| Tech startup assists in KC’s census revision |
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By JASON GERTZEN The Kansas City Star A Kansas City-area technology startup wants more cities to stand up and be counted. NPT Labs played a key role in the behind-the-scenes effort leading to last week’s addition of more than 25,000 residents to Kansas City’s U.S. Census Bureau tally. Using information that NPT researchers helped to collect and analyze, city leaders successfully challenged their official population count. Census officials agreed to raise the city’s population from 450,375 to 475,830, a move that could bring more than $20 million in additional state and federal funding. The success of this project could help NPT win similar business in cities nationwide, said Dan Melton, the founder of the Kansas City, Kan.-based NPT Labs. “This is the case that shows this system can work,†Melton said. For the project, NPT participated with a consortium known as Project KCUMA, or Kansas City Urban Market Assets. Other institutions that were involved in the effort included the University of Missouri-Kansas City, the city of Kansas City, community development corporations and a group called Social Compact. Researchers compiled a more accurate population count with a market analysis using a system initially developed by Social Compact. The procedure involves examining public records and other information sources to find residents whom traditional census methods might miss. Melton’s company tapped into additional records and refined the system in other ways. Other cities are likely to be interested in waging similar population challenges. The information also can be helpful for economic development. The analysis can demonstrate that urban areas, for example, might be more attractive markets than some retailers realize. NPT Labs could have an advantage over competitors that do similar research but rely more heavily on census data, said Robyne Turner, the chairwoman of the Department of Public Policy and Administration at Rutgers University. Turner initiated the local project when she worked at UMKC. She was director of the Cookingham Institute of Urban Affairs. The successful result in Kansas City could help NPT persuade new clients of its qualifications, Turner said. “They have the experience to do this in other cities,†she said. To reach Jason Gertzen, call 816-234-4899 or send e-mail to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . |