Case Study: Port Authority of Kansas City, Missouri
 Overview
Clear works with the Port Authority of Kansas City to enhance its overall reputation and communicate with key audiences regarding two of the largest economic development opportunities in Kansas City: the transformation of Richards-Gebaur into an intermodal freight gateway and the proposed 55-acre mixed-use development on Kansas City’s riverfront. The agency and the projects have been criticized regularly due to historical issues, project starts and stops and overall negative perceptions.
Strategies
Public Affairs – Clear initiates and facilitates public participation and stakeholder communications for the Port Authority through media relations, community outreach and public affairs. Elected officials are regularly invited to see projects first-hand and network with staff, board members and key project partners. The Port Authority has embarked on a vigorous public outreach strategy to include dozens of public meetings.
Media Relations – Intense media relations have resulted in more than 150 local and national media hits since 2005.
Results
- The Port Authority has strengthened its relationships with federal agencies, including the FAA, EPA and GSA through a dedicated relationship-building strategy and secured federal grant monies to assist in environmental clean-up and beautification efforts on both the Riverfront and at Richards-Gebaur.
- Support from local, state and federal elected officials has surged due to intense public outreach and community support for key projects.
Case Study: Greater Kansas City Community Foundation
 Overview
In early 2005 the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation commissioned a Blue Ribbon Task Force of nationally-recognized leaders in higher education to conduct a study of higher education in the metropolitan area and the role it can and should play in the future of our community.
The end result was intended to be a report to help guide business, philanthropic, civic and government leaders as they identify funding priorities and help to strengthen higher education in Kansas City. Midway through the process, the task force chair testified before a reform commission appointed by the Governor of Missouri.
Strategies
Message Development – Clear’s founder and principal developed background materials on the Blue Ribbon Task Force, task force members, task force objectives and study methods.
Media/Stakeholder Relations – Relationships with key reporters and community stakeholders were leveraged in order to mitigate fallout from a UMKC faculty-led misinformation campaign.
Government relations – Regular meetings with the client and key community leaders, including elected officials and staff, provided an opportunity to gauge public perception of the effort, identified media opportunities and crafted op-eds, including an “As I See It” co-signed by Congressman Emanuel Cleaver and Congressman Dennis Moore to maintain support.
Results
- Regular media articles (more than 60 in three months) appeared in local publications as well as surrounding regional media. A representative of the Blue Ribbon Task Force or member of the Community Foundation staff was always quoted and this resulted in largely balanced stories. Several radio and television interviews featuring Blue Ribbon Task Force members also aired that served to educate wide audiences.
- The task force’s report was positively received and several positive editorials were written to promote it.
- More than 500 individuals attended open meetings and public hearings regarding the Blue Ribbon Task Force study and its findings.
- Media coverage and information provided on the community foundation’s web site provided key information throughout the process.
- Shortly following the roll-out of the final report, the Governors of Missouri and Kansas announced an annual summit to discuss bi-state issues that center around higher education.
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