the Hannibal Bridge, the 1957; Lake Lotawana in 1958; Lake Tapawingo in first railway bridge across the Missouri River. 1962; and Lone Jack in 1964. The construction of this bridge, facilitated by the Kansas City grew in size during this period, passage of a bill in Congress, gave Kansas City annexing 26.5 square miles in 1963, increasing trade dominance in the area (over Leavenworth, the city's total area to 316 square miles. Major Kan., and St. Joseph, Mo.). Subsequently, the construction and development projects helped railroads helped establish Kansas City as one of 50 propel significant growth in Jackson County in the at a site where the military road from Liberty latter half of the century. The opening of Interstate Landing to Fort Leavenworth met the Platte River. 70 in 1965 fostered residential and commercial Martin later built a flour mill nearby. In 1838, development in eastern Jackson County, with Martinsville was renamed Platte City when the significant growth occurring in Independence county was organized and the community was and Blue Springs. 1972 saw the completion of selected as the county seat. Arrowhead Stadium; its companion sports facility, In 1837, Joseph Moore laid out a town along Royals Stadium (now Kauffman Stadium), was the banks of the Missouri River. A year later, completed in 1973. In 1997, the opening of Moore sold half the interest in the property to the American Jazz Museum, the Negro Leagues Bela Hughes, who laid out the present town Baseball Museum and the Gem Theater were of Weston. Weston grew quickly, reaching a significant components of the renovation and population of 300 within a year. development of the 18th and Vine historic district. Renovation and re-opening of historic Union In addition to the daily rigors of frontier life in Station in Kansas City was completed in 1999. the 1800s, early settlers in Platte County (and 1999 was also the year the Stowers Institute for much of the Kansas City area) were impacted by Medical Research was opened at 50th Street and a devastating Missouri River flood in June 1844, Rockhill Road in Kansas City, part of the region's which submerged farms, destroyed crops and transformation into one of the country's leading facilitated the spread of disease in its aftermath. areas for life sciences and biomedical research. In 1846, the Mexican War brought growth and prosperity to Platte County with the assembling Now, at the dawn of the 21st century, Jackson and equipping of the expeditionary forces of County's growth and development continues Generals Stephen Kearney and Sterling Price at at a rapid pace. According to the Kansas City Fort Leavenworth. In addition, the exodus of the Area Development Council, more than 42 Mormons to the Utah Territory around this same percent the region's jobs and more than half of time was beneficial to Platte County's economy. its largest employers (i.e., those with more than Weston became an important outfitting area for 500 employees) are located in Jackson County. these journeys westward. With the discovery of In 2000, non-residential building construction in gold in California in 1849, Weston, Platte City, Jackson County increased 23 percent over 1999. St. Joseph, Independence and Kansas City grew In addition, 41 percent of the metropolitan area's in importance as supply and departure points for non-residential building projects in 2000 occurred those heading west. in Jackson County. Today, Platte County continues to grow and Platte County, Mo. prosper. Major new or planned developments in the county include: Platte County was one of the first counties in Missouri to be organized from land known as the • Zona Rosa — an upscale retail, office and "Platte Purchase." The Platte Purchase included residential community land between Missouri's original western • Parkville Commons — 250,000 square feet of boundary on the east (a north-south line drawn retail and office development on Highway 9 through the mouth of the Kansas River) and the near I-435 in Parkville Missouri River on the west. This land included the current counties of Andrew, Atchison, Buchanan, • The Shops at Boardwalk — a 123,000-square Holt, Nodaway and Platte. In 1836, the Missouri foot shopping center state legislature, expecting the passage of the • Platte Valley Plaza — a retail and housing Platte Purchase treaty, passed an act attaching the development in Platte City land that would become Platte County to Clay • Riverside/Quindaro Bend Levee — a $58.3 County for "civil and military purposes." Platte million levee constructed to free flood-prone County, named for the Platte River which runs land in Riverside for future light industrial, through it, was organized in 1838. retail and commercial development Platte City was originally called "Martinsville" in • Congress Corporate Center — a 156-acre honor of Zadoc Martin, who started a ferry service business park 51 • Mastercard International — an 87,000-square- for the county over the next ten years. Recent foot back-up data center at 11530 NW development in the county includes: Ambassador in Kansas City • Bank Midwest — acquired Hardin Federal • Liberty Mutual Group — a 100,000-square-foot Savings and Loan in 2001, increasing the data center number of Bank Midwest branches in the • Farmland Industries — a 280,000-square- county to three. foot headquarters just east of Kansas City • Walmart Stores, Inc. — closed a 50,000-square- International Airport (Platte County EDC, foot store in Richmond and replaced it with a online data). new 152,000-square-foot Walmart Supercenter • Dairy Farmers of America — headquarters of in 2001 the largest dairy cooperative in the nation • Ray County Memorial Hospital — added • Harley-Davidson Motor Company — a more 26,195 square feet to its existing facility, than 300,000-square-foot manufacturing plant providing additional space for patient care, a new lobby and a gift shop. In addition, 14 new • Citicards — 136,000- and 138,000-square-foot staff were added to the hospital facilities Platte County is one of the region's fastest Johnson County, Kan. growing areas. According to the Platte County Johnson County, formed in 1855, was one of the Economic Development Council, "Platte County first counties established in the Kansas Territory. is one of only two Missouri counties listed in Earlier settlements in the county included a Wells the top 250 counties in the USA" with regard to Fargo station built to connect Fort Leavenworth growth potential. to Fort Scott, and a Shawnee Indian reservation established in 1825. The county is named after Ray County, Mo. Rev. Thomas Johnson whose son, Alexander Organized out of the territory of Howard Johnson, was the first white person born in the County in 1820, Ray County was one of county in 1832. Alexander Johnson later helped Missouri's 25 original counties. It initially establish the town of Shawnee, Kan. included all the Missouri land from the Grand The Oregon, California and Santa Fe trails all River west to the state line and from the Missouri passed through the county. Prior to and during River north to the state line. In 1836, Ray County the Civil War, the county was home to many assumed its present size with the organization battles between abolitionists and pro-slavery of Caldwell County. Bluffton was the county forces. In 1862, Quantrill's Raiders a group of seat until 1827, when its name was changed to Confederate guerillas led by William Quantrill, Richmond. The county is named after John Ray, raided the Johnson County communities of Olathe a Howard County delegate to Missouri's first and Spring Hill, destroying many homes and constitutional convention. businesses. Hunters and trappers were probably the first Johnson County remained largely rural until non-native people to explore the area that would the early 20th century, when many suburban eventually become Ray County. John Vanderpool communities were developed. This development Sr. and his family were the county's first boomed after World War II, and Johnson County residents, settling near Crooked River in 1815. is still one of the fastest growing areas in the The Vanderpools, from Tennessee, emigrated region, with the highest population — and highest to Ray County seeking a better life. In 1819, the median household income —of any county in first steamboat to travel up the Missouri River Kansas. ventured as far west as Camden. That same year, Meadders Vanderpool opened the first In 2008, CNN/Money and Money magazine school in Ray County on Ogg's Branch Range. ranked three cities in Johnson County — Although Ray County remains primarily rural and Overland Park (9), Olathe (11), and Shawnee agricultural, the Kansas City Area Development (39) — on its list of the "100 Best Cities to Live in Council forecasts a 15-percent growth rate the United States. Olathe was also ranked 24th in 52 the U.S. Census Bureau's 2008 list of the top 25 Originally organized in 1855 as Lykins County, fastest growing cities in the nation. in honor of Dr. David Lykins, a missionary who served among the Miami Indians and was a Leavenworth County, Kan. member of the first territorial council, Miami Leavenworth County, formed in 1866, was among County was renamed after the Indian tribe in the first 33 counties formed by the territorial 1861. government of Kansas. Both the county and its Still largely rural in nature, Miami County is county seat, the city of Leavenworth, are named home to many streams and creeks and fertile, after Colonel Henry Leavenworth, who founded gently rolling farmland. Oil and gas exploration Fort Leavenworth on the bluffs of the Missouri have played a big part in Miami County's history. River in 1827. Gas drilling began in 1882, and the first oil well The land where Leavenworth County is located west of the Mississippi River was discovered in was originally settled by Kansa, Osage and the county in 1888. Railroads also were a big Delaware Indians. Fort Leavenworth played an influence, beginning with the Kansas City–Fort important role in keeping the peace among Indian Scott and Gulf Railroad in 1870. tribes and increasing numbers of settlers heading Paola, the county seat, has a population of just west. over 5,000. Its businesses include manufacturing, The city of Leavenworth, founded in 1854, distribution, health care facilities, banking and was the first city in Kansas. In 1858, the Sisters retail operations. of Charity settled in Leavenworth. The Sisters opened St. John Hospital in 1864 and founded Wyandotte County, Kan. Saint Mary College (now the University of Saint Wyandotte County, the smallest county in Kansas Mary) in 1923. with a total area of only 151 square miles, was In 1863, the Kansas State legislature authorized named after the Wyandot Indians. The county the construction of the Kansas State Penitentiary was organized in 1855. One of its earliest settlers, on a site now located in the city of Lansing. Work Moses Grinter, operated a ferry on the Kansas began in 1864, but financial difficulties connected River in the 1830s. the ferry was used by traders with the Civil War delayed its completion until and soldiers traveling the military road between 1868. Fort Leavenworth and Fort Scott, as well as settlers on their way to Santa Fe, N.M. In 1881, General William T. Sherman founded the school that would later become the U.S. The city of Kansas City, Kansas was formed Army Command and General Staff College at Fort in 1868 and incorporated in 1872. The city Leavenworth. is located near Kaw Point at the confluence of the Missouri and Kansas Rivers. In 1997, In 1906, the Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary voters approved a merger of city and county opened its first cell house. The penitentiary, governments, creating the Unified Government of which is still in use today, has housed many Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kan. The county famous criminals over the years. also includes the cities of Bonner Springs and The county, with a population estimated at over Edwardsville. 73,000 in 2006, is one of the largest and fastest The Kansas Speedway, a NASCAR racetrack that growing in the state. Incorporated cities include opened in 2001, and Village West, an adjacent Leavenworth, Lansing, Tonganoxie, Basehor, retail development opened in 2002, have had Linwood, Easton and Bonner Springs. a significant impact on the county's economy. Wyandotte County is also home to General Miami County, Kan. Motors' Fairfax auto assembly plant. Miami County, with a population just over 30,000, is largely rural. The county is home to four cities — Fontana, Louisburg, Paola and Osawatomie. 53 Land use and land cover Cass County, Mo. Johnson County, Kan. About 62 percent of Cass County is devoted to A major portion of the county is urbanized, with agriculture. Major crops include corn, soybeans, older first suburbs in the northeast area, older sorghum, wheat and hay. Most of the remaining communities that have become growing suburbs 38 percent of the county is urban and suburban, throughout the county and some undeveloped particularly in the northern portion of the county. area. About 38 percent of Johnson County's land Principal communities in the county include area is devoted to agriculture and covered by Belton, Harrisonville, a small portion of south cropland and pasture. Principal communities Kansas City, a portion of southern Lee's Summit, in Johnson County include Lenexa, Overland Peculiar, Pleasant Hill and Raymore. Park, Olathe, Leawood, Prairie Village, Merriam, Mission, Shawnee, and Gardner. Clay County, Mo. Clay County's land cover today is about 47 Leavenworth County, Kan. percent cropland and pasture, with corn, soybeans, sorghum, wheat and hay being the Leavenworth County has an urban center in the major crops. Much of the rest of the county northeast part of the county. About 24 percent consists of urban and suburban development, of the county's land is in pasture and 30 percent particularly in the southern part of the county. in cropland. Major cities include the city of Principal communities in Clay County include Leavenworth, Lansing and Tonganoxie. Excelsior Springs, a portion of Kansas City, Miami County, Kan. Kearney, Liberty and North Kansas City. Miami County is primarily a rural county with Jackson County, Mo. five cities, including Paola, Louisburg and Jackson County is heavily urbanized. Osawatomie. Approximately 80 percent of the Approximately 34 percent of the county's land, county's land remains in agricultural use. however, is agricultural and used as cropland or Wyandotte County, Kan. pasture. Principal crops include corn, soybeans, sorghum, wheat and hay. Principal communities The county is heavily urbanized; with only 19 in Jackson County include Blue Springs, percent of the county's land in agricultural use. Grandview, Independence, Kansas City, Lee's About 11 percent is in cropland and 8 percent in Summit and Raytown. pasture. The county has four cities, and most of the county is within these cities of Kansas City, Platte County, Mo. Edwardsville, Bonner Springs and Lake Quivira. About 60 percent of Platte County's land area is devoted to agriculture and used as cropland and pasture. Chief crops include corn, soybeans, sorghum, wheat, hay and tobacco. The county's principal communities include a portion of Kansas City, Platte City, Parkville and Riverside, all in the southern part of the county. Ray County, Mo. About 68 percent of Ray County's land area is devoted to agriculture and covered by cropland and pasture. Major crops include corn, soybeans, sorghum, wheat and hay. Principal communities in Ray County include a portion of Excelsior Springs, Hardin, Lawson, Orrick and Richmond, the largest community and county seat. 54 Planned Land Use in the Greater Kansas City Region Source: MARC Research Services 55 National Historic Landmarks Stumbaugh Post No. 180 G.A.R. Hall, Austin (6/8/00) The Kansas City area has a rich cultural heritage, Clay County, Mo. exemplified by the many places of historic interest Aker Cemetery, northeast of Smithville (11/13/74) and significance across the region. Antioch Christian Church, Kansas City (4/02/79) Arthur-Leonard Historic District, Liberty (1/4/01) "National Historic Landmarks make tangible the Clardy Heights Historic District, Liberty (1/4/01) American experience. They are places where Claybrook House, Kearney vicinity (12/21/81) significant historical events occurred, where Clay County Savings Association Building, Liberty prominent Americans worked or lived, that (12/28/92) represent those ideas that shaped the nation, Clinton House, Liberty (11/22/78) that provide important information about our Compton, Dr. James, House, Kansas City (7/10/79) past, or that are outstanding examples of design Dougherty-Prospect Heights Historic District, Liberty or construction." These landmarks can be sites, (1/4/01) buildings or objects that have significance and Elms Hotel, Excelsior Springs (3/29/85) meaning for most Americans and "possess Excelsior Springs Hall of Waters Commercial East Historic District, Excelsior Springs (5/27/99) exceptional value or quality in illustrating and Excelsior Springs Hall of Waters Commercial West interpreting the heritage of the United States." Historic District, Excelsior Springs (5/27/99) There are seven historic sites across the Kansas Garrison School Historic District, Liberty (1/4/01) City region that are National Historic Landmarks. Hall of Waters, Excelsior Springs (6/09/83) These sites include: Hughes, Frank, Memorial Library, Liberty (12/28/92) IOOF Liberty Lodge #49, Liberty (12/28/92) • Fort Osage in Sibley (Jackson County) James Brothers' House and Farm, northeast of Kearney • Mutual Musicians Association Building in (3/16/72); boundary increase (9/27/78) Kansas City (Jackson County) Jewell Hall, Liberty (9/6/78) Jewell-Lightburne Historic District, Liberty (1/4/01) • Harry S. Truman Farm Home in Grandview Major Hotel, Liberty (12/28/92) (Jackson County) Miller Building, Liberty (12/28/92) • Harry S. Truman Historic District in Nebo Hill Archaeological Site (3/04/71) Odd Fellows Home District, Liberty (9/15/87) Independence (Jackson County) Sears, Roebuck and Company Warehouse Building, • Watkins Mill north of Excelsior Springs (Clay North Kansas City (5/9/97) County) South Liberty Courthouse Square Historic District, Liberty (12/28/92) • Shawnee Methodist Mission (Johnson County) Watkins Mill, northwest of Excelsior Springs (11/13/66) • Fort Leavenworth, (Leavenworth County) West Liberty Courthouse Square Historic District, Liberty (12/28/92) National Historic Places Wheeling Corrugating Company Building, North Kansas City (10/21/94) The National Register of Historic Places is the Woodneath, Kansas City (2/17/78) federal government's official list of historic properties worthy of preservation. Listed below, Jackson County, Mo. by county, are the region's historic properties, 18th and Vine Historic District, Kansas City (9/9/91) historic districts and archeological sites on the Ambassador Hotel Historic District, Kansas City National Register of Historic Places. Dates in (2/17/83) parentheses are dates that sites were added to the Attucks School, Kansas City (9/9/91) National Register of Historic Places. Baker-Vawter Building, Kansas City (5/5/00) Bellerive Hotel, Kansas City (2/28/80) Cass County, Mo. Benton, Thomas Hart, House and Studio, Kansas City Brown, Robert A., House, north of Harrisonville (11/21/80) (6/15/70) Beth Shalom Synagogue, Kansas City (9/9/82) Harrisonville Courthouse Square Historic District, Bingham-Waggoner Home and Estate, , Independence (4/08/94) (5/22/80) O'Bannon Homestead, northeast of Garden City Bixby, Walter E., House, Kansas City (11/21/78) (7/03/79) Blue Mills, Independence (4/21/94) Street Peter's Episcopal Church, Harrisonville (9/09/82) 56 Boley Building, Kansas City (3/9/71) Building, Kansas City (5/08/85) Bonfils Building, Kansas City (3/22/84) Gumbel Building, Kansas City (1/25/79) BMA Tower, Kansas City (8/21/02) Harris, Col. John, House, Kansas City (10/18/72) Bryant Building, Kansas City (4/24/89) Helping Hand Institute Building, Kansas City (5/5/00) Bryant, Dr. John S. Jr. and Harriet Smart, House, Henderson, Dr. Generous, House, Kansas City Independence (5/21/92) (2/28/79) Bunker Building, Kansas City (9/5/75) Hook, Mary Rockwell, House, Kansas City (9/8/83) Byram's Ford Historic District, Kansas City (10/16/89) Hotel Phillips, Kansas City (6/4/79) Cave Spring, Kansas City (8/10/78) Houses by Mary Rockwell Hook, Kansas City (9/8/83) Chambers Building, Kansas City (12/28/01) Howe, Frank M., Residence, Kansas City (4/18/85) Chappell, Philip E., House, Kansas City (8/3/90) Hughes, Mollie and Josephine, House, Independence Chicago Apartments, Kansas City (9/11/80) (4/7/94) Circle