npT Labs, LLC is excited to announce the successful challenge of the US Census by the City of Kansas City, MO of 26,000+.  This will add nearly $20 million to the city's bottom line as federal and state population-based grants reset with the new information in coming years. 

The challenge is stage two in a three year public-private partnership called Project KCUMA or Kansas City Urban Market Assets. Coordinated by Dan Melton, PhD of npT Labs and Robyne Turner, PhD of Rutgers University, Project KCUMA uses a method called the DrillDown, pioneered by Social Compact, to count the city's population using real-time transactional data like water utility records, building permits, and parcel information.  Using a combination of this data, the DrillDown revealed an estimated 15% undercount by the 2000 US Census, primarily in the urban core.

As an outgrowth of the DrillDown, Steve Lebofsky, a city planner at the City of Kansas City, MO challenged the US Census results in December 2008.  Mr. Lebofsky, along with leaders from MidAmerica Regional Council, UMKC's Center for Economic Information and Department of Urban Planning were instrumental in advising, support and oversight for the project.

In April 2009, developers, real estate agents, and the wider community will have access to the data using a tool developed by npTLabs, LLC called Urbata. Project KCUMA is a pilot of a future 2010 roll out by npT labs to help cities across the country recount their population using the DrillDown, challenge the US Census, stimulate economic development and make data available to the community.

For more information:

Robyne Turner, PhD, Rutgers University, 816.217.8532, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ers.edu

Dan Melton, PhD, 913.871.5839, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Steve Lebfosky, City of Kansas City, MO 816.513.3600

Carol Grimaldi, Brush Creek Community Partners 816.523.2991

Mary Charles, City of Kansas City, MO, 816.513.1349, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Background

Kansas City is the 15^th city nationwide to conduct a DrillDown. Other cities include Harlem, N.Y., Chicago, Ill., Houston, Texas, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, CA and Oakland, CA. 

Data highlights from the June 16 rollout include:

• The DrillDown estimates the current population of the city of Kansas City, Missouri to be 533,117 - approximately 71,000 higher than 2000 Census estimates.
• Census 2006 estimates show a small population decrease of -1.9 percent, compared to the DrillDown estimates of a 15 percent increase.
• The DrillDown estimates that Kansas City's average household income is $54,000, 13 percent higher than the Census 2000 estimate. When the informal or "cash" economy is included, the average household income rises to $57,000.
• The DrillDown estimates the citywide cash economy to be worth $668 million dollars.
• Downtown neighborhoods show strong change and very high purchasing power per acre.
• District 3, often perceived as lacking market viability, exhibits strong density and the second highest purchasing power per acre in the city.
• Neighborhoods in the northland, including Shoal Creek, experienced rapid change and growth since the Census 2000.

Midwest Voices op-ed Kansas City Star

KC Currents KCUR radio story July 6, 2008

Immersed in Leadership KCUMA mention July 18, 2008 CAMP magazine

KKFI radio Newsblog June 27 2008

Analysis documents higher city population, household income than census data – The Kansas City Star

New report paints brighter future for KC – The Kansas City Star

Brush Creek Community Partners newsletter vol. 10, issue 2 2008