Stormwater Utility Community-Based Partnership

In 2023, the Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas (UG) chose CIS to partner in a Community-Based Partnership (CBP) program to reduce combined sanitary and storm system overflows and expand green stormwater infrastructure in the area. The program has received over $100 million from a Water Infrastructure Finance Innovation Act (WIFIA) loan to support pilot CBP projects.

This CIS Project Team will work to develop a “Community-Based Stormwater Utility Program Management Plan” that includes a framework for the CBP Program delivery approach, generating community outreach, and launching a mentor-protégé program to foster local contractor capacity.

CIS will apply its extensive expertise gained from establishing CBPs across the United States to inform the development of UG’s Program, including optimizing program efficiencies, engaging in equitable community outreach, growing the local workforce and participation of small, women-, and minority-owned businesses, increasing government transparency and accountability, and leveraging innovative finance and funding approaches.

CIS has partnered with local companies—including Black & Veatch, iMG, Groundwork Northeast Revitalization Group (Groundwork NFG), Vireo, Parson + Associates (P+A), Phronesis, and others—that have knowledge of UG and the community to help maximize the environmental and socioeconomic benefits delivered to residents.