Apartments, Kansas City (10/22/02) Hyde Park Historic District, Kansas City (11/21/80) City Bank Building, Kansas City (2/17/83) Ivanhoe Masonic Temple, Kansas City (5/2/85) Coates House Hotel, Kansas City (2/23/72) Jackson County Courthouse, Independence (10/18/72) Coca-Cola Building, Kansas City (8/18/88) Jackson County Jail and Marshal's House, Columbia Building, Kansas City (5/5/00) Independence (6/15/70) Continental Hotel, Kansas City (8/8/83) Janssen Place Historic District, Kansas City (11/7/76) Corrigan, Bernard, House, Kansas City (1/18/78) Jenkins Music Company Building, Kansas City (3/2/79) Corrigan, Thomas, Building, Kansas City (9/16/82) Jensen-Salsbery Laboratories, Kansas City (7/16/85) Crestwood Historic District, Kansas City (10/8/98) Jones, Lewis, House, Independence (4/21/94) Crossroad Historic Freight District, Kansas City Kansas City Athenaem, Kansas City (10/11/79) (12/22/00) Kansas City Club Building, Kansas City (11/19/02) Curtiss, Louis, Studio Building, Kansas City (6/19/72) Kansas City Livestock Exchange, Kansas City (4/5/84) Disney, Walt, House and Garage, Kansas City Kansas City Masonic Temple, Kansas City (11/14/80) (5/22/78) Kansas City, Missouri Western Union Telegraph District I (Armour Boulevard), Kansas City (7/28/83) Building, Kansas City (2/12/03) District I (Hotels in Downtown Kansas City), Kansas Kansas City Power and Light Company Building, City (8/8/83) Kansas City (1/9/03) District II (Armour Boulevard), Kansas City (7/28/83) Kansas City Public Library, Kansas City (5/23/77) District III (Armour Boulevard), Kansas City (7/28/83) Kansas City Terminal Railway Company Roundhouse Dorson Apartment Building, Kansas City (5/5/87) Historic District, Kansas City (1/26/01) Elmwood Cemetery, Kansas City (7/28/83) Kansas City Water Department Building, Kansas City Ellsworth Apartments, Kansas City (10/22/02) (4/7/94) Emery, Bird and Thayer Building, (1/7/72) Keith, Charles S., House, Kansas City (03/31/00) (Demolished) Kelly's Westport Inn, Kansas City (9/7/72) Faultless Starch Company Building, Kansas City Kessler Apartments, Kansas City (10/22/02) (5/9/02) Kirkwood Building, Kansas City (7/25/01) Fidelity National Bank and Trust Company Building, Kritser House, Independence (4/10/85) Kansas City (8/14/97) Land Bank Building, Kansas City (1/18/85) Fire Department Headquarters; Fire Station #2, Kansas Lewis-Webb House, Independence (2/6/86) City (9/2/82) Liberty Memorial, Kansas City (10/6/00) Firestone Building, Kansas City (1/3/86) Liquid Carbonic Company Building, Kansas City Floyd, Jacobs, House, Kansas City (9/8/83) (4/29/94) Fort Osage, north of Sibley (10/15/66) Loew's Midland Theater-Midland Building, Kansas City Fort Osage Archaeological District (3/17/72) (9/28/77) Four Gates Farm, Kansas City (7/15/91) Long, R. A., Building, Kansas City (1/8/03) Fowler, Henry T. House, Kansas City (7/28/83) Long, R. A., House, Kansas City (11/14/80) Gate City National Building, Kansas City (9/2/82) Longview Farm, Lee's Summit (10/24/85) Georgen, John and Adele, House, Independence Loose, Jacob, House, Kansas City (7/28/83) (5/5/00) Loretto Academy, Kansas City (7/28/83) German Evangelical Pastors' Home Historic District, Love, Emily Rockwell, House, Kansas City (9/8/83) Blue Springs (10/13/88) McConahay Building, Kansas City (5/22/78) Gloyd Building, Kansas City (7/25/85) McIntire, Levi, House, Kansas City (7/28/83) Goodenow Textiles Company Building, Kansas City McMahon Apartments, Kansas City (10/22/02) (4/18/03) Maine Apartments, Kansas City (10/22/02) Grand Avenue Temple and Grand Avenue Temple Majors, Alexander, House, Kansas City (4/3/70) 57 Maples Apartments, Kansas City (10/22/02) Street Mary's Episcopal Church, Kansas City (11/7/78) Maryland Apartments, Kansas City (10/22/02) Street Paul's Episcopal Church, Lee's Summit (10/3/85) Meyer, August, House, Kansas City (9/09/82) St. Teresa's Academy Music and Arts Building, Kansas Mineral Hall, Kansas City (7/12/76) City (11/15/00) Minor, Charles, House, Independence (3/22/84) Santa Fe Place Historic District, Kansas City (5/30/86) Missouri Apartments, Kansas City (10/22/02) Santa Few Trail – Minor Park, Kansas City (6/30/94) Missouri Pacific Depot, Independence (1/29/79) Santa Fe Trail – Santa Fe Trail Park, Independence Mutual Musician's Foundation Building, Kansas City (4/21/94) (2/7/79) Savoy Hotel and Grill, Kansas City (12/30/74) Myers, George J., House, Kansas City (7/28/83) Scarritt Building and Arcade, Kansas City (3/9/71) National Bank of Commerce Building, Kansas City Scarritt, Edward Lucky, House, Kansas City (5/23/77) (5/5/99) Scarritt, Rev. Nathan, House, Kansas City (5/8/78) National Garage, Kansas City (5/5/00) Scarritt, William Chick, House, Kansas City (3/21/78) Nettleton, George H., Home, Kansas City (10/14/99) Scarritt Point North Historic District, Kansas City New England Apartments, Kansas City (10/22/02) (12/1/97) New York Life Building, Kansas City (7/8/70) Scarritt Point South Historic District, Kansas City Newbern Hotel, Kansas City (9/23/80) (12/1/97) Newcomer's, D. W., Sons Funeral Home, Kansas City Sewall Paint and Glass Company Building, Kansas City (8/9/83) (5/9/02) Noland, Smallwood V., House, Independence Shelley, William Francis, House, Kansas City (3/17/78) (4/21/94) Simpson-Yeomans Country Side Historic District, Old New England Building, Kansas City (10/25/73) Kansas City (9/06/84; boundary increase 5/26/00) Old Town Historic District, Kansas City (6/7/78) Sophian Plaza, Kansas City (7/5/83) Ostertag, Robert, House, Kansas City (9/8/83) South Side Historic District, Kansas City (6/9/83) Overfelt-Campbell-Johnston House, Independence Standard Theatre, Kansas City (6/5/74) (9/5/75) Stine and McClure Undertaking Company Building, Owens-McCoy House, Independence (4/21/94) Kansas City (7/19/90) Palace Clothing Company Building, Kansas City Temple Block Building, Kansas City (6/19/85) (1/18/85) Temple Site, Independence (9/22/70) Parkview, The, Kansas City (10/22/02) Tocama, Kansas City (11/24/82) Paseo YMCA, Kansas City (9/09/91) Toll, Alfred, House, Kansas City (7/28/83) Peck, George B., Dry Goods Company Building, Townley Metal and Hardware Company Building, Kansas City (4/30/80) Kansas City (4/14/94; additional documentation Peppard, Joseph Grear, House, Kansas City (3/26/85) 1/24/01) Pilgrim Lutheran Church for the Deaf of Greater Kansas Trinity Episcopal Church, Independence (4/27/79) City and Parsonage, Kansas City (1/25/01) Tromanhauser, Norman, House, Kansas City (1/26/01) Pink House (Residential Structures by Mary Rockwell Truman, Harry S., Historic District, Independence Hook), Kansas City (9/8/83) (11/11/71) President Gardens Apartments Historic District, Kansas Truman, Harry S., National Historic Site, Independence City (12/10/98) (5/31/85) President Hotel, Kansas City (8/8/83) TWA Corporate Headquarters Building, Kansas City Professional Building, Kansas City (7/17/79) (11/20/02) Quality Hill, Kansas City (7/7/78) Union Station, Kansas City (2/1/72) Repp, William D., House, Kansas City (7/28/83) Unity School of Christianity Historic District, Unity Rice-Tremonti House, Raytown (3/2/79) Village (4/12/89) Richards and Conover Hardware Company, Kansas Uptown Building and Theatre, Kansas City (6/27/79) City; (1/21/99) Vaile, Harvey M., Mansion, Independence (10/1/69) Rockhill Neighborhood, Kansas City (7/21/75) Van Noy, Ira C. and Charles S., House, Kansas City Rockwell, Bertrand, House, 1004 W. 52nd Street, (7/8/87) Kansas City (9/8/83) Virginia Apartments, Kansas City (10/22/02) Row House Building, Kansas City (5/22/78; boundary Volker, William, House, Kansas City (5/20/93) increase 1/15/85) Waldo Water Tower, Kansas City (4/18/77) Sacred Heart Church, School and Rectory, Kansas City Walnut Street Warehouse and Commercial Historic (11/14/78) District, Kansas City (9/17/99) Safeway Stores and Office and Warehouse Building, Waltower Building, Kansas City (8/8/01) Kansas City (5/5/00) Ward, Seth E., Homestead, Kansas City (2/17/78) Warner, Maj. William, House, Kansas City (5/23/77) 58 Webster School, Kansas City (9/2/82) Ott, Albert, House, Olathe (4/1/98) West 11th Street Historic District, Kansas City (9/9/82) Overland Theater, Overland Park (2/9/05) West 9th Street—Baltimore Avenue Historic District, Parker, Martin Van Buren, House, Olathe (8/29/88) Kansas City (11/7/76; boundary increase 11/20/02) Pickering, I.O., House, Olathe (12/1/80) Westminster Congregational Church, Kansas City Redel Historic District, Stilwell (8/16/96) (2/28/80) Shawnee Methodist Mission, Fairway (5/23/68) Wholesale District, Kansas City (10/25/79) Turner (William Thomas) Barn, Gardner (4/1/99) William S. Mitchell (boat), Kansas City (10/9/85) Virginia School District #33, Shawnee (5/19/04) (destroyed by flood in July 1993) Voights (Herman J. and Ella B.) House, Leawood Woodson-Sawyer House, Independence (3/20/86) (5/18/95) Wornall, John B., House, Kansas City (5/21/69) WPA Beach House at Gardner Lake, Gardner (6/25/92) Young, Solomon, Farm, Grandview (5/5/78) Wolcott House, Mission Hills (5/2/01) Platte County, Mo. Leavenworth County, Kan. Babcock Site, address restricted (11/15/73) AXA Building, Leavenworth (3/16/72) Benjamin Bannaker School, Parkville (9/22/95) Abernathy Furniture Company Factory, Leavenworth Deister Archaeological Site, address restricted (1/21/70) (10/12/04) Krause, Frederick, Mansion, Platte City (5/22/78) Angell, A.J., House, Leavenworth (11/17/77) MacKay Building, Park College, Parkville (4/6/79) Arch Street Historic District, Leavenworth (7/3/02) McCormick Distillery, Weston (4/16/74) Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Passenger Platte County Courthouse, Platte City (1/17/79) Depot, Leavenworth (6/11/86) Pleasant Ridge United Baptist Church, near Weston Begley Bridge, Millwood vicinity (5/9/03) (3/13/02) Brewer, David J., House, Leavenworth (2/23/72) Renner Village Archaeological Site, address restricted Burt, Nathaniel H., House, Leavenworth (10/27/87) (4/16/69) Caenen Site 14LV1083, Tonganoxie vicinity (9/6/05) Scott, Charles Smith, Memorial Observatory, Parkville Carroll, Edward, House, Leavenworth (10/02/86) (5/29/92) Evans Site, Tonganoxie Vicinity (10/28/04) Sugar Creek Site, address restricted (12/12/73) First Presbyterian Church, Leavenworth (01/11/06) Waddell "A" Truss Bridge, Parkville (1/25/91) Fort Leavenworth, (10/15/66 ) Washington Chapel C.M.E. Church, Parkville (8/31/92) Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery, Fort Weston Historic District, Weston (8/21/72) Leavenworth (7/15/99) Harris, Senator William A., House, Linwood (11/5/74) Ray County, Mo. Harvey, Fred, House, Leavenworth (4/26/72) Dougherty Auditorium (Farris Theater), Richmond Hollywood Theater, Leavenworth (10/25/90) (9/16/82) Hund School, Leavenworth (3/9/00) Mansur, Isaiah, Farmstead Historic District, Richmond Insley, Merritt, House and Outbuildings, Leavenworth vicinity (8/14/98) (10/2/86) New Hope Primitive Baptist Church, southwest of Lansing Man Archeological Site, Lansing (3/24/71) Richmond (11/14/80) Leavenworth County Courthouse, Leavenworth Ray County Courthouse, Richmond (10/11/79) (4/26/02) Ray County Poor Farm (Ray County Historical Society Leavenworth Downtown Historic District, & Museum), Richmond (7/10/79) Leavenworth (4/26/02) Watkins House, Richmond (2/10/83) Leavenworth Historic Industrial District, Leavenworth (4/29/02) Johnson County, Kan. Leavenworth Public Library, Leavenworth (7/30/86) Blackfeather Farm, Stilwell (8/22/96) North Broadway Historic District, Leavenworth Ensor Farm, Olathe (2/27/04) (7/3/02) Foster, Herman D. House (Gardner Historical North Esplanade Historic District, Leavenworth Museum), Gardner (11/28/07) (12/12/77) Horn-Vincent-Russell Estate, Mission Hills (7/25/97) Paul Site 14LV1043, Tonganoxie vicinity (9/6/05) Lanesfield School, Edgerton (10/13/88) Powers, David, House, Leavenworth (8/30/77) Lanter, Franklin R., House, Olathe (10/10/07) Quarry Creek Archeological Site, Fort Leavenworth Loomis Historic District, Merriam (5/17/06) (4/23/73) Mahaffie, J.B., House, Olathe (8/29/77) Scott Site, Tonganoxie Vicinity (10/29/04) Majors (Alexander) House, Leawood (12/29/70) South Esplanade Historic District, Leavenworth (7/3/02) McCarthy (John) House, Edgerton (7/10/00) Third Avenue Historic District, Leavenworth (7/3/02) Union Depot (Old), Leavenworth (3/11/82) 59 Union Park Historic District, Leavenworth (7/3/02) Grinter Place, Kansas City (1/25/71) Western Branch, National Home for Disabled Hanover Heights Neighborhood Historic District, Volunteer Soldiers, Leavenworth (4/30/99) Kansas City (5/17/90) Zacharias Archeological Site, Leavenworth (1/8/87) Huron Cemetery, Kansas City (9/3/71) Lake of the Forest Historic District, Bonner Springs Miami County, Kan. (1/22/96) Asylum Bridge, Osawatomie (1/4/90) Lowell Elementary School, Kansas City (1/31/08) Brown, John, Cabin, Osawatomie (3/24/71) Northeast Junior High School, Kansas City (10/16/08) Carey's Ford Bridge, Rantoul (1/4/90) Quindaro Townsite, Kansas City (5/22/02) Creamery Bridge, Osawatomie (3/10/83) Rosedale World War I Memorial Arch, Kansas City Hillsdale Archeological District, Hillsdale (5/12/77) (8/2/77) Jackson Hotel, Paola (7/9/08) Sauer Castle, Kansas City (8/2/77) Jake's Branch of Middle Creek Bridge, Louisburg Schleifer-McAlpine House, Kansas City (10/10/07) (7/2/85) Scottish Rite Temple, Kansas City (9/11/85) Miami County Courthouse, Paola (3/1/73) Shafer (Theodore) House, Kansas City (2/18/00) Mills, William, House, Osawatomie (11/20/86) Shawnee Street Overpass, Kansas City (3/8/84) Pottawatomie Creek Bridge, Osawatomie (3/10/83) Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Building, Kansas City (9/5/85) Wyandotte County, KS St. Augustine Hall, Kansas City (2/24/71) Argentine Carnegie Library, Kansas City (4/30/86) Sumner High School and Athletic Field, Kansas City Bonner Springs High School, Bonner Springs (7/11/02) (9/6/05) Castle Rock, Kansas City (2/18/00) Trowbridge Archeological Site, Kansas City (2/24/71) City Hall and Fire Headquarters, Kansas City (4/25/86) Westheight Manor Historic District, Kansas City Fairfax Hills Historic District (Parkwood Estates), (2/19/82) Kansas City (6/30/07) Whitefeather Spring, Kansas City (8/27/75) Fire Station No. 9, Kansas City (9/05/85) Williamson, Roy, House, Edwardsville (4/18/07) Gates, Judge Louis, House, Kansas City (12/01/80) Wyandotte County Courthouse, Kansas City (4/26/02) Granada Theater, Kansas City (2/9/05) Wyandotte High School, Kansas City (4/30/86) 60 CHAPTER 2: Analysis of Economic Challenges and Opportunities T he financial crisis of 2008 has sent the U.S. seriously has weakened consumer confidence as economy into uncharted territory. As of homeowners watched their wealth erode in just a second quarter 2009, the U.S. economy is few months time. in its third consecutive quarter of contraction. The Unfortunately, the decline in the housing market national unemployment rate stands at 8.1 percent, soon spread to the rest of the financial sector. the highest rate since 1983. Even the most Most mortgages were securitized and sold to optimistic forecasts are calling for the economy institutions and investors around the world. As to contract until late 2009, and the employment defaults grew, these securities became worth picture to worsen until 2010. much less than was paid for them. Ultimately, The economic downturn was precipitated, in capital markets froze, and they still are not large part, by defaults in the sub-prime mortgage working properly despite the best efforts of the market as adjustable rate mortgages were reset. Federal Reserve, the Treasury and the FDIC. The defaults subsequently impacted the rest of With banks and other financial institutions not the housing market. Housing starts are down lending, consumers not spending and businesses 79 percent from a January 2006 peak and home not borrowing, the result has been a world-wide values have declined 28 percent nationally since recession of a magnitude and scope not seen peaking in May 2006. This loss in value has since the Great Depression. Change in Jobs by Industry in the Kansas City Region Manufacturing Construction TCPU 2007 Q4–2008 Q4 2008 Q4–2009 Q4 Wholesale 2009 Q4–2010 Q4 Retail FIRE Services Government Other -20,000 -15,000 -10,000 -5,000 0 5,000 10,000 Source: MARC and REMI (Regional Economic Models Inc.) 61 Housing Index by Metro Area Source: Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight Because of the depth, breadth and length of the As bad as this recession is, Kansas City is recession, it is no surprise that all parts of the expected to rebound slightly faster than the U.S. nation, are feeling its impact. Kansas City is no as a whole. Many Sunbelt metros saw housing exception. The region is expected to mirror the values rise dramatically between 2002 and 2006 national economy as it contracts throughout before the housing bubble popped. The Office of most of 2009 before showing some slow growth Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight estimates rates in the fourth quarter and into 2010. On the that home values in Las Vegas have declined 37 employment front, the region is expected to lose percent since the end of 2006. Miami saw a 25 approximately 50,000 jobs between the middle of percent decline. Kansas City area homes only 2008 and 2010. declined 2 percent, so area homeowners have These employment losses will be felt across all not experienced the sudden loss of wealth to the industries, with the exception of government degree that homeowners in some other parts of employment, which is expected to see modest the country have. growth over the next two years. The service Also, Kansas City's major banks have traditionally industry makes up more than 40 percent of the been more conservative in their lending practices. region's total employment, and typically leads This serves them well in the current environment, all industries in employment growth. During as Kansas City banks are less exposed to the this recession, services are expected to lose over financial problems caused by questionable 15,000 jobs, more than any other industry. Job mortgages. losses of over 5,000 are expected in each of the Additionally, the region's greater stability can be following industries: manufacturing, construction, attributed to some basic characteristics of Kansas retail and finance. Modest employment growth City's economy, including its relatively low cost is expected in 2010, led by the service industry, of living, its above-average labor productivity and which should gain of about 7,000 jobs. its association with basic industries such as food production and distribution. 62 Structure of the Economy and Labor Force Additional high-intensity employment corridors Geographically, the Kansas City region no longer include the I-35 corridor to the southwest through has a single center of economic activity. Instead, Johnson County, the I-435/College Boulevard the activity is stretched out along corridors that corridor running east-west in south Johnson tend to follow the Interstate highway system. County, and the I-29 corridor running northeast from downtown to the airport. These corridors Employment is most concentrated in the original and their respective employment levels are shown Central Business corridor, a spine that runs from in the map and table on the next page. the Missouri River on the north to the Country Club Plaza area on the south. Employment Density, 2000 Source: InfoUSA, edited and mapped by MARC 63 KC Region Major Employment Corridors Source: MARC, Kansas City Star Employment in High-Intensity Employment Corridors Source: InfoUSA, 2000 Census, tabulated by MARC. TAZ stands for Transportation Analysis Zone as defined for the 2000 Census. Though the two sources use different methods — InfoUSA surveys businesses about their payrolls while the Census asks residents about their principal job — the two sources produce similar results. 