City of Frankfort

What City of Frankfort does

The City of Frankfort is the municipal government of Kentucky's state capital, founded in 1786 and operating under a mayor-commissioner form of government led by Mayor Layne Wilkerson and City Manager Jason Monroe. It serves approximately 28,000 residents within city limits and a regional customer base of 15,000 sewer customers across Frankfort, Franklin and Woodford Counties, providing comprehensive municipal services including public safety (police, fire, EMS, 911 dispatch), wastewater treatment (E.C. McManis plant, 9.9 MGD capacity), public transit, solid waste management, parks and recreation, planning and zoning, and historic preservation. The city operates 18+ physical department locations and delivers digital services through a CivicPlus-powered website and four mobile applications (City of Frankfort App powered by SeeClickFix, Ready Frankfort for emergency alerts, FrankWaste for solid waste, and integration with the LAZ Parking platform for downtown parking managed at two garages and on-street enforcement).

The city's revenue model is a hybrid of tax-based and fee-based streams: property taxes, business licenses, sewer service charges, parking fees and citations, building permits and development fees, transit fares, and parks/recreation fees, supplemented by state and federal appropriations for capital projects. FY-2025 general revenue receipts totaled $47,523,019. Recent capital activity includes a $42 million meeting and event center project backed by $22.25 million in Kentucky General Assembly appropriations, a Sasaki-led Riverfront Development Strategic Plan, a $1.095 million Historic Investment Program funded by the Paul Bruhn Grant, and acquisition of the Old Y property at 106 Bridge Street to support downtown revitalization. The city maintains partnerships with LAZ Parking (parking operations), Sasaki (planning), Red Draw Development (mixed-use development), NREL (sustainability via Frankfort100), and the National Park Service (historic preservation funding).

Name

City of Frankfort

Legal name

City of Frankfort

Website

https://frankfort.ky.gov

Company type

Private

Founded year

1786

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The City of Frankfort is the municipal government of Kentucky's capital city, serving ~28,000 residents and 15,000 regional sewer customers with public safety, utilities, transit, parks, planning, and historic preservation services through 18+ departments and a CivicPlus digital platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Municipal Government Services

NAICS

Sewage Treatment Facilities (221320), Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (221310), Other Urban Transit Systems (485119), Police Protection (922120)

SIC

Sanitary Services (4950), Water Supply (4941), Water, Sewer, Pipeline, Comm & Power Line Construction (1623)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Works & Municipal Infrastructure (Streets, Stormwater, Facilities) (BPAIACAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

City Clerk/Records, Elections & Civic Engagement (BPAIACAB), Smart Cities & Urban Innovation Programs (Digital Planning, Civic Tech for Cities) (BPAIANAJ), Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs) (EUANADAA), Waste Management & Smart Sanitation (Facilities) (HSAPAPAM), Sustainable Cities, Urban Development & Green Infrastructure (BPADALAL)

Keywords

• Municipal government services
• Public safety services
• Transit services
• Parks recreation
• Wastewater utilities

Headquarters

HQ city

Frankfort

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices18 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Property Taxes: Annual property tax revenues collected from residential and commercial properties within city limits
2. Business Licenses and Fees: Licensing fees for businesses operating within city limits, including annual renewal requirements
3. Parking Services: Revenue from on-street parking, parking garages (Ann Street and Transit Center), and residential parking passes, managed by LAZ Parking
4. Sewer Services: Wastewater collection and treatment services for 15,000 customers in Frankfort, Franklin and Woodford County
5. Building Permits and Development Fees: Fees collected for building permits, development plan reviews, zoning amendments, and subdivision approvals
6. Transit Fares: Public transit fares collected for Frankfort Transit bus services
7. Parks and Recreation Fees: Fees for aquatic center passes, golf course, athletic leagues, facility rentals, and special event permits
8. State and Federal Funding: Appropriations from Kentucky General Assembly for specific projects such as meeting and event center ($11M in FY2027-2028), and federal Historic Preservation Fund grants

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The City of Frankfort is a Kentucky municipal government that delivers core public services to residents, businesses, visitors, and property owners. Offerings include police, fire and EMS, 911 dispatch and emergency management, Frankfort Transit public transportation, the Frankfort Sewer Department (wastewater collection), parking enforcement, parks and recreation, planning and community development, historic preservation, building permitting and code enforcement, and public works. Digital channels (web platform, GIS, mobile apps, Smart911, Frankfort Rocks) extend service delivery and civic engagement.

Product overview

The City of Frankfort operates a digital civic engagement platform built on CivicPlus CMS, offering residents access to municipal services through a unified web presence. The portfolio includes mobile applications for issue reporting and emergency alerts, transit services, parks and recreation facilities, sewer department operations, fire and EMS services, police department, planning and community development, and parking management. Key digital services include online permit applications, property tax payments, business licensing, meeting calendars, and various community engagement initiatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Frankfort Sewer Department (FSD): Municipal sewer department protecting public health and the environment by safely collecting and treating wastewater for the community
• Frankfort Fire & EMS
• Frankfort Police Department
• Frankfort Parks & Recreation
• Frankfort Transit
• Ready Frankfort App
• Let's Be Frank Newsletter

