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ANNOUNCEMENTS |
MARC announces a new executive director — The MARC Board of Directors has named Geraldine Ide Gardner as the new executive director following a nationwide search. She is currently the executive director of the Centralina Regional Council in Greater Charlotte, where she leads nine counties and 2.5 million residents. Gardner will begin her role on Oct. 1. Read about the transition.
New federal regulations for federal funding — The federal government has issued new regulations for federal funding with proposed changes that could potentially impact existing and future grants from federal agencies if it is approved. The public comment period is open until July 13. The National Association of Counties has provided a comment template. See more information.
Meetings and events at MARC shifting to virtual in July — All meetings from MARC will be held virtually for the month of July due to the move to 801 Pennsylvania. |
STAFF CHANGES |
Leawood fire chief announces retirement — Leawood Fire Chief Colin Fitzgerald will retire after 15 years with the organization and 30 years in public service. The city has launched a national search for his replacement. See more about the transition. |
REGIONAL NEWS |
Kansas City, Missouri, reinstates bus fares — The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) has ended its zero-fare policy. All buses now require a $2 single-fee fare. United Way and KCATA will provide free and reduced fares to 20,000 eligible residents. View the changes.
Johnson County Election Commission reduces early voting sites — Several early voting locations have been removed ahead of the Aug. 4 elections, including sites in densely populated areas. See which locations remain open.
North Kansas City passes temporary camping ordinance — Ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026™, North Kansas City approved a temporary ban on camping on public property from June 11 to July 21. Read about the measure.
Overland Park begins waste services improvements — The Overland Park City Council voted to begin establishing a citywide solid waste system. The improvement aligns with the city’s comprehensive plan and prioritizes trash and recycling services. Learn about the improvements.
Grandview chief financial officer honored for the 2026 CFO of the Year — Grandview Chief Financial Officer Kirk Decker has been named a 2026 CFO of the Year honoree by the Kansas City Business Journal for his financial leadership and community involvement.
Shawnee launches summer farmers market — The Shawnee Farmers’ Market runs Saturdays through October from 7 a.m. to noon, featuring a variety of local vendors and goods. See more about the farmer's market.
Blue Springs begins Main Street revitalization — Following voter approval of a 2024 bond issue, Blue Springs has started revitalizing its downtown corridor. Improvements include road reconstruction, wider sidewalks and new streetlights. Read about the project.
Johnson County Museum receives second national award — The Johnson County Museum received the 2026 Award of Excellence from the American Association for State and Local History for its exhibit "Ripples: Water, Community, and You." Read about the award.
Communications specialist from Lee’s Summit receives Order of the Flame award — Macy Oswald, a communications specialist with the Lee Summit’s Fire Department, received the Order of the Flame award from the Battle Within at its ninth annual “Mash Plastic” wiffle ball tournament for her 911 peer support efforts. Watch Oswald receive the award. |
MARC NEWS |
Participate in MARC travel patterns survey —MARC is asking residents and visitors in the region to share their travel experiences during the FIFA World Cup™ through an online survey. The survey will assist regional planners in understanding the performance of transportation systems across the metro during large events. Take the survey.
Zoning Atlas project webinar coming soon — Habitat for Humanity and MARC will host a webinar to introduce the new Zoning Atlas project and provide an overview of zoning reports across the Kansas City region. Amanda Graor, MARC’s director of data and digital services, is the primary contact for the event.
MARC seeks feedback on which Planning Sustainable Places projects should be funded — MARC recently conducted a call for projects for funding through its MARC's Planning Sustainable Places program. There were 28 applications received and MARC is looking for input until July 22. Provide input about the projects.
MARC's Metro Managers Program is accepting mentors and mentees for the 2026 cohort — The Metro Managers Mentor Program connects seasoned local government professionals with emerging leaders to support career growth and expand regional networks through structured mentor and mentee relationships. Applications are due on July 15, and matches will be assigned on August 7. Learn more about the program. |
STATE & NATIONAL NEWS |
Missouri releases app to combat human trafficking — Missouri has released Simply Report, a new app that allows residents to report suspicious activity related to potential human trafficking. Read about the app.
Kansas to gain data center with reduced water use — Triple Oak Power plans to acquire more than 6,000 acres of farmland near Garden City, Kansas, to build a data center that would use less water than irrigation farming. The site would be surrounded by solar panels, wind turbines and a natural gas plant. See about the project. |
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GRANT OPPORTUNITIES |
Visit our Grant Opportunity web page for current grant opportunities open to local governments.
FEMA announces more than $420 million in emergency management — FEMA will distribute more than $420 million through two funding opportunities to support state, local, tribal and government agencies with strengthening their emergency response capabilities. See about the support. |
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