64 As in most areas of the country, workers in the dropped to 39 percent. Those with a bachelor's Kansas City region are becoming more educated. degree or higher increased from roughly a quarter As recently as 1990, about half the region's adults of the population to one-third. had not completed any college. By 2006, that had Educational Attainment, 1990 and 2006 (Metropolitan Kansas City) 1990 Graduate or professional degree Less than High 8% School 18% Bachelor's degree 16% Associate's degree 6% High School 31% Some College No Degree 21% 2006 Graduate or professional degree Less than High School 11% 11% Bachelor's degree 21% High School 28% Associate's degree 7% Some College No Degree 22% Source: 1990 Census and 2006 American Community Survey, US Census Bureau 65 Most of the region's employees work in Transportation and production occupations round service-related occupations, led by office out the top five largest categories for the region, and administrative support, sales, and indicating the region retains some strength in its food preparation and serving occupations. historic industrial base. Occupational Employment, 2006 (Metropolitan Kansas City) Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 66 A more interesting picture emerges if we examine that occupation. If local growth matches national the occupational structure relative to the U.S., growth, the change in share is zero. If the both in terms of growth and in terms of degree occupation grows faster locally than nationally (or of concentration. Location quotients measure if it declines less rapidly in the case of shrinking the degree of relative concentration — that is, occupations), then the local share of that an occupation's share of the local labor market occupation's employment will grow. Conversely, relative to its share of the national labor market. the local share diminishes when either national For example, if locally 20 percent of workers are growth exceeds local growth or decline nationally employed in a given occupation, while nationally is less than decline locally. the share is 10 percent, this yields a location Placing location quotient on the y-axis and quotient of 2. percent change in share on the x-axis, the To measure growth in an occupation locally following picture of the region's occupational versus nationally, one can examine changes in structure emerges: the local share of the national employment in Relative Occupational Concentration (2006) and Growth, 1999-2006 Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics. The average annual wages are classified into four groups, high (greater than $50,000, shown in red), middle (between $35,000 and $50,000, shown in orange), low-middle (between $25,000 and $35,000, shown in green) and low (less than $25,000, shown in blue). Legal occupations are not shown because they appear to have undergone some kind of definitional change between 1999 and 2001. 67 The Kansas City region's total occupational significance taking place there, to Columbia, employment is reflected by the size of the Missouri. This corridor contains 100 businesses "bubble." In addition, occupational wages are whose parent companies comprise one-third of classified by color, with higher incomes shown the total animal health market. The most recent in "hotter" colors and lower incomes shown in success was the announcement of a new $40 "cooler" ones. million lab in Olathe, Kansas, for Fort Dodge The four quadrants are classified into areas of Animal Health focusing on the research and strength, weakness, opportunities and threats. development of new vaccines and medicines. Strengths are where the region has a relatively The region's other opportunities may not truly high concentration in occupations that are reflect regional strengths, however. Growth growing more rapidly here than average. in protective services and social services, for Weaknesses are the opposite — both low example, may indicate that the problems of growth and low specialization. The region has crime and social isolation here are growing faster opportunities in occupations that are growing here than elsewhere. more rapidly here than average, but still have The region's largest specialization is in computer a lower than average degree of concentration. occupations. This is largely the result of DST, Conversely, the region is threatened most by a firm performing a large portion of the data occupations in which it has a significant processing for the financial industry, and Cerner, specialty, but in which it is performing worse a leading firm in the move to computerize health than the nation. records. In addition, Garmin, the nation's leading Based on this classification, it appears the Kansas supplier of GPS equipment, employs significant City region has neither exceptional strengths nor numbers of programmers to increase the ease exceptional weaknesses. Its strongest occupations of use and market penetration of their devices. are architects and engineers, reflecting a While the region retains a significant specialty concentration of such firms locally, as well as in computer occupations, those occupations are arts and entertainment, reflecting the presence unexpectedly growing slower than the nation. of Hallmark's headquarters and associated Now that the decline in management occupations spin-off firms. has turned what was only a threat into an actual The region's weakness of greatest concern is weakness, the decline in the relative growth of management occupations, which are high-paying computer occupations makes their performance occupations growing significantly slower here the region's biggest current threat. than nationally. In addition, while not shown Additionally, it is worrisome that the region's on the chart, as recently as 2001, management second largest specialization, that of business and occupations were more concentrated here than financial occupations, is also growing slower than nationally — similar to business and financial here than nationally. The threat posed by these occupations — whereas by 2006, they were less. two sectors is magnified by the fact that they are This is probably due to the downsizing occurring also among the region's highest-paid occupations, at Sprint-Nextel, but other regional headquarters as is its biggest weakness, management have also struggled or vanished, such as Interstate occupations. Bakeries and Farmland Industries. The local workforce investment strategies The region's largest opportunity is in life sciences. discussed within the CEDS, referred to as the Though this sector is still a smaller-than-average One KC WIRED Region Industry Profile, were employer here compared to other parts of the jointly developed by the Missouri Economic nation, it is growing much faster and its location Research and Information Center and the quotient is increasing. In large part, this is due to Kansas Department of Commerce's Division of the multi-billion dollar endowment of the Stowers Workforce Development. Institute and an economic development strategy that has focused on creating an animal health corridor stretching from Manhattan, Kansas, drawing on the agricultural research of national 68 A similar analysis can be conducted for industries. responsible for 25 percent of the region's total The services industry is the largest employer in output. the Kansas City economy with 41 percent of The service industry is followed by the finance, the total. Government and retail follow with 13 insurance and real estate industry, with 19 percent and 11 percent, respectively. No other percent of the region's output. Even though sector has more than 10 percent of the region's manufacturing accounts for just 6 percent of the employment. region's employment, its high level of productivity Output, which is roughly equivalent to sales, compared to services results in a 19 percent share shows a somewhat different picture. The services of output, matching that of the finance, insurance industry is still the largest sector, but it is only and real estate sector. A similar story holds true Estimated Employment by Industry, 2006 Employment by Industry Other Manuufacturing 2% 6% Government Construction 13% 6% TPU 4% Information 4% Wholesale 4% Retail 11% Services 41% FIRE Source: MARC, REMI 9% FIRE = Finance, Insurance and Real Estate TPU = Transportation and Public Utilities Source: REMI model, MARC Estimated Output by Industry, 2006 Output by Industry Other 0.2% Manufacturing 18.6% Services 24.8% Construction 4.9% TPU 6.4% FIRE 18.8% Information 12.8% Source: MARC, REMI Retail Wholesale FIRE = Finance, Insurance and Real 6.6% 6.9% Estate TPU = Transportation and Public Utilities Source: REMI model, MARC 69 for the information industry, which includes The Kansas City region's biggest threat comes telecommunications. Despite the troubles of from the information industry. The region has the Sprint-Nextel, information still accounts for 13 highest location quotient in this sector among percent of the region's total output, even though it large metropolitan areas in the U.S. due to the only employs 4 percent of its workers. presence of Sprint-Nextel's operations center in Using the same kind of graph for industries as suburban Overland Park, Kansas, which currently was used for occupations to examine strengths, employs 13,000 people. This industry is highly weaknesses, opportunities and threats, what is competitive and, since 2001, has seen some immediately apparent is that over the 2001-2006 consolidation nationally. In the Kansas City period, no industry was a source of significant region, the Information sector lost over 10,000 strength. The "bubbles" in the graph below are jobs between 2001 and 2006, most of which have decidedly weighted to left, signifying more threats been at Sprint-Nextel. and weaknesses during this period than strengths and opportunities. Relative Industry Concentration (2006) and Employment Growth, 2001-2006 Kansas City Economy 2001-2006 Threats - High Specialization, Low Growth Strengths - High Specialization, High Growth 2 Information 1.8 1.6 1.4 Location Quotient Fed Civilian Transp, Wrhsng. Finance, Ins. 1.2 Arts, Enter, Rec Wholesale Prof, Tech Svcs Retail Mgmt. of Co. Constr. 1 Health Care State & Local Gov 0.8 Mfg. Fed Military Educational Svcs. 0.6 Weaknesses - Low Specialization, Low Growth Opportunities - Low Specialization, High Growth Mining 0.4 -15.00% -10.00% -5.00% 0.00% 5.00% 10.00% 15.00% Change in National Share Source: MARC, REMI. 70 Due to its centrality, the transportation and Special Initiatives warehousing industry remains another area of Two community development efforts are specialization for the region. Unfortunately, it bringing local officials together to support too is categorized as a threat since transportation economic development in older portions of employment growth has not kept up with the rest the metropolitan area. of the nation. However, both BNSF and Kansas City Southern railways are investing heavily in The first effort, the First Suburbs Coalition, was constructing new intermodal freight centers. initiated in 2002 by the Mid-America Regional Once completed, this threat should return to the Council to help local officials with common strengths quadrant. community challenges share information. Even some rapidly growing industries have First suburbs are communities where a majority underperformed the nation. The health care of the housing was built just after World War II industry appears to be growing slower than the and limited undeveloped land exists within nation despite adding some 10,000 jobs since city boundaries. 2001. Moreover, this industry does not comprise These communities are now experiencing some of as large a share of the regional economy, the issues that have plagued core cities, including compared to the rest of the nation, despite serving businesses moving out and declining retail sales, as a regional health center for the surrounding increases in rental housing, stagnant or declining rural areas. This implies that either health care is housing values, and issues related to maintaining delivered more efficiently here, or service levels their infrastructure. may be lower than in other metropolitan areas Neighborhoods with these issues do not around the country. always fall neatly within a given community Surprisingly, manufacturing appears to be the so, for example, the cities of Independence region's biggest opportunity. It is important to and Overland Park have large sections of their realize, however, that local manufacturing's communities that are classified as first suburbs, superior performance relative to national growth but they also have sections that are growing and trends is the result of its employment levels considered new suburbs. Core cities, such as declining slower here than nationally. In fact, Kansas City, Missouri, and Kansas City, Kansas, the industry lost 3,000 jobs between 2001 and also have neighborhoods that fall into the first 2006. Nonetheless, the region's strength in suburb categorization. The coalition has grown manufacturing springs from its relatively high in the number of participating communities. The rate of productivity, with workers here producing First Suburbs Coalition consists of the following about 40 percent more output per hour than the communities: national average. This productivity continues to Kansas Missouri be rewarded by area manufacturers, even those in the process of downsizing nationally. For Fairway Gladstone example, Ford has closed or idled 10 plants in the Merriam Grandview last several years, and has plans to do the same Mission Independence for six more. However, Ford chose Kansas City's Mission Hills North Kansas City Claycomo plant as one of the five that will get Mission Woods Raytown new "flexible" body shops that allow it to produce Overland Park Riverside more than one model on the same production Prairie Village Sugar Creek line. This makes it highly likely that Ford will not Roeland Park close the Claycomo plant within the foreseeable Westwood future. In addition, the region has several Westwood Hills initiatives to promote advanced manufacturing, which uses technology to overcome the labor cost advantage in developing countries. 71 In aggregate, almost 50 percent of the housing has helped leverage more than $4.5 million in First Suburbs communities was built between in cleanup and more than $100 million in 1940 and 1970. Coalition members represent redevelopment funding to restore urban area almost 25 percent of the metropolitan area's brownfields properties. population. The city of Kansas City, Mo., has focused on the The First Suburbs Coalition has identified Central Industrial District at the confluence of three key issues that form the basis for the the Missouri and Kansas Rivers. One of the more organization's agenda: successful projects is the Westside Industrial Park, • Modernizing housing stock, which was which includes the transformation of a 22-acre principally built in the years following the rail yard and historic railroad roundhouse. second World War. This housing stock is The two communities have assessed over 350 often smaller than current standards, does not properties for redevelopment potential. A number contain the amenities that are expected in a of the region's first suburbs are evaluating older modern home, may have been built with lower manufacturing and warehousing properties to quality materials, and often were built on a lot determine if brownfields programs could assist that allows little room for expansion. in the reuse and redevelopment of vacant or • Retaining and attracting businesses that underutilized properties. serve their communities. Retail businesses, Comparison to Peer Metros in particular, have moved to more modern suburban locations stripping first suburbs of The prior analysis compares the region to the U.S. services and revenue. It is also instructive to compare its performance against a set of peer metros. These peers were • Maintaining and upgrading old infrastructure defined by the Brookings Institution after is a key issue for first suburbs. This task is conducted a cluster analysis for CEOs for Cities. especially difficult when revenue is stagnant or MARC incorporated the peer definition into its declining. comprehensive set of indicators, Metro Outlook The First Suburbs Coalition meets quarterly, and (accessible at www.metrooutlook.org). has produced an Idea Book to provide guidance The peer metros identified by Brookings are: to residents who want to modernize the older modest homes in these communities. A new • Denver Green Remodeling Idea Book has recently been • Indianapolis released. The Coalition has worked with an area • Minneapolis credit union, Community America, to offer a low- interest home equity loan to help homeowners • Omaha with improvements. The Coalition has developed • Salt Lake City a marketing campaign to promote the older Brookings also suggested including Austin as a suburbs as a location for residents and businesses. metro that is in a cluster performing higher than The second regional effort is the work to identify Kansas City's, and St. Louis as an example of a and promote reinvestment in brownfields. metro performing in a cluster lower than Kansas Brownfields are older industrial properties that City's. were contaminated with hazardous chemicals as In addition, depending on data availability or part of the business activity at the site. Many of to provide clearer upper and lower bounds to these properties are in economically depressed the data, we sometimes also include Dallas as parts of the region, and reinvestment in the an example of a larger metro with no land properties is made more challenging due to the constraints and Portland as an example of a environmental mediation that is required. metro making a concerted effort to create a The Unified Government of Wyandotte County/ more compact urban form. Kansas City, Kansas, has worked with the city of Kansas City, Missouri, on a Brownfields Assessment Demonstration Project, which 72 In 2006, the Kansas City region's median Those higher median incomes in Denver and household income was approximately $50,000. Minneapolis are at least partially offset by higher Most of its peers also had a median income of costs of living. Omaha has the lowest cost of approximately $50,000. The exceptions are living, followed by Kansas City. Denver and Minneapolis, with median household incomes of $55,000 and $60,000, respectively. 2006 Median Household Income (Dollars) Median household income (dollars) $65,000 $60,000 $55,000 $50,000 $45,000 $40,000 $35,000 $30,000 l is ity au a d s ity r is in ve ah an la ol ou C st C .P ap al en m rtl Au ke .L as D St an O Po D La St ns s- di pl Ka lt In M Sa Source: US Census Bureau, 2006 American Community Survey Living 2004 Cost ofLiving Index Index Cost of 120.0 100.0 80.0 60.0 40.0 20.0 0.0 Omaha Kansas City Indianapolis Dallas Salt Lake Austin St. Louis Denver Minneapoli Portland City s-St. Paul Source: ACCRA 73 In particular, housing costs are significantly higher Not only is housing relatively inexpensive in relative to median incomes in Minneapolis, metropolitan Kansas City, residents rate its Denver and Austin, where roughly 70 percent of neighborhoods highly. housing is affordable by the median household. On a scale of one to 10, a higher proportion of By contrast, nearly 90 percent of the housing in residents give their neighborhood a "10" than in the Kansas City region is affordable by the any of the region's peers. median household, a figure exceeded only by Indianapolis. Housing Cost Index, 2004 Source: National Association of Homebuilders, Housing Opportunity Index Neighborhood Self-Rating, 2005 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Housing Survey, 2005 for Kansas City, latest available for other metros 74 In addition to inexpensive, high-quality economic performance relative to its peers. neighborhoods, it is also easy to get around Though employment grew faster in the Kansas metropolitan Kansas City by car. Traffic City region than the U.S. average during the congestion, as measured by the amount of time 1990s, this rate of growth was still below that of delayed in traffic, is significantly lower here than every peer except for St. Louis. This trend has among the peer metros. continued through the first half of the 2000s While the region ranks high in these quality-of- as well. life factors, the story changes when examining Weeks of Work Delayed in Traffic, 2003 Source: Texas Transportation Institute Change in Total Non-Farm Employment, 2000-2005 and 1990-2000,Employment Change 1990-2005 70.0% 60.0% 50.0% 40.0% 30.0% 20.0% 10.0% 0.0% A ustin Salt Lake City Denver M inneapolis-St. Indianapolis Omaha Kansas City St. Louis P aul -10.0% 1990-2000 2000-2005 Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 75 The Kansas City region's biggest industrial Due to the Kansas City region's centrality, specialty is information. It is home to the transportation has been one of its historical operational headquarters of Sprint-Nextel (and the strengths. Here too, however, its 1990s World Headquarters of Sprint prior to their 2004 performance placed it in the middle of its peers, merger). Even so, its 1990s performance placed while its performance since 2000 means that only it only in the middle of its peers, and the 10,000 the St. Louis area added fewer transportation jobs jobs shed by Sprint-Nextel since 2000 means over the 1990-2005 period. the region added the fewest jobs over the entire 1990-2005 period among its peers. Change in Information Employment, 