The NKAPC was created in 1961 following action by the 1960 session of the Kentucky General Assembly. The General Assembly’s goals—and those of the local officials who saw the task through—were to decrease bureaucracy and conflicting development standards, to foster coordinated growth and economic prosperity, and to support local governments with those functions that impact growth and prosperity most directly.

As envisioned by the legislation that became Kentucky Revised Statutes 147.610 - 147.705, the roots of the organization are planted firmly within the local jurisdictions served by NKAPC. Because a governing board representing dozens of jurisdictions could be unwieldy overseeing the day-to-day operations of a central staff, the legislation charged the membership with selecting a much smaller group to pursue the task. This led to the bodies we know today as the Northern Kentucky Area Planning Council (NKAPCouncil) and Northern Kentucky Area Planning Commission (NKAPCommission) respectively.

The geographic jurisdiction and number of local governments served by the NKAPC have grown and decreased over the decades of its existence. So too have the responsibilities pursued by its staff. The purpose in which it was initially created, providing excellent services to Northern Kentucky citizens and local governments, has not changed, nor is it ever expected to change.

Vision / Mission / Core Values

Within the last decade, the NKAPCouncil and NKAPCommission adopted a Vision / Mission / Core Values Statement to help focus their efforts and those of the staff. As envisioned by both groups, this effort has helped explain NKAPC’s reason for existence as well as illustrate the yardstick by which it expects to be measured.

Organizational Structure

As illustrated here, each member local government appoints two of its elected officials to seats on the NKAPCouncil (one member and one alternate each). The NKAPCouncil elects seven persons to two-year alternating terms on the NKAPCommission.

The NKAPCommission pursues its responsibilities through interlocal agreements, contracts for professional services, organizational commitments, and state and federal contracts. The NKAPCommission also hires the executive director who is responsible for hiring and overseeing the professional staff.