Darian Davis saw a problem: there wasn’t access to fresh produce in his fifth-district neighborhood. So he and his partners at the KC Urban Farming Co-op applied for and received PIAC funds from the city. 

Through funding from the Public Improvements Advisory Committee (PIAC), the KC Urban Farming Co-op (KCUFC) was able to build one of the largest urban orchards in the country, along with a community garden that is fenced and irrigated on previously unused public land. 

The garden and orchard run by KCUFC is just one of the dozens of examples of how the city relies on its residents to make suggestions on how best to improve the city. 

PIAC started in 1983 and allows citizens to request money for infrastructure improvements including:  

bridges

public property improvements

street/roadway improvements

municipal building improvements

community centers

street lighting and traffic lights

sidewalks, curbs, and gutters

park facility improvements

monuments and fountains

ball fields and swimming pools

Community members and organizations can submit proposals through an online request form, with PIAC funding divided equally between the six council districts.   

PIAC projects are funded by a portion of the 1% city earnings tax, and the selection process is quite competitive.  Last year, the city received 830 PIAC applications with $30 million allocated to public improvements, averaging about $5 million per district.  

The Public Improvements Advisory Committee reviews proposals before making a recommendation to the city council.  The committee is composed of 13 members, two from each council district, plus a chairperson that the mayor appoints. 

You will receive notification of the final result of your application in April 2024. If your project is accepted, the funding will be allocated in May. However, please be aware that work on the project might not begin until late fall/early spring of the following year.

 Tips for PIAC Approval

  • Apply by the deadline. This year’s applications are due September 15. Final result of applications will be announced in April 2024 with funding allocated in May 2024.  However, work on the project might not begin until late fall 2024 or early spring 2025. 
  • Consider how many people are affected. If your PIAC submission is merely for a pothole on your residential road, the scope of impact is only a few people. The city says that they tend to favor proposals that affect more people. 
  • Divide larger projects into phases. Given the limited funds available to PIAC projects, multimillion-dollar projects are discouraged from an ‘all at once’ proposal. If you have a big project in mind, break it into smaller phases, and if you are approved, you can reapply for a second or third phase. 
  • Attend a public PIAC meeting. You have the opportunity to speak directly with PIAC members who will select projects in your district. Each district has two hearings leading up to the deadline. 
  • If you are unsure if your improvement idea fits, visit https://bit.ly/3saKFmQ for more information or reach out to the PIAC office at piac@kcmo.org or by phone at (816) 513-1062

PIAC Public Hearings

Interested individuals are encouraged to present their funding request to PIAC commissioners during one of the following planned community hearings.  You can also learn more about the types of projects that qualify for funding 

District 3

8/14   6-8 p.m. 

Gregg/Klice Community Center

1600 John Buck O’Neil Way

9/07 6-8 p.m. 

Brush Creek Community Center

3801 Emanuel Cleaver II Blvd.

District 5

8/29  6 – 8 p.m.

Hillcrest Community Center

10401 Hillcrest Road

9/05   6 – 8 p.m.

Southeast Community Center

4201 E 63rd St.

District 1

8/24  6 – 8 p.m.

KCPD North Patrol

11000 NW Prairie View Rd

9/11 6 – 8 p.m.

Shoal Creek Golf Course

8905 Shoal Creek Pkwy

District 2

8/31  6 – 8 p.m.

Northland Neighborhoods Inc.

5340 Northeast Chouteau Trafficway

9/12 6 – 8 p.m.

Hopewell Elementary School

6801 N Line Creek Pkwy

District 4

8/21  6 – 8 p.m.

World War 1 Museum and Memorial

2 Memorial Drive

8/30   6 – 8 p.m.

Kansas City North Community Center

3930 Northeast Antioch Road

District 6

8/15  6 – 8 p.m.

Pedro Arrupe Hall

5351 Forest Ave, Room 114

9/14 6 – 8 p.m.

South Kansas City Chamber of Commerce

1300 E. 94th Street, Ste 100