1990-2000, 2000-2005 and 1990-2005 Change in Information Sector Employment 50,000 40,000 30,000 20,000 10,000 0 -10,000 -20,000 -30,000 -40,000 Denver Austin Salt Lake Minneapolis- Omaha Indianapolis St. Louis Kansas City City St. Paul 1990-2000 2000-05 1990-2005 Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics Change in Transportation Employment, 1990-2000, 2000-2005 and 1990-2005 Change in Transportation Sector Employment 25,000 20,000 15,000 10,000 5,000 - (5,000) (10,000) Indianapolis Denver Salt Lake Austin Omaha Minneapolis- Kansas City St. Louis City St. Paul 1990-2000 2000-05 Total Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 76 By contrast, an emerging strength seems to be the Future success in this sector may hinge on the field professional and technical services. Not only region's innovation capacity. Here, the data is did the Kansas City region perform in the middle mixed, at best. The Kansas City area's percentage of its peers during the 1990s, since then it has of residents with a bachelor's degree or higher added the most jobs in this sector. places it in the middle of its peers, though significantly behind Austin, Denver and Minneapolis. Change in Professional/Technical Services Employment, 1990-2000, 2000-2005 and 1990-2005 Change in Professional-Technical Services Sector Employment 50000 40000 30000 20000 10000 0 -10000 Denver Austin Mpls-St.Paul Kansas City Salt Lake City St. Louis Omaha 90-2000 2000-05 Overall Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics Percent of Population Age 25 or Over with at Least a Bachelor's Degree Percent of Population Age 25 or Over with a Bachelor's Degree or Higher 40.0% 35.0% 30.0% 25.0% 20.0% 15.0% 10.0% 5.0% 0.0% Austin Denver Minneapolis- Kansas City Omaha Salt Lake Indianapolis St. Louis St. Paul City Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2000 77 A key component of innovation capacity is a Another key component of innovation capacity is region's ability to generate business startups. a region's ability to foster entrepreneurship. The Again, the Kansas City area's rate of creating new data here are only available by state, but it is clear firms (the heavy blue line with diamond markers that Kansas and Missouri lag behind the states in the chart below) places it in the middle of its containing the region's peers in their success in peers, though significantly behind Austin, Denver generating entrepreneurs, with Missouri last and and Salt Lake City. Kansas third to last. Firm Births Per 10,000 Existing Enterprises Firm Birth per Exisitng Enterprise 200.0 180.0 Kansas City 160.0 St. Louis 140.0 Denver 120.0 Minneapolis-St. Paul Austin 100.0 Indianapolis 80.0 Omaha Salt Lake City 60.0 40.0 20.0 0.0 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Source: Small Business Administration Entrepreneurs Per 100,000 People, 2005 Entrepreneurs per 100,000 People, 2005 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 as h a ta n n i ka do s s ur ta w go oi a i so ns x as so ra ns Io U in Te re ne co o Ill is Ka r O eb ol is M in C N W M Source: Kauffman Index of Entrepreneurial Activity, State Report, 2005, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation 78 Patents are a measure of the inventiveness of a Venture capital flows to where the promising region's residents, businesses and universities. new ideas and products are being developed. Unfortunately, those in the Kansas City area Unfortunately, this market-based measure of generate fewer of patents than any of its peers, innovation potential also shows the Kansas City with the exception of Omaha. region to be underperforming relative to its peers, with the exception of Indianapolis. Total Patents, 2003 Source: Institute for Strategy and Competitiveness, Harvard Business School. Total patents calculated by MARC by multiplying together the reported patents per employee and total employees for 2003 Venture Capital Investments as a Percent of Gross Metropolitan Product Venture capital invested as a share of gross metropolitan product 2.00% 1.80% 1.60% 1.40% 1.20% 1.00% 0.80% 0.60% 0.40% 0.20% 0.00% Austin Denver Portland Minneapolis St. Louis Dallas Salt Lake Kansas Indianapolis City City Source: Progressive Policy Institute, Metropolitan New Economy Index 79 Nonetheless, much of a region's capacity to In addition, the region's workforce retains an innovate comes from its ability to attract those edge in productivity. Kansas City ranks third in people with the highest innovation propensity, manufacturing productivity, behind Austin and and this is typically young, unmarried college Portland. The region cannot rest on its laurels, graduates. Here the Kansas City region fares however. It was ranked second in 1997. Between better. Though still in the middle of its peer group 1997 and 2002, Portland passed Kansas City and of metros, it attracts this demographic at rates Indianapolis is following closely behind. approaching the leaders — Portland, Denver and Dallas — and significantly above the rest of its peers. Net Migration Rate of the Young, Unmarried, Percent of Young (25-39), Single, College Educated Residents Who Educated, 1995-2000 College Migrated In (1995-2000) 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% Portland Denver Dallas-Ft. Kansas City Indianapolis Minneapolis- Salt Lake Austin Omaha St. Louis Worth St. Paul City Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2000 Census Manufacturing Productivity: Output per Production Worker Hour, 1997 and 2002 Manufacturing Productivity Output per Production Worker Hour $250 $200 $150 $100 $50 $0 Austin Portland Kansas City Indianapolis Dallas St. Louis Minneapolis Denver Salt Lake City Omaha 1997 2002 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 1997 and 2002 Censuses of Manufacturing 80 The endowment of the Stowers Institute to research and development in the region. The and the creation of the Kansas City Area creation of the Kansas Biosciences Institute will Life Sciences Institute have resulted in a enable the region to continue its progress in this rapidly increasing level of funding related highly competitive field. Funding for Life Sciences, Metropolitan Kansas City Source: Kansas City Area Life Sciences Institute Identification of Strategic Opportunities With nearly 2 million people, the quality of life living and high labor productivity. As a result, in the Kansas City continues to allow it to attract the region is focusing its efforts on building and residents. The ease of getting around and low cost attracting advanced manufacturing companies that of housing relative to incomes are strong selling use leading-edge technologies to produce globally points, as are its tree-lined boulevards and great cost-competitive goods. This supported by its neighborhoods. Importantly, the region is finding AIM-KC initiative to bridge the gaps between there are still advantages to its historical strengths. the needs of advanced manufacturers and the Capitalizing on the region's role in logistics as capabilities and interests of the current workforce. the nation's second largest rail hub, significant The center part of the region, in particular truck freight operations and its vast supply of its downtown, is also experiencing a rebirth. developable land in the center of the country, The combination of increased levels of higher Kansas City Southern and BNFS railways are income housing, the completion of big projects building state-of-the-art intermodal facilities in such as the Sprint Arena, the Kansas City Live the southern part of the metropolitan area. In entertainment district and organic growth such particular, Kansas City Southern's access to the as the arts district know as the Crossroads have Pacific Ocean through Mexico, combined with increasingly turned downtown into a nighttime as the congestion of western U.S. ports, means well as daytime destination. Kansas City will play an expanding role in Though currently experiencing tough times, international trade, especially with China. Sprint-Nextel continues to be an early adopter of Centrality has also played a role in manufacturing Wi-Max, the technology capable of giving whole efficiency, along with the relatively low cost of cities wireless broadband access to the Internet. 81 Missouri Total Combined Truck Freight Flows, 1998 Source: Missouri Department of Economic Development This positions it for a rebound, though the genes and proteins that control fundamental extent depends upon its ability to execute this processes in living cells. Created by Jim and strategy while simultaneously improving its Virginia Stowers, cancer survivors and founders customer relations and the performance of its of American Century Investments, the Stowers existing network. Institute opened its doors to the first scientific The region's historic role in agriculture has research teams in November 2000 after positioned it as part of a growing life sciences completion of a state-of-the-art research facility industry. What used to be viewed as relic of in Kansas City, Missouri. Seven years later, the Kansas City's "cow-town" days is now part of Institute accommodates 24 independent research a burgeoning animal health corridor stretching programs. It has been estimated that that the from Manhattan, Kansas, to Columbia, Missouri endowment given by Jim and Virginia Stowers — home to companies that comprise one-third matches the $3 billion in public funding recently of the world-wide animal health industry. In committed to by the entire state of California. addition, the Kansas Bioscience Authority is To capitalize on this investment, the community investing heavily in the area, resulting in Fort created Kansas City Area Life Sciences Institute Dodge Animal Health, a billion dollar company, (KCALSI) to help improve the area's capacity to deciding to consolidate its scientists in a new $40 commercialize the new technologies million lab in the KBA's research park. Moreover, being developed. Kansas State University is in the running for the Together, these efforts focus the region's national center on bioterrorism. investments so they are simultaneously consistent Complementing animal health is the work in with its historic strengths and future-oriented, human health by the Stowers Institute for Medical enhancing metropolitan Kansas City's capacity to Research, which conducts basic research on play a stronger role in the U.S. and global economies. 82 CHAPTER 3: Vision and Goals for Regional Economic Prosperity T he Kansas City region is a diverse 2. High levels and use of human capacity community, with 1.8 million residents in • This begins with universal quality education urban, suburban and rural places across that not only leaves no child behind, but over 4,400 square miles. The region is located in also enables all children to reach their the nation's heartland, and has prospered due to full potential. its location and strategic assets. The region, like many urban centers across the United States, is • To ensure that children enter school ready being affected by changing global demographic, to learn and that parents are actively economic and environmental factors. involved in their children's learning requires strong family support systems. The region's assets were historically tied to its location and its transportation infrastructure. • Existing racial disparities mean that a large Overlapping studies and plans prepared for segment of the population is underutilized. the Kansas City region all agree that the U.S. Instead of being uncomfortable with and regional economies are now driven by differences, we need to develop a culture innovation. The region is in competition that embraces diversity as a source of with other regions in the U.S. and the entire strength, resilience and innovation. world. The future economy is dependent upon 3. Inherent attractiveness of place attracting and retaining talented people. At the and amenities metropolitan level, talented people choose to live in regions with unique, high-quality natural • Virtually all regions have some great and built features (attractiveness of place) where suburbs. But great regions also have a institutions create opportunities to participate in a vital urban center that gives the area a competitive economy. unique identity and all regional residents something to be proud of. Through a regional indicators project, Metro Outlook, a set of well defined goals was framed • World-class cultural and recreational for the region. These goals are sequenced in opportunities also create a sense of place relationship to each other and have been framed in a region. While often associated with to reflect a vision for development of the region. the urban center, such amenities may The goals include: also be located in suburban, natural or historic areas. 1. Economic competitiveness rooted in • What's most important is a region where all innovative capacity parts are healthy. So in addition, the best • Such competitiveness requires regions to regions also have thriving first suburbs — specialize in what they do best, creating the areas with the oldest post-World War II highly developed clusters of activity where housing — along with vital downtowns and competing firms spur each other to higher growing new suburbs. levels of performance. • All regions experience growth along the • University excellence is at the root of most interface between urban development basic innovations. It is also an attraction for and rural places. These areas and the young, talented student-entrepreneurs and many small communities on the fringe of the seed capital to nourish them. the region's urban development should 83 encourage sustainable economic growth policy. In addition, average citizens may that values agricultural and natural resources be more willing to accept risk and change while increasing economic and social than those citizens their leaders most often opportunities for small community residents. hear from. 4. Social cohesion 6. Efficiency in the use of resources • Communities with a high level of trust • In the long run, economic competitiveness across geographic and social boundaries must operate within natural limits. are better able to understand and reconcile Moreover, a healthy natural environment differing points of view. can be a significant attraction to talented • This enables them to reach agreement on people. actions and policies that serve the common • In addition, greater efficiency ultimately good. This agreement supports broader means lower costs and increased capacity housing choices for residents and respect for investing in the future. In particular, for differing races and cultures. In turn, this strong mobility and accessibility networks increases the ability of local communities to can help save time and energy costs and, attract sustainable development. in addition, increase the sense of place and level of social cohesion. 5. Strategic decision-making capacity The region's efforts to achieve these goals will • Making strategic regional decisions also be dependent upon both public and private requires effective leadership institutions actions. Some of the key regional partners to develop a policy agenda and garner involved in work toward these goals are described the support necessary to successfully in Chapter 4. Chapter 5 outlines specific projects, implement it. programs and activities to achieve these goals. In • That support is easier to obtain if the region addition, the specific action strategies outlined in possesses an engaged citizenry able to Chapter 6 are tied directly to the goals outlined influence policy. While discussions may in this chapter. lead to compromise, the end result is usually a better and more widely embraced 84 CHAPTER 4: Community and Private Sector Participation T he Kansas City area has a history of public "under utilized, under built, under recognized and private sector cooperation when it and under energized." Residents knew the region comes to economic development. The had a lot to offer, but not everyone in other areas Mid-America Regional Council (MARC) works shared that perception. within the region to provide leaders with tools In the 1970s, area leaders decided that the to develop a great region, while the Kansas City region needed a major ongoing public relations Area Development Council (KCADC) markets campaign. By 1976, the time had come to the region to the outside world. Together, these capitalize on Kansas City's image. It was time to two organizations represent a platform for the directly compete with other cities for firms that community to come together and discuss the were expanding or relocating. It was time to turn future development of the Kansas City region. publicity into jobs and visitors into investments. Private leaders decided the way to do this was Mid-America Regional Council to create an autonomous but affiliated economic MARC seeks to build a stronger regional development organization, which became known community through cooperation, leadership as the Kansas City Area Development Council, and planning. Through MARC's leadership, area representing 18 counties in the region. jurisdictions and diverse community interests sit In 1994, KCADC launched the Smart down together to address the region's problems Cities campaign marketing the region as a and identify opportunities for cooperative telecommunications and high-tech hub. It set the solutions. These efforts, in turn, enhance the standard across the nation for how to brand a city. effectiveness of local government. In 2004, KCADC launched its current OneKC and As a voluntary association, MARC strives to ThinkKC campaigns. The campaigns took city foster better understanding and cooperation on branding to a whole new level as more than 250 issues that extend beyond the jurisdiction of a companies and communities used the brand in single city, county or state. These issues include their own marketing efforts. To date, KCADC transportation, early education, aging services, has attracted more than 500 new companies to emergency services, public safety and 9-1-1, the region. environmental issues and a host of others. MARC plays an active leadership role in OneKC WIRED strengthening the metropolitan community by OneKC WIRED includes many strategic partners, providing: such as AIM-KC (Alliance for Innovation in • A forum for addressing regional objectives Manufacturing — Kansas City), working closely and diverse community issues; with industry and community leaders who understand the importance of manufacturing • Long-range planning and public policy and the role it has in the future of the region, coordination; and and the nation. • Technical assistance and services to Other partners include: enhance the effectiveness of local government. • The Full Employment Council, a business-led, private, nonprofit corporation with a mission to Kansas City Area Development Council obtain private- and public-sector employment for the unemployed and underemployed As early as the late 1960s, Kansas City's private residents of the Greater Kansas City area. sector leaders expressed that Kansas City was 85 • Heartland Works, a private, nonprofit both states. The report will help Kansas City-area organization headquartered in Topeka, leaders gain a better understanding of the region's responsible for administering the U.S. economy and provide a benchmark for many of Department of Labor's Workforce Investment the One KC WIRED initiatives. Act programs in the counties that make up the Kansas Local Workforce Investment Other Organizations Board Area 2. In addition to the KCADC, the region is served by • The OneKC Regional Workforce Council, many local economic development organizations, serving as a regional advisory body to position chambers of commerce and 120 city and nine the public workforce system as a relevant county governments. These public and private talent-development pipeline for business organizations work cooperatively with one and economic development across political another and with the KCADC and MARC to jurisdictions in the 18 county bistate region. advance the goals of a successful region where all parts are healthy and strive toward OneKC WIRED's Region Industry Profile was sustainability. Through regional and local jointly developed by the Missouri Economic planning processes, thousands of area citizens Research and Information Center and the and business representatives guide the Kansas Department of Commerce's Division of development of land use, economic, and Workforce Development. This marks the first time infrastructure plans and policies. information of this nature has been exchanged by 86 Chapter 5: Strategic Projects, Programs and Activities CHAPTER 5: Strategic Projects, Programs and Activities T he region is made up of nine counties stakeholders on a set of principles for quality and 120 cities, each with its own goals development in urban, suburban and rural places. and strategies. A review of local plans Local communities, urban and suburban, struggle and discussions with local officials found that to maintain existing residential, commercial most communities have similar themes and and industrial places over time. Infrastructure statements of philosophy that are essential for needs reinvestment, and changing economic their communities and the region to achieve a demands require investments in different high-performing economy and a high quality of development options. Old industrial areas require life for metro area residents. Local community environmental mediation, while developed areas goals represent components of the region's goals often require environmental restoration. Common and local effort enhances regional opportunities themes and objectives among the Kansas City for success. area's local governments include: Consistent Themes Across Local • Reaffirm the importance of the region's Communities: urban core and support efforts to revitalize the urban core and older built 1. Create and maintain communities that are environments. A vital urban center gives the attractive places with amenities to meet the region a unique identity and a location for needs of a diverse population. the region's residents to be proud of. World- 2. Raise the capacity of governmental agencies to class cultural and recreational opportunities make strategic decisions. also create a sense of place. While often 3. Develop and retain human capital to compete associated with the urban center, such globally. amenities may also be located in suburban, natural or historic areas. 