Products and services

• Frankfort Transit City-operated public transit service providing fixed-route bus transportation to Frankfort residents, workers, students, and visitors for daily mobility and access to key destinations.
• Frankfort Sewer Department Municipal wastewater collection and conveyance utility providing sanitary sewer service to properties within the Frankfort sewer service area for residential, commercial, and industrial customers.
• Frankfort Fire & EMS City fire department providing fire suppression, rescue, and emergency medical services to residents, businesses, and visitors within Frankfort.
• Frankfort Police Department Municipal police department providing law enforcement, patrol, criminal investigation, and community policing services to residents, businesses, and visitors within Frankfort.
• 911 Dispatch and Emergency Management City-operated 911 emergency communications center and emergency management function providing emergency dispatch and Smart911-enhanced resident notifications.
• Parking Services City parking division providing on-street and off-street parking enforcement, permit issuance, and meter management in downtown Frankfort for residents, businesses, and visitors.
• Parks and Recreation

Quantifiable outcome

• Wastewater treatment capacity of 9.9 million gallons per day (expanded from 6.6 MGD in 2001)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Red Draw DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 February 2026Lexington-based developer selected through RFP process as single negotiating partner for meeting and event center development. Red Draw Development is also the developer for the rest of Parcels B and C riverfront development sites. Selected after 18-month evaluation process from four submitted proposals.
• SasakicoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 January 2026Nationally recognized planning and design firm engaged to develop comprehensive Riverfront Development Strategic Plan for Frankfort. The plan will encompass the full stretch of the city's riverfront from Capital View Park to Buffalo Trace Distillery. Sasaki began work in January 2026 with a July 31, 2026 deadline for final report and public presentation.
• LAZ ParkingcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorParking operator for downtown Frankfort managing Ann Street and Transit Center parking garages, on-street parking enforcement, and residential parking passes. Provides parking management technology including LAZgo Text to Park platform.
• Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency coordinating on Taylor Avenue road closure and monitoring. Agreed to consider reopening Taylor Avenue after year of consistent monitoring pending study results.
• Franklin County Fiscal CourtcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty government partner in Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) agreement for Capital Plaza Hotel redevelopment and other economic development initiatives.
• Frankfort Independent School DistrictminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational institution partner in PILOT agreement for Capital Plaza Hotel, contributing to economic development without direct funding.
• Downtown Frankfort, Inc.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerDowntown business association and marketing partner supporting economic development, events, and community engagement initiatives.
• Kentucky Capital Development CorporationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEconomic development organization partner supporting business development and investment in the Frankfort area.
• NREL (National Renewable Energy Laboratory)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal energy research laboratory collaborating with Frankfort100 initiative for sustainability and renewable energy programs.
• Liberty Hall Historic SiteminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHistoric site partnering with city for America250 Independence Day event celebration (Liberty Hall-er Music Festival).

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• City of Louisville, Kentucky: Kentucky's largest city operating under a mayor-council structure with extensive municipal services including MSD wastewater operations, TARC transit, parks, and police. Shares the same state-level appropriations environment and faces comparable infrastructure reinvestment demands.
• City of Lexington, Kentucky: Largest city in Kentucky with a similar mayor-commissioner structure and comprehensive municipal service portfolio (fire, police, wastewater, transit, parks). Operates in the same state regulatory and funding environment, with comparable economic development priorities including downtown revitalization and historic preservation.
• City of Pierre, South Dakota: Very small U.S. state capital with similar population profile and comprehensive municipal service delivery including wastewater treatment, parks, and public safety. Useful peer for benchmarking small-capital-city fiscal and operational dynamics.
• City of Richmond, Kentucky: Eastern Kentucky city of comparable population size (≈36,000) that operates similar municipal services including wastewater, transit, parks, and public safety. Comparable scale and operating constraints make it a relevant operational peer.
• City of Jefferson City, Missouri: Mid-sized U.S. state capital with similar profile to Frankfort — provides comprehensive municipal services, hosts state government, operates a wastewater system, and pursues downtown preservation and riverfront development. Highly comparable in scale, structure, and challenges.
• City of Annapolis, Maryland: Maryland's state capital with similar population scale, historic preservation mandate, waterfront orientation, and tourism-driven economy. Operates comparable municipal services and pursues parallel downtown revitalization initiatives.
• City of Bowling Green, Kentucky: Mid-sized Kentucky city with similar comprehensive municipal services including wastewater treatment, transit, parks, and historic preservation. Operates within the same state funding and regulatory framework and pursues comparable downtown revitalization and economic development strategies.
• City of Owensboro, Kentucky: Western Kentucky city with active riverfront development initiatives, comparable downtown revitalization efforts, and similar mid-sized municipal service portfolio including wastewater treatment and parks/recreation facilities.
• City of Covington, Kentucky: Northern Kentucky city of similar population scale with active downtown and riverfront revitalization efforts, historic preservation programs, and comprehensive municipal service delivery — making it a strong functional peer in terms of city-building strategy.
• City of Augusta, Maine: State capital of comparable population size (≈19,000) with similar comprehensive municipal services, riverfront assets, and historic preservation focus. Offers a useful cross-state comparable for small-capital-city governance and funding dynamics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CityFrankfortKy
• YouTubefrankfort.ky.gov/youtube
• Facebookfacebook.com/CityofFrankfortKY
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/frankfort-city-of
• Instagramfrankfort.ky.gov/instagram

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about City of Frankfort