The Center for Public Management and Regional Affairs engages in applied research, technical assistance services, training and education, and data base development in the areas of public management and capacity building, local government economic development and planning, and public program evaluation and policy research.

The Center’s activities are funded by external grants and contracts from a number of funding sources including the U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration; the Ohio Public Works Commission; the Rural University Program; and the Ohio Township Association. The Center’s primary efforts are directed toward research and assistance to small/non-metropolitan cities, villages, townships, and counties. Center projects are initiated upon request from local governments or by Center staff as an ongoing program for various local governments in the region and statewide. The Center operates with the director, professional full-time staff, and also draws upon faculty, graduate students and undergraduate students in public administration, policy analysis, political science, environmental sciences, and geography.

Miami University maintains a solid commitment to public service. The activities initiated by the Center for Public Management and Regional Affairs stand as a centerpiece of Miami University’s public service mission. Over the past two years, more than 40 local governments (cities, villages, townships, and counties) have benefited from direct applied research projects. For example, the Center coordinated the recruitment, evaluation, and selection of a new Village Manager for the Village of Williamsburg as well as for the Village of Waynesville and the Village of Moscow, and in Sugarcreek Township, the Center assisted township trustees in the updating of comprehensive personnel policies and procedures for township employees. In addition, the Center for Public Management and Regional Affairs has been designated as a University Center by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration.

The Center has also signed a cooperative agreement with the Ohio Township Association. In conjunction with OTA, the Center produces the Ohio Township Trustee Sourcebook, the Ohio Township Fiscal Officer Sourcebook, and the Ohio Township Personnel Management Sourcebook. This three-volume set (Township Sourcebook Series) has been designated by the Ohio Township Association as the recommended resource publication for township officials in Ohio. The Center also coordinates the development of the Ohio Township Administrators Network. OTAN serves as a database and information-sharing project for township administrators.

Project Assistance is available in the following areas:

• Community Surveys
• Computer and Information Management
• Economic and Community Development
• Geographic Information Systems
• Goal-Setting, Team-Building, and Strategic Planning
• Local Government Management and Human Resources
• Public Works and Infrastructure Assistance
• Township Web Site Development
• Training for Elected and Appointed Officials

Examples of recent jurisdiction-specific Technical Assistance and Applied Research Projects include:

City of Fairfield (Butler County) – the Center is working with the city to create a building and property inventory database to identify strengths and weaknesses of a specified business district.

City of Hamilton (Butler County) – the Center completed a formative program evaluation for FY 2004 and is currently completing a second formative program evaluation for FY 2005 for Operation Weed and Seed.

Greene County Department of Development – Center staff provided training to local development staff regarding the administration of three surveys in order to establish income eligibility for Community Development Block Grant funding.

Village of New Miami (Butler County) – the Center continues to provide assistance to the Village Council and Board of Public Affairs in identifying capital infrastructure needs and alternative funding sources.

Hanover Township (Butler County) – at the request of the Township Trustees, Center staff is assisting in a cemetery database project and developed and currently hosts the official township website. The Center also provided information for the Township’s search for a new Township Administrator.

Scioto Foundation (Adams, Pike, Jackson, and Scioto Counties) – the Center is assisting the Foundation with a workload distribution process, the development of new position descriptions, the development of a personnel policies and procedures manual, and a compensation study.

Bethel Township (Miami County) – the Center has developed a capital budget and capital improvement planning process for township officials.

New Russia Township (Lorain County) – Center staff assisted the township with creating a personnel policies and procedures manual.

Village of West Manchester (Preble County) – Center staff provided guidance to the Village establishing eligibility for financial assistance in the form of grants and loans for capital infrastructure projects.

Examples of Applied Research Projects Benefiting Multiple Local Governments:

Southwest Ohio Local Government Wage and Benefit Survey (Butler, Warren, Montgomery, Clark, Greene, Darke, Preble, Shelby, Miami, and Clermont Counties) – 2005 was the tenth year for collecting annual wage and benefit data to assist local government personnel managers in a ten county region. Urban townships across the state are also included in the survey. The Center collects and maintains a database on municipal wage, salaries, and benefits; prepares reports on various public employee compensation issues; and hosts a web site for data management and analysis.

Ohio Association of Municipal Management Assistants – the Center continues to serve as the secretariat for this professional organization; currently coordinating meetings and seminars on city management issues.

Ohio Rural Development Partnership – as part of the implementation of the Rural Development Act, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Ohio Rural Development Partnership coordinates intergovernmental cooperation of federal, state, local, and private sector rural programs. The Center is a full-partner and holds a position on the Steering Committee. In addition to its on-going commitment, the CPMRA served as the host/convener of a Strategic Planning retreat and was involved in the organizational committee that planned a “Ohio Rural Policy Summit” in Fall 2003.