4. Capitalize on the region's strengths for strategic economic development, including creation • Many older industrial and commercial of a world class Life Science/Animal Health areas are considered Brownfields, and their Industry. redevelopment requires environmental mitigation. These areas could offer new 5. Capitalize on the region's strengths to build a residential and business opportunities in Transportation/Logistics/International unique older buildings and in close-in Trade Industry. locations. North Kansas City historically MARC is supporting the efforts of local represented Kansas City's industrial area. communities to create and maintain places It contains the largest percentage of older industrial buildings of any city of its size, that are attractive, with amenities to meet and has expressed interest in Brownfield the needs of a diverse population. redevelopment as it adapts the historic use In 1999, local governmental officials, private- of these buildings to fit into the sector development representatives and future economy. environmental group representatives met to • Sustainability is of growing concern to discuss how the region could develop and many communities, with a number of cities maintain quality places that were both sustainable signing the U.S. Conference of Mayors and economically vibrant. The initiative, Creating Climate Change Agreement. Sustainability Quality Places, gained consensus among diverse objectives include efforts to address air and 87 water quality goals, to conserve the use in the Kansas City area are considered some of energy, to use alternative energy and of the region's highest quality places to live. alternative fuels, to broaden transportation Yet these older suburbs have post-WWII options for residents and visitors, and housing that is not meeting the needs of the to encourage green building. New current marketplace. Specific communities development and redevelopment should be that have identified redevelopment as a designed in ways that allow for quality over principle economic development strategy the long-term. include Mission, Merriam, Roeland Park, • Downtown redevelopment is a consistent Raytown, Independence, North Kansas theme in cities of every size across City, Gladstone, Prairie Village, Platte City the region. Many communities pursue and the Unified Government of Wyandotte downtown redevelopment to maintain County/Kansas City, Kan. or recreate a sense of place for their The Kansas City region experienced over $4 residents and to take advantage of existing billion in construction activity in 2007, with one- commercial areas for economic activity. fourth in infrastructure investments, 39 percent Specific communities that have expressed in non-residential development and 37 percent interest in downtown redevelopment in residential construction. While development include Bonner Springs, Blue Springs, is down from earlier this decade, the Kansas City Excelsior Springs, Garden City, Grain region continues to experience job growth and Valley, Grandview, Harrisonville, Kearney, economic expansion. The Downtown Council Leavenworth, Lee's Summit, Liberty, Oak reported that construction investment in 2007 Grove, Olathe, Peculiar, Pleasant Hill, for 51 projects totaled $3.5 billion, including Raytown, Richmond, Smithville, Spring Hill, the Sprint Center, the Power and Light (retail) and Weston. District, the Convention Center expansion, the • The Kansas City region was built on its NCAA Basketball experience, and 2.7 million heritage, cultural and environmental square feet of office space. An additional 25 assets, and opportunities exist to promote projects valued at $3.4 billionare underway or those assets for the tourism industry. The in the pipeline, including a new performing arts Kansas City area is part of a new National center, the Federal Reserve Bank (completed Heritage Area, the Freedom's Frontier early 2008), new federal office buildings, new National Heritage Area. Local organizations housing and hotels, expansion of Children's are working to link activity centers with Mercy Hospital, and major office and retail transportation alternatives, create great development. Kansas City, Kan., has continued to streets, and create a new generation of be a leader in development in the past year, with regional amenities that recognize culture construction underway near the Kansas Speedway as commerce. for additional retail, entertainment and hotels. That part of the metro area has become a major • Protecting and restoring the region's highest tourist destination. quality natural resources. A new Natural Resources Inventory is available to local Development in the smaller communities officials to guide development decisions throughout the region is on a smaller scale, but in ways that protect important natural significant in total impact. The activities listed resources and help them choose appropriate for smaller communities are varied and represent development areas. the potential for the creation of an average of 430 construction-related jobs annually. This • Reinvestment in aging infrastructure to serve average investment is expected to be the result existing development properly and to allow of successful implementation of ongoing projects for economic expansion. This is a challenge generally representing $240 million in annual for all sizes of communities — urban, public investments on the local level. Sources of suburban and rural. funding for past and potential investments include • Promote quality communities with older state income tax credits and grants from likely established neighborhoods. The first suburbs sources such as CDBG, SRF, EDA, and 88 EDI to encourage new residential and annually to help local officials gain skills commercial investments. and knowledge to better manage their Local, state, and federal transportation funding communities and address growth and for infrastructure decisions will support private other economic development-related reinvestment. Energy conservation investments challenges. The GTI Leadership Academy are expected to make better use of limited offers an annual leadership program and resources throughout the region. The job creation certified managers program to increase associated with private investments per year for the leadership capacity available in historic preservation-related activities is 28 jobs communities of all sizes. These leadership per $1 million in private investment. Downtown programs support building the capacity for redevelopment in small cities throughout the governmental and civic leaders to make region will create 33 jobs per $1 million in strategic regional decisions. Other training private investment and tourism and will create programs through GTI also support small 310 jobs per 100,000 day-trip tourists to visit communities, including courses offered the area. through the Academy for Sustainable Communities, which has leadership, MARC is providing leadership to raise the technical and awareness programs. A capacity of smaller units of government to training program series for planning and take advantage of regional opportunities and zoning commissioners offers courses to address economic challenges. help volunteers in local communities increase their capacity to regulate economic The Brookings Institution notes that the overall development and land use development. rates of population growth or decline for By bringing local officials together for metropolitan counties often mask the growth that leadership, technical and awareness level goes on within certain geographic parts inside trainings, relationships among officials these counties. In the Kansas City region, many are built and strengthened. Communities of the smaller outlying cities are experiencing with high levels of trust across geographic ongoing unprecedented growth. boundaries and with diverse populations The metropolitan region is growing, some areas are better able to understand and reconcile more than others, but the impacts from growth differing points view. Local officials are are present in the need for infrastructure, revised better able to make connections to others, development regulations and growth policies, and increase their ability to identify and and protection of natural resources. The patterns solve common problems. of growth raise issues of infill development • Long-Range Planning — MARC is preparing versus sprawl; the dichotomy between the a new long-range transportation plan for outward urban expansion of a metro area's built the Kansas City region, which must be environment and rural land use; and how to adopted in 2009. A foundation of the pay for resulting infrastructure requirements and long-range plan is a set of demographic the amenities desired by residents in growing and economic forecasts, outlining where communities. The region's small cities indicate and at what intensity future development that they need larger, more experienced staff may occur. Local officials have participated resources and increased revenues. These small in the development of the forecasts, cities need growth-related development tools for using a technical tool, "Paint the Town," better planning and response to development that allows local officials to consider concerns, and help in identifying revenue sources alternative growth scenarios for the for other city operations and infrastructure. MARC region. MARC was awarded a grant from provides or plans to offer more focused attention the Federal Highway Administration to to assist these communities, including: better integrate environmental protection • Government Training Institute (GTI) goals into the region's transportation Training Program — The regional training work. Using the forecast information and program provides over 200 classes introducing the goals of social, economic 89 and environmental sustainability, MARC to attract employers. MARC offers grant will work with its Board of Directors and writing assistance to small cities by helping various committees to develop principles local officials determine how specific and strategies for better managing growth needs could be addressed, seeking grant and economic development over the opportunities, preparing grant applications next 30 years. The vision may take the and administering awarded grants. Many of form of a "cores and corridors" strategy, the grants are for public infrastructure that with development focused along major could support economic activity. MARC will transportation corridors and at key continue to offer these services. In addition, intersections. MARC will update the region's MARC will assist small cities with Certified public transit plan, Smart Moves, to ensure Site Planning. Certified Site Planning is that connecting workers to employment intended to provide targeted assistance to locations is a key objective. The updated the area's cities that will enable them to Smart Moves plan incorporates recent compete in site location activities occurring planning at the local level, particularly by in the region. Through the Certified Site Kansas City, Mo., which is working on Planning program, Stage 1 assistance would a light rail plan. The transit plan will be identify potential industrial/commercial designed to support redevelopment in older sites; Stage 2 assistance would quantify the corridors, particularly to take advantage of infrastructure needed to prepare the site transit-oriented development opportunities. for development; and Stage 3 assistance • Citizen Engagement — MARC worked would evaluate a community's readiness with a number of local and regional for attracting the targeted industry clusters organizations to launch a citizen they desire. The following communities engagement program, One KC Voice, in have indicated that they need help 2005. MARC will continue to focus on with identifying commercial/industrial building citizen engagement in regional and development areas within their cities: local discussions on the region's physical Cleveland, Garden City, Oak Grove, form and improving connection between Platte County, Kearney, Independence, regional organizations. Support for policy and Platte City. and community decisions is easier to MARC has engaged local officials in groups such obtain if the region possesses an engaged as the Edge Cities, First Suburbs, County Mayor citizenry able to influence public policy. Forums and elected officials meetings, where While discussions may lead to compromise, local community representatives come together to the end result is usually a better and more formulate priorities and strategies for addressing widely embraced policy. In addition, both regional and local economic challenges. average citizens may be more willing to Because this section is focused on planning and accept risk and change than those citizens supporting activities to better utilize construction their leaders most often hear from. dollars and improved investment decisions, • Local Economic Development Planning job creation and funding sources are not and Certified Site Planning — Many included here. small communities require assistance in Develop and retain the human capital preparing local economic development necessary for area firms to be sufficiently plans, or in identifying action steps to help them realize their economic goals. innovative to complete globally, while using MARC will help small cities outline their resources efficiently and sustainable. economic development goals, through Many policy and spending decisions are targeted comprehensive and economic development at improving community institutions themselves. plans, and in identify opportunities to These decisions typically direct investments advance those goals. Two specific activities to two areas — people and place. Investment will be supported, including grant writing/ in people (like schools, health care and job administration and development of tools support) raises the level of human capital in the 90 community, while an investment in place (like and economic development to meet the region's roads, sewers, and housing and community current and future needs. One KC WIRED is centers) raises the level of physical capital. As initially targeting the high-demand industries of wealth (i.e., human and physical capital) rises, advanced manufacturing, biotechnology, and these policy and investment decision make the healthcare; but will continue to assess regional community even more attractive to individuals and industry trends and explore strategies that and families. Existing racial disparities mean that a enhance the region's competitiveness. large segment of the population is underutilized. The One KC WIRED projects are organized into five We need to develop a culture that embraces major categories: diversity as a source of strength, resilience and innovation. • Building Capacity: Meeting Today's Workforce Needs to increase the pool of Every community strives to provide a universal highly skilled, educated and trained talent quality education that enables all children to capable of entering the knowledge-based reach their full potential. In the Kansas City workplace. region, six area school districts earned gold medals; three earned blue ribbons as measured • Expanding Skill Sets of Current Workforce: by Expansion Magazine. Demographics for the Incumbent Worker Training to allow region indicated that Kansas City possesses a well- existing employees to gain training to educated, extremely productive workforce; in keep their skills current with changing fact production workers in Kansas City contribute technologies 40 percent more value added per hour than the • Developing the Educational Continuum: national average. Our largest challenge will be The Workforce of Tomorrow by providing in making the transition from a goods-producing enhanced math and science educational economy to an economy rooted in information opportunities for children and youth. based services. • Creating Infrastructure and New Platforms: The Kansas City metro area competed nationally New Economies to take advantage of with more than 100 regions for a WIRED emerging technologies. (Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic • Regionalism: Thinking, Acting, Working and Development) grant from the U.S. Department Growing as One KC through public-private of Labor. The region was among 13 awarded a partnerships, collaborative programs and $15 million WIRED grant. WIRED is part of our services, and coordinated marketing. nation's global competitiveness strategy to build strong regional economies supported by a highly- Innovation is a process, and sustainable skilled workforce. MARC was the applicant for transformations take time to build. One KC the U.S. Departmetn of Labor grant to support WIRED is leveraging existing regional resources One KC WIRED. and relationships to design, demonstrate and disseminate innovative transformations in One KC WIRED is an innovative approach to workforce development throughout the region. regional workforce and economic development The rate at which initiatives move from the — one that recognizes the new reality that a demonstration phase to dissemination will vary. highly skilled, educated and trained workforce In some cases, broad dissemination — both is the essential foundation of a strong regional geographic and to other industry sectors — may economy. Through One KC WIRED, the not occur until after the initial grant period. region has created a dynamic, entrepreneurial A growing regional alliance is committed to partnership strategically designed to drive sustaining these efforts in the Kansas City region significant economic and workforce development beyond the period of the grant, including key transformation within an 18-county bistate leaders from business and industry, education and region. The initiative's partners are integrating training, economic development, state and local and building upon what were once independent government, and the philanthropic and activities to develop a comprehensive system of civic communities. workforce development, education and training, 91 The Metro Outlook study prepared by MARC The University of Missouri created the Center identified the following economic development for Regional Competitiveness in 2006 with the strategies as important to creating a high quality goal of becoming the nation's leader in regional innovative workforce to serve the Kansas competitiveness and regional development City region. policy. The Center aims to provide the decision Develop a coordinated workforce development tools and leadership mechanisms to support strategy. Missouri regions compete in the global economy. Together with other institutions of • Perform a comprehensive diagnostic of higher education in the Kansas City region, the existing regional workforce programs on Center will conduct a comprehensive study on both sides of the state line, identifying who Kansas City's place