Experience

Kansas City Phase 1 Smart+Connected City Public-Private Partnership

City of Kansas City, MO | Population: 508,000+

This project was an orchestration of the public-private partnership between the City of Kansas City, MO and Cisco in 2014 to create the largest Smart+Connected City in North America. The team members of Pioneer Partners (formerly with Think Big Partners) created the entire business model using a design thinking innovation process that led to the creation of the initial master plan that was activated in 2014 and launched in 2016. The team acted as an advisor to the City of Kansas City, Missouri on smart city strategy, implementation, innovation district optimization, economic development and acted as a liaison between all partners during the entire process.

This public-private partnership made global headlines as $15.7 million project that catapulted Kansas City to worldwide prominence as a smart city leader. This project has captured the imagination of Mayors, CTO’s, CIO’s and technology companies around the world as Kansas City was “reimagined” as a vibrant, 18-hour city that was coupled with a $100 million transit-oriented development projected. This combined effort has spurred over $2 billion in economic development impact and helped create a safe, vibrant downtown community that was transformed by technology.

AWARD WINNING: The Pioneer Partners smart city team is the proud recipient of a Gold Edison Award (as Think Big Partners) for deploying “the most extensive coordinated suite of connective WiFi technology and analytical platforms in the world” in collaboration with the City of Kansas City, MO, Cisco and other organizations. The smart city effort has enhanced citizens’ experiences in downtown and improved the delivery of city services.

Services: Public-Private Partnership Development, Strategic Advisory

This project was featured on PBS’s VisionKeepers (Episode 4 - Programming a Smart City)