FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 3, 2007

Harvard lists CIMO among top 50 government innovations for 2007

City will compete for $100,000 award

The City of Kansas City, Mo., Capital Improvements Management Office is among the 2007 Top 50 Government Innovations recognized by the Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government. This places the City among 18 semifinalists for the Ash Institute's Innovations in American Government Awards and makes it eligible to win one of seven $100,000 grants.

"This latest honor continues the Capital Improvements Management Office's history of regional and national recognition," Mayor Kay Barnes said. "Both inside and beyond Kansas City, people know that Kansas City works."

In order to eliminate the City's capital project backlog, develop a functional system for project delivery and restore public confidence, the City formed the Capital Improvements Management Office in 2004 to deliver essential infrastructure projects while streamlining approaches to project delivery. This resulted in the delivery of more than $1.2 billion in capital projects including major redevelopments such as the downtown entertainment district infrastructure, the Kansas City Convention Center expansion and the Sprint Center arena, as well as contracting $190 million in neighborhood projects.

"This distinction recognizes the ingenuity of City leaders in thinking outside the box to deliver basic infrastructure projects to citizens in need," City Manager Wayne A. Cauthen said. "We hope our solution can help other communities facing similar difficulties in capital project delivery."

As a prerequisite to advancing in the competition, City staff participated in a site evaluation by Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation program evaluators in late March. The site evaluation allowed the Ash Institute representatives a firsthand look at the workings of the office, including systematic innovations, CIMO staff and examples of CIMO's project portfolio.

The top 50 programs represent government agencies at the federal, state, county and city levels selected for their novelty and creativity, effectiveness at addressing significant issues and potential to be replicated by other jurisdictions. Chosen from nearly 1,000 applicants, they represent government's best efforts across a variety of policy areas, ranging from criminal justice to community development. To download the full list of top 50 programs, visit www.ashinstitute.harvard.edu.

Eighteen finalists, selected from the top 50 programs, will be announced May 2. The seven recipients of $100,000 awards will be announced in the fall at a dinner celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Innovations in American Government Awards Program in Washington, D.C.

For more information about the Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation, call (617) 495-0557.

Media inquiries about this issue and other requests for more information about the Capital Improvements Management Office should be directed to Donna Mandelbaum, Capital Improvements Management Office communication specialist, (816) 513-2757.