in the global economy, craft is doing what, who is being served, and a strategy to spur innovation and host a major who is being left behind and why. international conference on regional innovation. • Engage an umbrella group of local industry The Center's work will support the Kansas City groups, workforce development leads and region's Economic Development District goals educational institutions in an ongoing and objectives. dialogue on how they can work together to remedy weaknesses and gaps. Kansas City Area Life Science Institute is providing the leadership to capitalize on the • Ensure the system continually meets the skill needs of local industry. region's strengths for strategic economic development as a world class Life Science/ • Provide clear "career ladders" of training Animal Health Industry Center. and educational opportunities to help employees ascend from low-to high skilled The Kansas City Area Life Sciences Institute occupations. (KCALSI) is a non-profit organization assisting with the transformation of Kansas City into a • Connect minority youth to jobs to center for excellence in life sciences research and gain skills, experience and knowledge development. KCALSI and its stakeholder institutions concerning the needs of employers. share an ambitious goal — to make new discoveries Break down racial disparities in income and in aging and related diseases, neuro-degenerative assets. and cardiovascular diseases, cancer and infectious • Improve access to higher education. diseases and encourage related business development. • Develop focused campaigns to boost minority enrollment and ensure that In the animal health and nutrition industry, the minority students have the resources to Greater Kansas City area is a national leader, complete their training or degrees. accounting for nearly 34 percent of total sales in the $16.8 billion global animal health market. Companies • Establish regional prosperity campaigns to and universities in the Kansas City metro area lead build the assets of low-income and the nation in animal health and nutrition research, minority residents. innovation, business functions and production. • Organize a major effort to market the Key players in the Kansas City region's business, availability of earned income tax credits to education, scientific and government communities low-income residents. have joined together to cultivate a climate of • Organize a major effort to market the opportunity for companies competing in and availability of earned income tax credits to supporting the animal health and nutrition industry. low-income residents. Kansas City's historical strength in agricultural • Package federal and state supports and markets helped to lay the groundwork for its use online screening tools to determine current leadership position in animal health. programs eligibility and facilitate There are more than 13,000 trained employees enrollment. working in the animal health industry in the 92 Greater Kansas City Area. The universities and • Develop programs to prepare workers for technical training programs in the Kansas City high-skilled jobs. region produce more livestock veterinarians, • Boost research capacity at KU Medical animal science professionals and technicians than Center and UMKC. any other region of the United States. Kansas City is located within 300 miles of five of the leading – Adopt the recommendations of the veterinary schools in the U.S., plus local colleges Blue Ribbon Task Force which focus provide more than 40,000 new graduates every on building research capacity at the year. Additionally, the Greater Kansas City area University of Kansas Medical Center. hosts the headquarters of over 37 global leaders – Grow leadership at the University in the animal health industry, representing four of of Missouri–Kansas City (UMKC) to the 10 largest global animal health interests. enhance life science research capacity. Entrepreneur Magazine ranks Kansas City the Both Missouri and Kansas have developed number one place to start and grow a business in incentive programs to attract life science the Midwest and No. 11 nationally. The Kansas companies to the region to market the ideas City region is cited as being logistics-friendly to resulting from the research occurring in the European investment. The Metro Outlook study region. This industry cluster relies heavily on prepared by MARC identified the following the acquisition of research grants awarded in the economic development strategies as important area to support innovative ideas and solutions to to enhancing life sciences to serve the Kansas human and animal conditions. City region: Smart Port is in place to capitalize on the Boost the Region's Innovative Capacity region's strengths to build a Transportation/ • Recognize and leverage industry strengths Logistics/International Trade Industry. and firm legacies. The Kansas City region's economic development • Thoroughly examine unique specializations promotion organization, the Kansas City Area and niches as well as obstacles to growth. Development Council, promotes the Kansas City • Assess where economic development area as an ideal location for logistics facilities. dollars are spent. Two major intermodal facilities are currently • Realign current investments to support under development — one in and near Gardner, entrepreneurship and innovation. Kan., in the southwest portion of the region, and one at the former Richards Gebaur Air Force Base Establish collaborative vision and plan for property in South Kansas City, Mo. Both offer bolstering local commercialization and opportunities for major distribution facilities to entrepreneurship take advantage of rail and highway access. • Area universities, research institutions Kansas City Smart Port is a nonprofit economic business alliances, and state and local development organization formed to promote political leaders must come together to and enhance the Kansas City metro area's articulate a unified vision and strategic status as America's inland port solution. Smart plan aimed at taking the region's research Port has two main focuses in its mission. The capacity to the next level. first focus is to grow the area's transportation • Establish cooperative organizations, such industry by attracting businesses with significant as research consortia and entrepreneurial transportation and logistics elements. Second, support networks. Kansas City Smart Port strives to make it cheaper, • Cultivate a local network of venture faster, more efficient and secure for companies to capitalists and angel investor.s move goods to, from and through the Kansas City area. • Fund incubator facilities. 93 Today, international trade is emerging as an waterway; its location at the intersection of three important inter-jurisdictional issue in the Midwest interstate highways; and its identification as the region. The 1998 Mid-Continent Trade Way least congested major urban area in the nation. Study reinforced this reality. This study found Smart Port is focusing on attracting investment that a significant amount of international cargo is from companies with significant transportation already processed in or passes through the Kansas and logistics elements, such as distribution City region. In addition, NAFTA trade in Kansas centers, warehouses, third-party logistic providers, and Missouri is growing, and opportunities exist and manufacturing. to provide value-added services for the processing of NAFTA goods. The study also showed that the Smart Port is working to improve the Kansas area needed a single organization with a sole City area's ITS infrastructure by first analyzing focus of growing the transportation industry. That the needs of the industry and then developing study encouraged area business and civic leaders architectural designs and test projects to meet to form KC Smart Port. those needs. Smart Port is working to bring additional service such foreign customs offices, The region's economic advantages, strengths to the region to help businesses of all sizes move and opportunities include a strong multi-modal their goods both domestically and internationally. transportation infrastructure, including its designation as the second largest rail hub and Both Missouri and Kansas have developed largest rail center in the U.S. by tonnage; its incentive programs to support transportation location as the heart of rail corridors spanning dependent industries to the area. A coast to coast across the U.S. and extending comprehensive review of state taxes and to Canada and Mexico, which offers NAFTA incentives available may be found on the Kansas opportunities due to the congestion of Western City Area Development Council web site at U.S. ports; its expanding role in trade with www.kcadc.com/SiteLocation/TaxesIncentives/ China; its location on the largest navigable inland TaxProfile_main.php. 94 Chapter 6 CEDS Programs and Chapter 5: Strategic Projects, Action Plan Activities CHAPTER 6: CEDS Action Plan T he Comprehensive Economic Development Additional data was collected through a survey Strategy (CEDS) document was created that was distributed to the nine-county service by the Mid-America Regional Council as area's economic development leadership and part of a region-wide effort to assess, define, and is incorporated in the objectives and strategy accomplish the economic development goals of statements within the Action Plan. The identified the region. In turn, the CEDS helps to serve as goals are designed to capitalize on the area's a guide for regional economic and community assets and to improve the quality of life in the development efforts by outlining the overarching MARC Region. On the following pages, the goals, elements, goals, objectives, and policies objectives and strategies are divided into major formulated by business and community leaders. categories according to the priorities listed above. This chapter explores the goals, objectives, and Each identified element includes a list of strategies that were formulated through a regional performance measurements to ensure that indicators project, Metro Outlook, a process for progress is made on a consistent basis. To ensure framing a set of well defined goals for the region. these priorities are realized, the Economic These overarching priorities are: Development District Strategic Committee • Promote economic development and has identified benchmarks they consider to be opportunity. desirable and essential for economic development throughout the region. This list will be reviewed, • Foster effective transportation access. revised and amended on an annual basis as • Enhance and protect the environment. activities are accomplished and priorities change. • Maximize effective development and use of Furthermore, both Kansas and Missouri economic the workforce consistent with any applicable development initiatives and priorities will be key state or local workforce investment strategy. considerations in regional and local efforts. In • Promote the use of technology in economic particular, recent work by federal agencies and development, including access to high-speed the states of Missouri and Kansas to implement telecommunications. the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) offer opportunities for the Kansas City • Balance resources through sound management region to use federal dollars for economic of physical development. recovery consistent with this plan. 95 1. Promoting economic development and opportunity Goal for Regional Objectives Activities/Strategies Timeframe Economic Prosperity Create a region that offers Revitalize the urban Local communities continue to Ongoing attractive places and core and older built pursue opportunities to support amenities environments reinvestment. MARC offers training and technical assistance. Create a region that offers Support Downtown Local communities drive the Ongoing attractive places and Redevelopment activities associated with amenities downtown redevelopment. Create a region that offers Build on heritage, cultural Support the Freedom Frontier Ongoing attractive places and and environmental assets National Heritage Area. amenities of the region Promote heritage tourism as a regional economic development strategy. Support preservation of important natural resources to attract a skilled labor force to the region. Create a region that Reinvest in aging Local Communities continue to Ongoing supports efficiency in the infrastructure to allow for pursue opportunities to support use of resources economic expansion reinvestment. Create a region that Increase leadership Provide leadership training to Ongoing enables strategic decision- capacity; develop policy local officials. making capacity agenda Create a region that Design multi-modal transit Update the region's Smart Complete an supports efficiency in the system and encourage Moves Plan and develop new update of the use of resources related development Long-Range Transportation region's long-range Plan, both tied to economic transportation plan development goals. and Smart Moves plan by June 2010 Create a region that Certified Site Planning Help a number of small cities Complete supports economic initiate certified site planning in initial certified competitiveness cooperation with local utilities. site planning assistance to three communities by December 2009 Create a region that Life Science/Animal KCADC leads the region in Ongoing supports economic Health Industry the attraction/expansion of competitiveness Transportation/Logistics/ companies, job creation and International Trade new investment and works with Industry local communities regarding location decisions. Create a region that Revitalize the urban Support the design and Ongoing. supports economic core and older built implementation of a Green Complete project competitiveness environments Impact Zone in a distressed design and initial portion of Kansas City's urban implementation by core as a demonstration of how December 2010. effective targeting of resources and strong partnerships can reduce unemployment and support reinvestment. 96 2. Fostering effective transportation access Goal for Regional Objectives Activities/Strategies Timeframe Economic Prosperity Create a region that Reinvest in aging Help local communities Ongoing supports efficiency in the infrastructure to allow for identify grant resources and use of resources economic expansion develop funding strategies for infrastructure improvements. Create a region that Design multi-modal transit Update the region's Smart Complete an supports efficiency in the system and encourage Moves Plan and develop new update of the use of resources related development Long-Range Transportation region's long-range Plan, both tied to economic transportation plan development goals. and Smart Moves plan by June 2010 Create a region that Implement regional "cores Update the region's Smart Complete an supports efficiency in the and corridors" strategy Moves Plan and develop new update of the use of resources Long-Range Transportation region's long-range Plan, both tied to economic transportation plan development goals. and Smart Moves plan by June 2010. Regional Forecast Committee will complete a new long-range forecast for the region based on a "cores and corridors" strategy by December 2009. Create a region that Transportation/Logistics/ KCADC leads the region in Ongoing supports economic International Trade the attraction/expansion of competitiveness Industry companies, job creation and new investment and works with local communities regarding location decisions. 97 3. Enhancing and protecting the environment Goal for Regional Objectives Activities/Strategies Timeframe Economic Prosperity Create a region that Brownfield redevelopment Help small cities identify Ongoing supports efficiency in the brownfields opportunities and use of resources seek federal funding to address mitigation and reuse. Create a region that Sustainability efforts to Work with regional and local Ongoing supports efficiency in the address air and water organizations to address use of resources quality goals environmental protection goals. Create a region that offers Build on heritage, cultural Support the Freedom Frontier Ongoing attractive places and and environmental assets National Heritage Area. amenities of the region Promote heritage tourism as a regional economic development strategy. Support preservation of important natural resources to attract a skilled labor force to the region. Create a region that Transportation/Logistics/ KCADC leads the region in Ongoing supports economic International Trade the attraction/expansion of competitiveness Industry companies, job creation and new investment and works with local communities regarding location decisions. 4. Maximizing effective development and use of the workforce consistent with any applicable state or local workforce investment strategy Goal for Regional Objectives Activities/Strategies Timeframe Economic Prosperity Create a region that Develop and Retain One KC Wired will continue to December 2010 provides for high levels Human Capital work with regional and local and use of human organizations and businesses capacity to strengthen the job training and job placement services and systems in the region. Promote quality early education, K-12 and higher education resources to enable the region to build an educated workforce. Create a region that Life Science/Animal KCADC leads the region in Ongoing supports economic Health Industry the attraction/expansion of competitiveness companies, job creation and new investment and works with local communities regarding location decisions. 98 5. Promoting the use of technology in economic development, including access to high-speed telecommunications Goal for Regional Objectives Activities/Strategies Timeframe Economic Prosperity Create a region that Reinvest in aging Help small cities seek funding December 2010 supports efficiency in the infrastructure to allow for to address inadequate use of resources economic expansion infrastructure in support of economic expansion Create a region that Life Science/Animal KCADC leads the region in Ongoing supports economic Health Industry the attraction/expansion of competitiveness Transportation/Logistics/ companies, job creation and International Trade new investment and works with Industry local communities regarding location decisions. 6. Balancing resources through sound management of physical development Goal for Regional Objectives Activities/Strategies Timeframe Economic Prosperity Create a region that offers Revitalize the urban Encourage redevelopment Ongoing attractive places and core and older built by Community Development amenities environments Corporations and local governments as a way to promote sustainable practices and encourage economic development. Create a region that offers Support Downtown Help small cities plan and Ongoing attractive places and Redevelopment secure grants for enhancements amenities to their downtown areas. Create a region that offers Protection of high quality Work with local officials to Ongoing attractive places and natural resources identify high quality natural amenities resources and adopt regulatory measures such as stream setback ordinances to protect those resources. Create a region that offers Promote quality Work with local officials through Ongoing attractive places and communities with the First Suburbs Coalition amenities older established to maintain and restore older neighborhoods housing, retail and other employment locations. Create a region that Build regional citizenship Support the region's One KC Ongoing provides for high levels Voice program and encourage and use of human its use by public and private capacity organizations to engage citizens in shaping public policy. Create a region that Certified Site Planning Help a number of small cities Complete supports economic initiate certified site planning in initial certified competitiveness cooperation with local utilities. site planning assistance to three communities by December 2009 99 Chapter 6 CEDS Programs and Chapter 5: Strategic Projects, Action Plan Activities CHAPTER 7: Performance Measures T o evaluate the progress of the CEDS, MARC 2. Providing assistance with project development, staff will meet annually with representatives resource identification and implementation of the region's economic development strategies to achieve development priorities. organizations. They will be encouraged to bring 3. Providing grant writing assistance to support other interested individuals from the region to developments and help with compliance with ensure a broad representation of interests. During grant regulations. the meeting, MARC and the planning group will 4. Providing assistance to cities in the completion go through the goals and actions of the CEDS of certified site planning in cooperation with for the region and document progress on each local utilities. activity. Also during the meeting, organizations will be asked about any significant changes or 5. Encouraging the use of brownfield programs to opportunities that have surfaced in the past year. address mitigation and reuse opportunities Based on these changes, they will be asked to 6. Updating the CEDS as needed. identify any new goals or projects that have been Measurements will include: developed since the development of the original CEDS. • The number of communities assisted with project development strategies (pre-funding The meetings will be held in the spring of each stage) year and a follow-up report will be submitted to the Economic Development Administration on or • The number of communities assisted with before June 30 of each year. The report will be grant applications as well as projects finalized available for review by those that participated in regardless of funding source. Information also the planning process as well as the general public. includes the amount of grant, matching funds, the number of residents affected, the result of The methods that MARC will use to support the grant-funded project, and jobs created. progress are: (See tables on following page.) 1. Providing best practices, training, and resources to communities related to development objectives. 