April 2026

Jump to Events and Training Opportunities

Kearney joins KC Gov Jobs — The city of Kearney has joined KCGovJobs, a one-stop shop for public sector job opportunities. MARC members can list their recruitment opportunities at no cost. View participating employers and current openings.

MARC survey for e-mobility devices — MARC and Johnson County are conducting a survey on e-mobility policy. The survey closes April 15 and will help inform development of regional model e-mobility policy. A workgroup will convene in mid-May; those interested in participating or have questions, contact Patrick Trouba. Take the survey.

Celebrate Marlene Nagel’s 52 years of service — Join us April 23, from 3–5 p.m. at the Mid-America Regional Council, as we honor Marlene Nagel, who is retiring after 52 years of service with MARC. Brief remarks will begin at 4 p.m. Marlene joined MARC in 1974 and has played a pivotal role in advancing community development, housing, public health, local government services and other regional initiatives. RSVP by April 17.

Belton launches program supporting residents with disabilities — Belton has introduced the Blue Envelope program to support residents with disabilities or sensitivities during interactions with police. The program helps officers identify how to better support individuals and improve communications. Read more about the program.

Olathe breaks ground on accessible entertainment space, sports complex and medical park — Construction is underway on the Halo Ridge Development in Olathe, which will include a fully accessible amusement park, medical park and sports complex. All facilities are designed with ultra-accessibility for those with medical and special needs. See more about the development.

Wyandotte County opens new mental health center — The Wyandot Behavioral Health Network has opened a new downtown Kansas City, Kansas, facility offering outpatient therapy, substance use treatment and psychiatric services. The center aims to serve as a one-stop-shop for mental health care and plans to host community events in the future. View details about the wellness center.

Independence cleanup program hits major milestone — Independence’s Together Trash Crew, a program supporting individuals experiencing homelessness through work opportunities, has collected two million pounds of trash since launching in 2023. Read about the program and how you can support it.

Johnson County landlord incentive program expands housing access — Johnson County’s landlord incentive program continues to grow, adding 80 landlords since 2023. The program strengthens community partnerships and expands access to stable housing for individuals and families in the county. Read about the initiative.

Kansas City, Missouri, considers ban on single-serve alcohol — Kansas City, Missouri, is exploring an ordinance that would prohibit single-serve alcohol sales in five corridors to address violence, loitering and littering in those areas. Read about the potential ordinance.

Unified Government Commission removes residency requirement — Unified Government employees will no longer be required to live in Wyandotte County, a change intended to support organizational growth. Learn about the change.

Jackson County Sherrif’s Office appoints interim director — Lucas Castilleja has been appointed interim director of the Jackson County Detention Center. He has more than seven years of experience with the county. Read more about the appointment.

Independence names new city manager — Troy Anderson will become Independence’s city manager on April 13. He brings more than 20 years of government experience in the Midwest, most recently as Wichita’s assistant city manager. See more about Anderson.

New emergency communication tools available — MARC Emergency Services encourages local government officials to enroll in the Government Emergency Telecommunication Service and Wireless Priority Service to ensure priority calling from during major emergencies. Both services are supported by the Department of Homeland Security and provide access through landline and wireless networks. Register to support regional preparedness.

Prepare your community for extreme heat — Community-based organizations are invited to join Operation Heat Shield, a free virtual exercise on Tuesday, April 14 from 8:30 a.m. to noon. Hosted by the Community Disaster Resiliency Network, the webinar will focus on responding to extreme heat events ahead of the World Cup. Register here.

Missouri expands secretary of state authority over ballot language — Missouri has granted the secretary of state expanded authority to write summary statements for proposed ballot initiatives. The office will have up to three attempts to revise insufficient language before a circuit judge reviews it. If all three attempts are deemed insufficient, the judge may rewrite the summary. Read more about the new authority.

Kansas to limit student cell phone use — Kansas lawmakers have approved a bill requiring public school districts and accredited nonpublic schools to set policies limiting student cell phone use during the school day and limit how employees communicate with students online. Learn more about the policy.

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Visit our Grant Opportunity web page for current grant opportunities open to local governments.

Planning Sustainable Places — MARC will open applications for the Planning Sustainable Places (PSP) program on May 4. A pre-application workshop is set for May 20. Since 2013, the program has invested nearly $13 million in 118 studies, leading to almost $900 million in implementation projects. For details on the upcoming call for projects and past projects, visit the PSP website.

SPECIAL EVENTS

• First Suburbs Coalition: Community Engagement Best Practices — Raytown City Hall, 10000 E 59th St, Raytown, Missouri
  April 17, 8–10 a.m. Register.
• MARC Board of Directors — MARC offices, 600 Broadway, Suite 200, Kansas City, Missouri
  April 28, 11:30 a.m.
• Kansas City/County Management Conference — Oread Hotel, 1200 Oread Avenue, Lawrence, Kansas
  April 30–May 1. Register.
• Managers Roundtable: World Cup Updates – MARC Offices, 600 Broadway, Suite 200, Kansas City, Missouri
  May 27, 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. Register.

UPCOMING TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES

• Grant Management Workshop — 600 Broadway, Suite 200, Kansas City, Missouri
  April 22–23, 9 a.m. Register.