100 Individual Community Response Measurements Changes in # Jobs # Jobs Number of Private Sector Types of Investments the Economic Created Retained Investments Investment Environment Urban Core Redevelopment Brownfields Reinvestment Downtown Redevelopment Tourism Industry Related Development Natural Resources Protected Development Reinvestment in Aging Infrastructure Transit-Related development Certified Site Planning Life Science/Animal Health Related Investments Transportation/ Logistics/ International Trade Industry Related Investments MARC/Partner Agency Measurements # Communities Types of Participation # Attending Represented Participation in Government Training Institute Programs/Leadership Academy Citizen Engagement Local Government Capacity Building Regional Workforce Programs Access to Education 101 References and Bibliography References and Bibliography ACCRA Bureau of Labor Statistics Center for Regional Competitiveness Entrepreneur Magazine ESRI Expansion Magazine Home Builders Association of Greater Kansas City InfoUSA Institute for Strategy and Competitiveness, Harvard Business School Johnson County Sun Newspaper KC Animal Health Corridor Initiative Kansas City Area Development Council Kansas City Area Development Council Researcher Sheri Gormley Kansas City Area Life Science Institute Kansas City, Mo., and Kansas City, Kan., police departments, through the UMKC Center of Economic Information, FBI Uniform Crime Reports, Kansas Bureau of Investigations Kansas City, Mo. Brownfields Office The Kansas City Star KC Smart Port Kauffman Index of Entrepreneurial Activity, State Report, 2005, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation Land records of Johnson, Leavenworth, Wyandotte, Clay and Jackson Counties Metro Outlook, January 2007, www.metrooutlook.org Mid-America Regional Council History, First Suburbs Coalition National Association of Homebuilders, Housing Opportunity Index OneKC WIRED Regional Plan Association, "America 2050: A Prospectus," New York: September 2006 REMI model, MARC Small Business Administration Strategy to Become America's Green Region (MARC, The Civic Council of Greater Kansas City, Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, Bridging the Gap, the Kansas City Area Development Council, Kansas City, Mo., and Johnson County, Kan.) Survey of Communities within the district regarding economic development activity: Belton Corporation for Economic Development (Cass County, Mo.), Exec. Director Art Ruiz City of Basehor (Leavenworth County, Kan.) City of Blue Springs (Jackson County, Mo.), Asst. to City Administrator Amanda B. Smith City of Cleveland (Cass County, Mo.), Mayor Patricia Masterson City of Drexel (Cass County, Mo.), City Administrator Michael Fisher City of Garden City (Cass County, Mo.), City Administrator Dave Larcom City of Gardner (Johnson County, Kan.), City Administer Stewart Fairburn City of Grandview (Jackson County, Mo.), Economic Development Director Alan Kenyon City of Harrisonville (Cass County, Mo.), Community Development Director Rick DeLuca City of Independence (Jackson County, Mo.), Senior Planner Mary Hunt City of Kearney (Clay County, Mo.), Community Development Director David Pavlich City of Lansing (Leavenworth County, Kan.) City of Leavenworth (Leavenworth County, Kan.) City of Leawood (Johnson County, Kan.) City of Liberty (Clay County, Mo.), Community Development Director Steve Anderson City of Merriam (Johnson County, Kan.), Community Development Director Dennis Enslinger 103 City of Mission Hills (Johnson County, Kan.) City of Oak Grove (Jackson County, Mo.) City of Peculiar (Cass County, Mo.), City Administrator Brad Ratliff City of Platte City (Platte County, Mo.), City Administrator Keith Moody City of Pleasant Hill (Cass County, Mo.), City Administrator Mark Randall City of Pleasant Valley (Clay County, Mo.), City of Prairie Village (Johnson County, Kan.), Asst. City Administrator Doug Luther City of Riverside (Platte County, Mo.), Economic Development Director Brent Miles City of Roeland Park (Johnson County, Kan.), City Administrator John Carter City of Shawnee (Johnson County, Kan.), Community Development Director Paul Chaffee City of Smithville (Clay County, Mo.) Kansas City Smart Port, President, Chris Gutierrez Miami County, Kan., Economic Development Director Janet McCrae Platte County, Mo. EDC, Administrative Assistant Diane Jones Texas Transportation Institute Think KC Greater KC Profile U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis U.S. Census Bureau U.S. Internal Revenue Service 104 Appendices Appendices MARC Community Services Corporation Board Government Representatives Gary Mallory, Presiding Commissioner, Cass County, Mo. Tom Cooley, Commissioner, Unified Government of Wyandotte County, Kansas City, Kan. Mike Sanders, County Executive, Jackson County, Mo. Mark Funkhouser, Mayor, Kansas City, Mo. Betty Knight, Presiding Commissioner, Platte County, Mo. Ed Quick, Presiding Commissioner, Clay County, Mo. Jeff Adams, Presiding Commissioner, Ray County, Mo. Annabeth Surbaugh, Commission Chair, Johnson County, Kan. Clyde Graeber, Commission Chair, Leavenworth County, Kan. Jim Wise, Commission Chair, Miami County, Kan. Non-Government Representatives Jim Schultz, Small Business Owner, Schultz Insurance Ron Shaffer, Small Business Owner, RLS Architects Curt Skoog, Director of Business Development, H&R Block Marge Vogt, Nurse Practitioner, Reproductive Resource Center Karen Messerli, Hospital Administrator, St. Luke's Hospital Stakeholder Organization Representatives Jim Plunkett, Board Member, Platte County Economic Development Corporation Strategic Committee Roster Private Sector Representatives Mark Dawson, Economic Development Director/Business Development, KCP&L John Englemann, Economic Development Director/Business Development, KCP&L Merley McMurray, Community Relations Manager/Minority Group Representative, KCP&L Representatives of Other Economic Interests Jeff Samborski (Public Official — Business Development), Economic Development Director, North Kansas City, Mo. Thelma Crawford (Workforce Development), Regional Workforce Development Area Manager, State of Missouri 105 County Profile: Johnson County, Kan. Population 2006: 516,731 Households 2006: 200,899 Employment 2005: 394,242 Population by Race Population by Age Number Percent Number Percent White 456,564 88.4% Under 5 years: 37,480 7.3% Black 19,505 3.8% 5 to 17 years: 95,636 18.5% American Indian / AK Native 1,261 0.2% 18 to 29 years: 78,378 15.2% Asian 20,000 3.9% 30 to 49 years: 161,270 31.2% Hawaiian/Pacific Islander 75 0.0% 50 to 64 years: 92,587 17.9% Other Race 9,901 1.9% 65 years and over: 97,938 19.0% Two or more races 9,425 1.8% Hispanic* 29,262 5.7% *Hispanic can be of any race Income Educational Attainment (Age 25 and up) Median Household Income $69,817 Number Percent Median Household Income White $72,056 Population 25+ 338,251 Non-Hispanic Bachelor's Degree 113,816 33.6% Median Household Income Black $47,109 Non-Hispanic Master's Degree 41,467 12.3% Median Household Income Hispanic $46,917 Professional School Degree 11,360 3.4% Population in Poverty 25,058 Doctorate Degree 4,621 1.4% Poverty Rate 4.9% Bachelor's or Higher 171,264 50.6% 106 Johnson County Utilities and Other Services Electricity Kansas City Power and Light Company Natural Gas Kansas Gas Service, Atmos Water Kansas City, MO Water; Johnson County Water District 1 Wastewater Unified Wastewater District Solid Waste Deffenbaugh; Republic; Town & Country; L & K Disposal; Gardner Disposal Service; City of Olathe; Weldon Sanitation Services Police County Sheriff, Bonner Springs PD; Fairway Pd; Leawood PD; Merriam PD; Olathe PD; Prairie Village PD; Roeland Park PD; Shawnee Mission School Police; Westwood PD; Gardner PD; Johnson County Park PD; Lenexa PD; Mission PD; Overland Park PD; Lake Quivira PD; Shawnee PD; Spring Hill PD Fire Overland Park Fire, Johnson Co Consolidated #2, Olathe Fire, Shawnee Fire, Lenexa Fire, Leawood Fire; Johnson County Fire District #1, #3; Merrian FD Telephone Southwestern Bell; Everest; Time Warner Internet Everest, Time Warner Cable Hospital Menorah, Overland Park Regional, Shawnee Mission Medical, St. Luke's South, Olathe Medical Center Airport Johnson County Executive Airport, New Century Air Center; Burbank Airport; Cedar Air Park; Flying V Airport; Gardner Municipal ; Hermon Farm Airport; Hillside Airport; Kansas City Suburban Airpark; Konitz Airport; Mission Road Landing Strip; Neumanns Airport Major Transportation Routes Interstate 35 and 435; US 56, 69 and 169; Kansas 7 and 10. Railroad Union Pacific RR, BNSF RR Industrial Parks New Century AirCenter; Griffin Industrial Park; Bonner Springs Industrial Park; Congleton Industrial Park; Crossroads Industrial Park; Lenexa Industrial Park; Lackman Business Center; Triangle Industrial Park Major Employers Ash Grove Cement Co. (350); AT&T (362); Black & Veatch (3,600); Blue Valley School District (2,124); Blue Valley School District (2,249); Blue Valley School District (2249); Capital One Home Loans (465); Children's Mercy Hospital (400); City of Overland Park (889); Deffenbaugh Industries, Inc. (1,200); Deluxe Financial Services (500); Embarq (4,500); Encore Receivable Management (900); FAA/Air Route Traffic Control Center (570); Farmers Insurance - First Response Center (800); FedEx Ground Package System, Inc. (500); Ferrell Gas (597); First Star Banking (750); Garmin International (925); GE Card Services (709); Gear For Sports, Inc. (1100); Honeywell Aerospace Electronic Systems (1,300); Huhtamaki (300); Intervet, Inc. (200); JC Penney Catalog Logistics (1200); Johnson County Community College (873); Johnson County Community College (950); Johnson County Government (2,350); McCray Lumber Company (320); Menorah Medical Center (720); Midland Loan Services (471); Millennium Marketing (700); MMC Corp. (650); Olathe Medical Center (1,600); Olathe School District (3,328); Overland Park Regional Medical Center (1,134); Overland Park Regional Medical Center (2,000); Physicians Reference Laboratory (440); continued on next page 107 Johnson County Utilities and Other Services, continued Major Employers, continued Prescription Solutions (600); Prism Business Media (350); Quest Diagnostics (2626); Quintiles Transnational Corporation (710); Shawnee Mission Medical Center (1,829); Shawnee Mission School District (3,900); Shawnee Mission School District (4,035); Sprint/Nextel (14,500); Swiss Re (850); Sysco Food Services (725); T-Mobile (600); TransAm Trucking (1,000); United Parcel Service (800); United Parcel Service of America, Inc. (1,734); Valley View Bancshares, inc. (750); Valley View Financial Group (719); Waddell & Reed Financial (857); Wal-Mart Super Center (500); Wells Fargo (750); YRC Worldwide (2,600); Zurich North America Commercial (900) Park and Recreation Shawnee Mission Park, Heritage Park, Overland Park Arboretum, Deanna Rose Farmstead; Antioch Park; Ernie Miller Park; Sunflower Nature Park; Stanley Nature Park; Prairie Oak Nature Center Educational Facilities University of Kansas, Mid-America Nazarene College, Johnson County Community College; Brown Mackey College Tourist Attractions Carlsen Center of Johnson County Community College Nerman Museum of Art; Johnson County Museum of History; Wonderscope Children's Museum; Mahaffie Farmstead Economic Development Johnson County, Overland Park EDC, Lenexa EDC, Olathe EDC Organizations 108 County Profile: Leavenworth County, Kan. Population 2006: 74,177 Households 2006: 24,343 Employment 2005: 35,209 Population by Race Population by Age Number Percent Number Percent White 62,257 83.9% Under 5 years: 4,577 6.2% Black 6,961 9.4% 5 to 17 years: 14,697 19.8% American Indian / AK Native 544 0.7% 18 to 29 years: 11,490 15.5% Asian 1,255 1.7% 30 to 49 years: 23,429 31.6% Hawaiian/Pacific Islander 0 0% 50 to 64 years: 12,855 17.3% Other Race 1,315 1.8% 65 years and over: 12,937 17.4% Two or more races 1,845 2.5% Hispanic* 3,075 4.1% *Hispanic can be of any race Income Educational Attainment (Age 25 and up) Median Household Income $54,627 Number Percent Median Household Income White $55,959 Population 25+ 47,930 Non-Hispanic Bachelor's Degree 6,903 14.4% Median Household Income Black $48,874 Non-Hispanic Master's Degree 4,528 9.4% Median Household Income Hispanic $45,782 Professional School Degree 755 1.6% Population in Poverty 7,342 Doctorate Degree 285 0.6% Poverty Rate 10.75% Bachelor's or Higher 12,471 26.0% 109 Leavenworth County Utilities and Other Services Electricity Kansas City Power and Light Company, Westar Energy Natural Gas Kansas Gas Service Water Rural Water Districts, Suburban Water District; Consolidated Rural Water District #1 Wastewater Leavenworth County Sewer District # 1, Basehor Wastewater Plant Solid Waste A-1 Disposal; Leavenworth County; Deffenbaugh Police County Sheriff; Leavenworth Police; Lansing PD; Basehor PD; Tonganoxie PD Fire Leavenworth County FD; Easton Township Fire Department; Fairmount Township FD; Kickapoo Township FD; Reno Township FD; Sherman Township FD; Stranger Township FD; Tonganoxie Township FD; Tonganoxie City FD Telephone Southwestern Bell, AT&T Internet Time Warner Cable Hospital Cushing Hospital; Dwight D. Eisenhower Dept. of Veteran Affairs Medical Hospital; Saint John's Airport Ft. Leavenworth Army Airfield; Blasers Airport; Bovinair; Dorei Airport; High Crest Air Park; Neu Field; Northern Landing Strip; Olhausen Landing Strip Major Transportation Routes Interstate 70; US 73, 24 and 40; Kansas 7 Railroad Union Pacific RR, BNSF RR Industrial Parks Leavenworth Industrial Park; Gary E. Carlson Leavenworth Area Business Center; Urban Hess Business Center; Lansing Business Center Major Employers Eisenhower Veterans Affairs Medical Center (725); Fort Leavenworth (5,601); Hallmark Cards, Inc. (647); Lansing Correctional Facility (700); Lansing Correctional Facility (700); Leavenworth USD #453 (829); Northrop- Grumman, Information Technologies (589); U.S. Federal Penitentiary (550); VA Medical Center (750); Park and Recreation Leavenworth County State Park; Leavenworth State Fishing Lake and Wild Life Area; Miller Bicentennial Park; Riverfront Park; Leavenworth Landing Park Educational Facilities St. Mary's College; Kansas City Kansas Community College Tourist Attractions Ft. Leavenworth; Carnegie Arts Center ; C.W. Parker Carousel Museum, The Carroll Mansion, Richard Allen Cultural Center; Historic Riverfront Town Leavenworth; Frontier Army Museum; Performing Arts Center; First City Museum; Historic Leavenworth County Courthouse Economic Development Leavenworth County Development Corporation Organizations 110 County Profile: Miami County, Kan. Population 2006: 30,451 Households 2006: 11,480 Employment 2005: 15,901 Population by Race Population by Age Number Percent Number Percent White 29,053 95.4% Under 5 years: 2,152 7.1% Black 315 1.0% 5 to 17 years: 5,728 18.8% American Indian / AK Native 174 0.6% 18 to 29 years: 4,833 15.9% Asian 264 0.9% 30 to 49 years: 8,707 28.6% Hawaiian/Pacific Islander 11 0.0% 50 to 64 years: 5,997 19.7% Other Race 232 0.8% 65 years and over: 3,034 10.0% Two or more races 402 1.3% Hispanic* 555 1.8% *Hispanic can be of any race Income Educational Attainment (Age 25 and up) Median Household Income $60,573 Number Percent Median Household Income White $60,996 Population 25+ 19,840 Non-Hispanic Bachelor's Degree 2,762 13.9% Median Household Income Black $42,050 Master's Degree 1,078 5.4% Non-Hispanic Professional School Degree 300 1.5% Median Household Income Hispanic NA Doctorate Degree 75 0.4% Population in Poverty 1,961 Bachelor's or Higher 4,215 21.2% Poverty Rate 6.6% 111 Miami County Utilities and Other Services Electricity Kansas City Power and Light Company; Kansas Municipal Energy Agency Natural Gas Kansas Gas Service Water Rural Water District #2 Wastewater Louisburg Wastewater Treatment Plant; Osawatomie WWTP Solid Waste L&K Disposal; Deffenbaugh Police Miami County Sheriff's Office, Louisburg PD; Paolo PD; Osawatomie PD Fire Rural Fire Station District #1; Louisburg Fire Station; Paolo FD; Fontana Fire Station; Osawatomie Fire Station; Wellsville Fire Station Telephone Southwestern Bell Internet Hospital Miami County Medical Center Airport Miami County Airport; Harry Bivins Airport; Hayden Farm Airport; Crosswind Airfield; Hayden Farm Airport; Hurt Airport; Jeserick Airport; Majeski Airport; Osawatomie-Paola Municipal Airport Major Transportation Routes Interstate 35; US 69 and 169; Kansas 7 and 68 Railroad Union Pacific RR, BNSF RR Industrial Parks Paola Industrial Park Major Employers Debrick Truck Lines, Trucking/Transportation, 95; Miami County Government, Government, 200; Miami County Medical Center, Health Care, 180; Paola School District, Education, 600; Tri-Ko Inc., Mental Health Care, 135; Triangle Builders, General Construction, 50; Wal-Mart, Retail Sales, 370; Park and Recreation Miami State Fishing Lake and Wildlife Area; Miami County State Park; Hillsdale Lake Educational Facilities Fort Scott Community College; Pittsburg State University Technology Institute Tourist Attractions Louisburg Cider Mill; Powell Observatory Economic Development Miami County Organizations 112 County Profile: Wyandotte County, Kan. Population 2006: 155,509 Households 2006: 58,167 Employment 2005: 91,851 Population by Race Population by Age Number Percent Number Percent White 89,870 57.8% Under 5 years: 13,868 8.9% Black 40,778 26.2% 5 to 17 years: 31,314 20.1% American Indian / AK Native 1,105 0.7% 18 to 29 years: 24,798 15.9% Asian 2,392 1.5% 30 to 49 years: 44,547 28.6% Hawaiian/Pacific Islander 0 0.0% 50 to 64 years: 24,665 15.9% Other Race 16,596 10.7% 65 years and over: 30,680 19.7% Two or more races 4,768 3.1% Hispanic* 34,677 22.3% *Hispanic can be of any race Income Educational Attainment (Age 25 and up) Median Household Income $36,660 Number Percent Median Household Income White $43,532 Population 25+ 95,851 Non-Hispanic Bachelor's Degree 9,721 10.1% Median Household Income Black $26,675 Non-Hispanic Master's Degree 3,070 3.2% Median Household Income Hispanic $32,304 Professional School Degree 1,064 1.1% Population in Poverty 29,147 Doctorate Degree 778 0.8% Poverty Rate 19.08% Bachelor's or Higher 14,633 15.3% 113 Wyandotte County Utilities and Other Services Electricity Board of Public Utilities; KCPL; Westar Natural Gas Atmos Energy Water Board of Public Utilities Wastewater Kaw Point WWTP; Wastewater Treatment Plant No. 20 Solid Waste Deffenbaugh Police County Sheriff; KCK PD; Bonner Springs, PD Fire Kansas City, KS Fire; Bonner Springs Fire; Edwardsville Fire Telephone AT & T Internet Time Warner Cable Hospital University of Kansas Medical Center; Bethany Hospital; Douglass Hospital; Providence Hospital Airport Fairfax Municipal; Hancock Landing; Kellys Landing Field; Providence Airport Major Transportation Routes Interstate 70, 635 and 35; US 24, 40 and 69; Kansas 5, 7 and 32. Railroad Union Pacific RR, BNSF RR Industrial Parks Argentine Industrial Park; Cambridge Business Center Major Employers Armour Swift-Eckrich (500); Associated Wholesale Grocers (1,300); Bulk Mail Center (600); Burlington Northern Santa Fe (1,200); General Motors (3,350); Keebler Foods (550); Owens Corning (525); Swift Transportation (650); Teletech (600); Union Pacific (750); United Parcel Service (900); University of Kansas Medical Center (); Park and Recreation Wyandotte County Lake; Wyandotte County Park; Pierson Park; Sunflower Hill Golf Course Educational Facilities University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS Community College, Donnelly College Tourist Attractions NASCAR, Legends Shopping Area, Community America Minor League Baseball Park; Schlitterbahn Water Resort and Vacation Village (Opens Summer 2009) Economic Development Wyandotte County Economic Development Corporation Organizations 114 County Profile: Cass County, Mo. Population 2006: 95,781 Households 2006: 35,543 Employment 2005: 37,222 Population by Race Population by Age Number Percent Number Percent White 88,355 92.2% Under 5 years: 6,481 6.8% Black 2,599 2.7% 5 to 17 years: 17,988 18.8% American Indian / AK Native 819 0.9% 18 to 29 years: 15,977 16.7% Asian 850 0.9% 30 to 49 years: 27,813 29.0% Hawaiian/Pacific Islander 328 0.3% 50 to 64 years: 16,422 17.1% Other Race 1,026 1.1% 65 years and over: 20,958 21.9% Two or more races 1,804 1.9% Hispanic* 2,938 3.1% *Hispanic can be of any race Income Educational Attainment (Age 25 and up) Median Household Income $55,223 Number Percent Median Household Income White $55,606 Population 25+ 62,234 Non-Hispanic Bachelor's Degree 8,307 13.3% Median Household Income Black $56,588 Non-Hispanic Master's Degree 3,014 4.8% Median Household Income Hispanic $51,018 Professional School Degree 544 0.9% Population in Poverty 6,232 Doctorate Degree 103 0.2% Poverty Rate 6.57% Bachelor's or Higher 11,968 19.2% 115 Cass County Utilities and Other Services Electricity Kansas City Power and Light Company, Aquila, Osage Valley Electric Cooperative Assoc.; City of Harrisonville Municipal Utilities Natural Gas Missouri Public Service, Atmos Energy Corp. Water Kansas City, Mo., Water; public water districts, municipal Wastewater Peculiar Waste Water; Dogwood Energy Facility Solid Waste Town & County Disposal; Deffenbaugh; Willeys; Hyden Hauling Police County Sheriff, Belton Police Department (PD), Raymore PD, Harrisonville PD, Pleasant Hill PD; Archie PD; Cleveland PD; Drexel PD; East Lynne PD; Garden City PD; Lake Annette PD; Lake Winnebago PD; Peculiar PD Fire Archie Volunteer Fire Department (FD); Belton; Central Cass County Fire Protection District (FPD); Creighton FPD; Dolan-West Dolan FPD Drexel Community FPD; East Lynne-Gunn City FPD; Harrisonville FD; Mount Pleasant FPD; Northeast Cass Rural FPD; Pleasant Hill Fire & Rescue; South Metro FPD; West Peculiar FPD; Western Cass FPD Telephone Southwestern Bell; Cass County Telephone, MO-KAN Telephone, Sprint Cable & Internet Comcast; Time Warner; Hospital Research Belton Hospital; Cass Medical Center Airport Bishops Landing Airport; Breed Ranch Airport; Flying G Airport; Flying M Rach Airport; Harrisonville Landing Strip; Hart Airport; Hilltop Airport; Inter- State Airport; Lawrence Smith Memorial Airport; Leos Angus Ranch Airport; May Airport; McDonnell Airport; Raymore Int'l Airport; Research Belton Hospital Heliport; Richters Airport; Riordan Airport; Roth Farms Airport; Villnave Airport; West Aero Ranch Airport Major Transportation Routes U. S. 71; Missouri 7, 2, 58 and 291. Railroad Union Pacific RR, Kansas City Southern RR, MNA Industrial Parks SWC Broadmoor and Municipal Circle; Peculiar Industrial Park Major Employers Quik 'N Tasty Distribution Center (291); ROM Corporation; Sioux Chief Manufacturing (350); Wal-Mart Distribution Center (500) Park and Recreation Lake Harrisonville; North Park Educational Facilities University of Missouri Extension – Cass County Tourist Attractions Cass County Courthouse; Cass County Historical Society, Cass County Public Library Economic Development Cass County Economic Development Corporation Organizations 116 County Profile: Clay County, Mo. Population 2006: 206,957 Households 2006: 78,624 Employment 2005: 118,680 Population by Race Population by Age Number Percent Number Percent White 187,077 90.4% Under 5 years: 15,341 7.4% Black 7,341 3.5% 5 to 17 years: 37,224 18.0% American Indian / AK Native 205 0.1% 18 to 29 years: 33,128 16.0% Asian 4,121 2.0% 30 to 49 years: 62,948 30.4% Hawaiian/Pacific Islander 0 0.0% 50 to 64 years: 36,255 17.5% Other Race 3,217 1.6% 65 years and over: 41,096 19.9% Two or more races 4,996 2.4% Hispanic* 9,428 4.6% *Hispanic can be of any race Income Educational Attainment (Age 25 and up) Median Household Income $53,448 Number Percent Median Household Income White $53,950 Population 25+ 137,431 Non-Hispanic Bachelor's Degree 27,443 20.0% Median Household Income Black $27,644 Non-Hispanic Master's Degree 8,560 6.2% Median Household Income Hispanic $50,965 Professional School Degree 1,941 1.4% Population in Poverty 15,133 Doctorate Degree 586 0.4% Poverty Rate 7.43% Bachelor's or Higher 38,530 28.0% 117 Clay County Utilities and Other Services Electricity Kansas City Power and Light Company; Platte-Clay Cooperative; Union Electric Company; Aquila; Ameren UE Natural Gas Missouri Gas Energy; Missouri Public Service Energy One Water Kansas City, MO; Municipal; Clay County PWSD Wastewater Smithville WWTF Solid Waste Deffenbaugh; Matthys Hauling; Red Gate Disposal Police County Sheriff; Birmingham PD; Claycomo PD; Excelsior Springs PD; Gladstone Public Safety Dept.; Holt PD; Kearney PD; Lawson PD; Liberty PD; Mosby PD; NKC PD; Oakview PD; Pleasant Valley PD; Randolph PD; Smithville PD Fire Kansas City FD; Liberty FD; North Kansas City FD; Gladstone Public Safety; Excelsior Springs FD; Kearney FD; Smithville FD, Avondale Volunteer FD; Claycomo FD; Fishing River Fire FPD; Holt FPD; Pleasant Valley FD Telephone Southwestern Bell; Sprint; AT & T Internet AT&T; Sprint Hospital North Kansas City Hospital, Liberty Hospital, St. Luke's Northland Airport Kansas City Downtown Airport, Clay County Regional Airport; Dunham Private Airport; Kitty Hawk Estates Airport; Liberty Airport; Liberty Landing Airport; Norman Fann Farm Airport; NKC Hospital Heliport; North Patrol Division Station Heliport; Royal Wood Aerodome Aiport Major Transportation Routes Interstate 29, Interstate 35, Interstate 435, US 69 and 169; Missouri 291, 152, 210 Railroad Union Pacific RR, ICE Industrial Parks Liberty Industrial Park; Heartland Meadows; Executive Park/Northland Hunt Midwest Major Employers Ameristar Casino (2,316); Cerner Corporation (3,300); Ford Motor Company (5,700); Hallmark Cards 91,265); Harrah's North Kansas City Casino (1,600); Liberty Hospital (975); Liberty School District (1,343); North Kansas City Hospital (3,000); North Kansas City School District (2,667); R R Donnelly (522); Union-Pacific Railroad (1,500); Worlds of Fun (2,100) Park and Recreation Hodge Park, Smithville Lake; Watkins Mill State Park; Maple Woods Nature Preserve Educational Facilities William Jewell College, Maplewoods Community College, North Kansas City School District, Liberty School District, Smithville School District, Excelsior Springs School District, Kearney School District Tourist Attractions Worlds of Fun/Oceans of Fun, Smithville Lake, Jesse James Farm, Elms Hotel (Excelsior Springs), Harrah's Casino, Watkins Woolen Mill State Historic Site; Historic Liberty Jail, Clay County Museum and Historical Society Economic Development Clay County Economic Development Corporation Organizations 118 County Profile: Jackson County, Mo. Population 2006: 664,078 Households 2006: 273,445 Employment 2005: 457,662 Population by Race Population by Age Number Percent Number Percent White 460,236 69.3% Under 5 years: 50,717 7.6% Black 153,793 23.2% 5 to 17 years: 120,976 18.2% American Indian / AK Native 2,490 0.4% 18 to 29 years: 99,208 14.9% Asian 9,414 1.4% 30 to 49 years: 195,309 29.4% Hawaiian/Pacific Islander 400 0.1% 50 to 64 years: 116,938 17.6% Other Race 22,053 3.3% 65 years and over: 152,826 23.0% Two or more races 15,692 2.4% Hispanic* 47,180 7.1% *Hispanic can be of any race Income Educational Attainment (Age 25 and up) Median Household Income $44,211 Number Percent Median Household Income White $50,820 Population 25+ 437,733 Non-Hispanic Bachelor's Degree 75,119 17.2% Median Household Income Black $36,970 Non-Hispanic Master's Degree 28,977 6.6% Median Household Income Hispanic $32,999 Professional School Degree 7,075 1.6% Population in Poverty 101,140 Doctorate Degree 3,396 0.8% Poverty Rate 15.47% Bachelor's or Higher 114,567 26.2% 119 Jackson County Utilities and Other Services Electricity Kansas City Power and Light Company; Independence Power;Aquila; Natural Gas Missouri Gas Energy Water Kansas City, MO Water; Independence Water; Raytown, Jackson County Municipal, public water districts Wastewater Blue Springs, Sni-A-Bar WWTF; LBVSD, Atherton Plant Solid Waste Deffenbaugh; Republic Waste; Town & Country; AAA Disposal Police County Sheriff; Kansas City PD; Blue Springs PD; Buckner PD; Grain Valley PD; Grandview PD; Greenwood PD; Independence PD; Lake Lotawana PD; Lake Tapawingo PD; Lee's Summit PD; Lone Jack PD; Raytown PD; Sugar Creek PD Fire Kansas City FD, Independence FD, Raytown FD, Grandview FD, Lee's Summit FD, Central Jackson County FD, Ft. Osage FD; Central Jackson County FPD; Emergency Mutual Aid Rescue Squad; Inter-City FPD; Lake City Army Ammunition Plant FD; Lone Jack Community FPD; Long Lane Community Volunteer FD; Lotawana FPD; Prairie Township FPD; Sni-Valley FPD; Sugar Creek FD Telephone Southwestern Bell; Sprint; AT & T; Birch Telecom; Everest Internet Comcast; Embarq; AT&T; Time Warner Hospital Truman Medical Center, St. Luke's Plaza, St. Luke's East Lee's Summit, Centerpoint, St. Joseph; Research; St. Mary's; Children's Mercy Hospital; Crittenton Hospital Main Campus; Two Rivers Psychiatric Hospital; Veterans Hospital Medical Center, Truman Medical Center-Lakewood Airport Lee's Summit Municipal Airport; East Kansas City Airport; Heart Airport; Independence Memorial Airport; KCMO Police Dept. Helicopter/ Maintenance Facility Heliport; Research Medical Center Heliport; Saint Luke's Hospital Heliport; Saint Joseph Life Flight Heliport; Stafford Airport; Stevinson Farm Airport; Thomas Airport; VA Medical Center Heliport Major Transportation Routes Interstates 70, 35, 435, 635, 470, 670; Missouri 7; US 24, 40, 71 and 50; Missouri 7, 78, 150, 210, 291, 350.. Railroad BNSF RR, Union Pacific RR, Kansas City Southern RR Industrial Parks Carefree Industrial Park; Downtown Industrial Park; Leeds Industrial Park Major Employers Alliant Techsystems, Inc. (1,984); AMC (587); American Century Investments, Inc. (1,540); Aquila, Inc. (1,079); Assurant Employee Benefits (1,038); AT&T (4,000+); Bayer CropScience, Core Technologies Center (800); BG Service solutions (1,750); Black & Veatch (2,600); Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Kansas City (1,026); Burns & McDonnell (1,483); Butler Manufacturing Co. (507); Carondelet Health (2,098); Children's Mercy Hospital (3,417); City of Kansas City, MO (4,400); Clarkson Construction Company (1,070); Commerce Bancshares, Inc. (2,400); Dickinson Financial Corp. ¬Bank Midwest(560); DST Systems, Inc. (5,100); Federal Government (18,471); GE Insurance Solutions (750); Great Plains Energy, Inc.–KCPL (1,710); H & R Block, Inc. (1,299); Hallmark Cards, Inc. (4,500); HCA, Midwest Division (10,828); HNTB Corp. (575); Honeywell Fed. Mfg. & Technologies (2,718); IBM (900); continued on next page 120 Jackson County Utilities and Other Services, continued Major Employers, continued Internal Revenue Service (2,800); J.E. Dunn Construction (2,000); Kansas City Life Insurance Co. (588); Kansas City Star Co. (1,300); Kohl's (450); Lockton Companies (746); NovaStar Financial (696); Peterson Manufacturing Co., Inc. (996); Quintiles Transnational Corp. (1,151); Saint Joseph Health Center (1,008); Saint Luke's Health System (4,633); Saint Luke's Hospital of Kansas City (2,597); Sanofi-Aventis (570); Shook Hardy & Bacon (1,063); State of Missouri (6,723); State Street (1,100); Time Warner Cable (890); Transamerica Occidental Life Insurance Co. (700); Truman Medical Center, Inc. (2,909); UMB Financial Corp. (2,433); University of Missouri-Kansas City (2,799) Park and Recreation Kansas City Zoo, Swope Park, Penn Valley Park, Loose Park, Fleming Park (Lake Jacomo), Longview Lake, Blue Springs Lake, James A. Reed Wildlife Area; Lakeside Nature Center; Martha LaFite Thompson Nature Sanctuary; Discovery Center (MDC); Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center; Powell Gardens; Loose Park; Lee's Summit Legacy Park Educational Facilities University of MO-KC; Rockhurst College; Avila College; Penn Valley Community College; Longview Community College; Blue River Community College; Pioneer Community College; American Osteopathic College of Anesthesiologists; Business and Technology College of the MCC; Calvary Bible College; Central Michigan Univ.; Cleveland Chiropractic College; Columbia College of KC; DeVry Univ.; Friends Univ.; Graceland Univ.; Heart of America Christian College; Kansas City Art Institute; Kansas city Baptist College; KC College of Legal Studies; Keller Grad. School of Management; Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary; National American University; Nazarene Theological Seminary; Penn Valley Community College; Saint Luke's College; Saint Paul School of Theology; Sanford-Brown College; Univ. of Health Sciences; Univ. of Phoenix; Vatterott College; Webster Univ. Tourist Attractions Union Station, Liberty Memorial, Truman Library, Truman Home, Country Club Plaza, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kemper Contemporary Art Gallery, Kansas City Zoo, Truman Sports Complex, Sprint Center, Power and Light District, The Plaza; Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun, Hallmark Visitors Center; Arabia Steamboat Museum; American Jazz Museum; American Royal Museum and Visitor Center; Negro Leagues Baseball Museum; Toy and Miniature Museum of Kansas City Economic Development Jackson County Economic Development Corporation, Kansas City Economic Organizations Development Corporation, Independence Economic Development Corporation, Blue Springs Economic Development Corporation, Lee's Summit Economic Development Corporation 121 County Profile: Platte County, Mo. Population 2006: 83,061 Households 2006: 33,080 Employment 2005: 48,669 Population by Race Population by Age Number Percent Number Percent White 74,195 89.3% Under 5 years: 5,203 6.3% Black 3,221 3.9% 5 to 17 years: 14,980 18.0% American Indian / AK Native 289 0.3% 18 to 29 years: 13,327 16.0% Asian 1,204 1.4% 30 to 49 years: 25,568 30.8% Hawaiian/Pacific Islander 382 0.5% 50 to 64 years: 16,061 19.3% Other Race 1,836 2.2% 65 years and over: 14,496 17.5% Two or more races 1,934 2.3% Hispanic* 3,237 3.8% *Hispanic can be of any race Income Educational Attainment (Age 25 and up) Median Household Income $62,402 Number Percent Median Household Income White $64,941 Population 25+ 55,808 Non-Hispanic Bachelor's Degree 13,804 24.7% Median Household Income Black $30,200 Non-Hispanic Master's Degree 5,452 9.8% Median Household Income Hispanic $37,577 Professional School Degree 1,467 2.6% Population in Poverty 5,648 Doctorate Degree 241 0.4% Poverty Rate 6.85% Bachelor's or Higher 20,964 37.6% 122 Platte County Utilities and Other Services Electricity Kansas City Power and Light Company Natural Gas Missouri Public Service; Missouri Gas Energy Water Kansas City, MO Water; public water districts Wastewater Clemstone Sewer District WWTF; MDNR, Weston Bend State Park Solid Waste Deffenbaugh; Republic Police County Sheriff, Kansas City, MO PD, Riverside Public Safety; Camden Point PD; Dearborn PD; Edgerton PD; Ferrelview PD; Houston Lake PD; Lake Waukomis PD; Parkville PD; Platte City PD; Platte Woods PD; Tracey PD; Weatherby Lake PD; Weston PD Fire South Platte FD, Kansas City, MO FD, Riverside Public Safety; Camden Point FPD; Central Platte FPD; Dearborn Area FPD; Edgerton-Trimble FPD; Fire Rescue Squad of Platte County; Lake Waukomis Dept. of Public Safety; West Platte FPD Telephone AT & T Internet Time Warner Cable Hospital St. Luke's Northland Airport Kansas City International Airport; Elton Field; Flintlock Field; North Platte Airpark; Vandahl Airport Major Transportation Routes Interstate 29, 635 and 435; US 69; Missouri 9, 152, 92 and 45 Railroad BNSF RR Industrial Parks KCI Business AirPark, Riverside Business Park; Airworld Industrial Park Major Employers Accent Teleservices (250); ADT Security Services, Inc. (850); Aetna Rx Home Delivery (503); Alpine North (202); American Airlines Aviation (1,400); Argosy Riverside Casino (972); CitiCards (2,139); CRB Consulting Engineers (105); Dairy Farmers of America (220); DeLaval (150); Embassy Suites (164); Farmland Foods (450); FedEx Aviation (168); Haldex Brake (200); Harley- Davidson Motor Company (900); HMS Host (160); K & Company (155); Kansas City Airport Hilton (168); Kansas City Aviation Department (425); Kansas City Marriott (200); Knappco/Civacon (142); Laidlaw Transit (170); McCormick Distilling Company (135); National Weather/Aviation Ctr./Central Regional HQ (143); Park Hill School District (1,328); Park University (396); Platte County Government (271); Platte County R3 Schools (330); Saint Luke's Northland Hospital (847); Sony (220); Southwest Airlines Aviation (310); Woodbridge Foam (242); World Travel Partners (350); Worldspan (569) Park and Recreation English Landing Park; Missouri Riverfront Trail; Green Hills of Platte Wildlife Reserve; Weston Bend State Park; Snow Creek Ski & Board Area Educational Facilities Park University; University of Missouri Extension-Platte County; Western Missouri University Tourist Attractions Historic Weston; Camden Point Baptist Church Cemetery; Harley-Davidson Final Assembly Plant and Visitors Center; TWA Museum Chapter of the Platte County Historical Society; United Federation of Doll Clubs Museum; Ben Ferrel Platte County Museum; Historic Square District; Argosy Riverside Casino Economic Development Platte County Economic Development Corporation Organizations 123 County Profile: Ray County, Mo. Population 2006: 23,537 Households 2006: 9,246 Employment 2005: 11,593 Population by Race Population by Age Number Percent Number Percent White 22,848 97.1% Under 5 years: 1,470 6.2% Black 221 0.9% 5 to 17 years: 4,403 18.7% American Indian / AK Native 48 0.2% 18 to 29 years: 3,613 15.4% Asian 39 0.2% 30 to 49 years: 6,503 27.6% Hawaiian/Pacific Islander 15 0.1% 50 to 64 years: 4,971 21.1% Other Race 35 0.1% 65 years and over: 2,577 10.9% Two or more races 331 1.4% Hispanic* 476 2.0% *Hispanic can be of any race Income Educational Attainment (Age 25 and up) Median Household Income $49,797 Number Percent Median Household Income White $50,015 Population 25+ 19,840 Non-Hispanic Bachelor's Degree 1,100 7.1% Median Household Income Black $17,232 Master's Degree 598 3.8% Non-Hispanic Professional School Degree 203 1.3% Median Household Income Hispanic NA Doctorate Degree 41 0.3% Population in Poverty 2,356 Bachelor's or Higher 1,942 12.5% Poverty Rate 10.01% 124 Ray County Utilities and Other Services Electricity Aquila; Union Electric Company; Platte-Clay Cooperative Natural Gas Missouri Gas Energy; Aquila Networks Water Ray County public water districts; Municipal Wastewater Richmond North WWTF; Lawson WWTF Solid Waste AAA Disposal Service; Heartland Waste; Republic Police County Sheriff; City police: Crystal Lakes PD; Hardin PD; Henrietta PD; Homestead Village PD; Orrick PD; Richmond PD Fire Richmond FD; Volunteer departments: Hardin FPD; Lawson FPD; Orrick FPD; Stet Rural FPD; Wood Heights FPD Telephone Southwestern Bell, Sprint, Century Telephone Internet Embarq; Comcast Hospital Ray County Memorial Airport Carpenter Airport; Curtis Field; Excelsior Springs Memorial Airport; Lexington Municipal Airport; Martins Airport Major Transportation Routes Missouri 10, 13 and 210 Railroad NS, BNSF RR, ICE Industrial Parks Richmond Business Community Industrial Park Major Employers Bank Midwest, Financial institution, 22; Hunt Midwest/Green Quarries, Rock quarry, 175; ORBSEAL, Inc., Manufacturing, 350; Pacific Epoxy Polymer, Manufacturing, 40; Ray Carroll Grain Growers, Propane gas, fertilizer plant, 111; Ray County Div. of Family Services, Public agency, 20; Ray County Memorial Hospital, Health care, 216; Richmond IGA, Grocery store, 60; Richmond R-XVI Schools, Education, 220; Shirkey Leisure Acres, Nursing home, 130; Taber Products, Printing/sealants, 13; Wal-Mart, Discount retailer, 300; Park and Recreation Maurice Roberts Park Educational Facilities University of Missouri Extension – Ray County Tourist Attractions Richmond Courthouse; Farris Theater; Ray County Fairgrounds and Museum; Shirkey Gold Course Economic Development Kansas City Area Development Corporation Organizations 125 600 Broadway, Suite 200 | Kansas City, MO 64105 816-474-4240 | www.marc.org