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RFP

2009 REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

The Center for Rural Pennsylvania is a bipartisan, bicameral legislative agency that serves as a resource on rural policy research within the Pennsylvania General Assembly. The Center’s mission is to promote and sustain the vitality of the state’s rural and small communities by:

• administering grants to conduct research on matters relating to rural conditions;
• maintaining and disseminating a broad base of information on rural trends and conditions;
• publishing research and project results; and
• sponsoring regional and statewide forums on rural issues.

As part of the Center’s yearly Research Grant Program, the Board of Directors approves topics for research and demonstration projects. All projects must show a clear relationship to one or more of the Center’s mandated research areas, which are:

• rural people and communities;
• economic development;
• local government finance and administration;
• community services;
• natural resources and the environment;
• rural values and social change; and
• educational outreach.

Focus
The Research Grant Program is focused on policy research. Proposals submitted under the program must include a discussion of state and local policy considerations and implications that may be affected by the project research findings, and describe any audiences that might have an interest in the project’s results. Proposals should provide specific legislative, executive or other governing body actions that may be affected by the research.

Eligibility
The Center’s enabling legislation requires that Center grants be awarded to qualified faculty members of Pennsylvania State University or the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) universities. A qualified faculty member must serve as the project director. Partnerships with other academic institutions, community organizations, and public and private agencies are encouraged.

Research Grant Program
One-year grants are awarded to conduct applied policy research or identify local strategies that can result in legislative or program policy considerations or recommendations. Multiple-year projects may be financially supported for up to three years. However, grantees must submit annual proposals and must fulfill current year grant requirements. The maximum allowable grant award is $50,000 per year, per project.

Targeted Topics
This year the Board of Directors has approved 12 targeted topics. The list of topics are below.

Open Topics
Other reasonable and beneficial projects that address one or more of the Center’s mandated
research areas will be considered by the Center under the Open Topics category.

Mini Grant Program
Mini Grants are awarded to projects that focus on basic data collection and analysis, time-sensitive issues, and/or the preparation of reference materials. Projects supported as Mini Grants are a maximum of nine months in duration and are eligible for a maximum of $10,000 in Center support. The Board has approved nine targeted Mini Grant topics that can be found below. Open topics will also be accepted for Mini Grants.


GRANT APPLICATION PROCESS

The Center's 2009 Research Grant Program application process is as follows:

1. Request for Proposals released. March 2008

2. Deadline for submission of Letters of Intent. April 21, 2008

3. Letters of Intent are reviewed and acted upon by the Board of Directors. June 2008
Selected applicants are invited to submit a full proposal for formal review.

4. Proposal planning discussions are conducted with applicants. June - July 2008

5. Deadline for full proposal submission. August 25, 2008

6. Center's Board of Directors selects projects for funding. November 2008

7. Final work plans are negotiated and accepted. November - December 2008

8. Cooperative Agreements are issued and work begins. January 2009

Letters of Intent
As the first step in the grant application process, researchers must submit a Letter of Intent. No full proposal will be accepted without the submission, and Board approval, of a Letter of Intent. Each Letter is reviewed to determine its potential for supporting the Center’s research mandate. Applicants meeting that benchmark will be invited to prepare and submit a full grant proposal. The Letter of Intent process is the same for both the traditional Research Grant Program and the Mini Grant Program.

A Letter of Intent must include the cover sheet (link to Work file is at the end of the Page) and is limited to three additional typewritten pages.

The Letter of Intent narrative must include the following:

• project description;
• scope of work to be undertaken;
• anticipated policy implications; and
• identification of partners and/or subcontractors.

Letters of Intent must be received in the Center for Rural Pennsylvania office, either in hard copy, via email or fax, by the close of business (4:30 P.M.) on Monday, April 21, 2008.

Submission Guidelines - Letter of Intent

Hard Copy
Submit the original Letter of Intent and four copies to:

Mary Kandray Gelenser
Program Manager for Grants
The Center for Rural Pennsylvania
200 North Third St., Suite 600
Harrisburg, PA 17101

Receipt of a Letter of Intent will be acknowledged via email. If acknowledgement is not
received in three business days from the date of mailing, please call (717) 787-9555 to follow up.

Email
1. Download the cover sheet from the Center for Rural Pennsylvania website at www.ruralpa.org and email the completed cover sheet and the text of the Letter of Intent to Mary Kandray Gelenser at: gelensermk@ruralpa.org.

2. An emailed Letter of Intent must be submitted in Microsoft Word. A Letter of Intent submitted in another format will not be accepted.

3. The acceptance of an emailed Letter of Intent will be acknowledged via return email. If the receipt of an emailed Letter of Intent has not been acknowledged within three business days of its submission, please call to check its status.

Fax
A Letter of Intent may also be faxed to Mary Kandray Gelenser at (717) 772-3587. Please follow up fax submissions with a telephone call to confirm that the fax has been received and is readable.

All Letters of Intent must arrive at the office of the Center for Rural Pennsylvania no later than the close of business (4:30 p.m.) on Monday, April 21, 2008.

Proposals
An applicant whose Letter of Intent is approved by the Board will be asked to submit a detailed proposal for his/her project. Proposals are due at the Center by close of business on Monday, August 25, 2008.

Proposals are evaluated on concept clarity, project methodology, impact on rural communities, financial viability, and policy implications. Grant awards are made by the Center’s Board of Directors and are contingent upon appropriation by the General Assembly in the Commonwealth’s 2008-2009 Budget. Potential applicants are strongly encouraged to discuss concepts and project viability with Center personnel during the development of the Letter of Intent and full grant proposal.

Detailed proposal guidelines will be sent to each researcher whose Letter of Intent has been accepted. Proposals should be developed with a January 2009 start-up date and reflect a maximum 12-month work cycle for the Research Grant Program and up to a nine-month work cycle for Mini Grants. Proposals must be received in the office of the Center for Rural Pennsylvania by the close of business on Monday, August 25, 2008. All proposals submitted become the property of the Center for Rural Pennsylvania.

Content
Applicants whose Letter of Intent is approved by the Board of Directors will receive complete guidelines on the requirements of the project proposal. Proposals must include the following information: needs statement and related research; goals and objectives; methodology; expected results and policy implications; budget (see following note); budget justification; and subcontractors.

Budget
For projects submitted for the 2009 Research Grant Program, the Center will provide payment for up to one-quarter faculty release time per semester (traditionally Fall and Spring) for faculty to work on Center-sponsored research. Payment will be authorized if the faculty researcher is being relieved from teaching or other professionally related duties requiring a replacement staff person to be hired. The Center will provide payment for replacement costs (salaries or wages of replacement staff including benefits). The Center will also provide for payment of summer stipends for faculty, based on the project schedule.

The Center will cover either a stipend or tuition costs for students working on the project, but not both. The maximum Center for Rural Pennsylvania grant award is $50,000 per project. The maximum for Mini Grants is $10,000 per project.

The Center does not require a cash match from applicants for research grants. However, investment by other partners clearly represents support and belief in a proposed project; the commitment of matching cash or in-kind funding can offer a competitive advantage to an applicant. Applicants are reminded that host universities must contribute indirect overhead costs.

For more information about proposals or guidelines, contact Mary Kandray Gelenser, Program Manager for Grants, at (717) 787-9555 or gelensermk@ruralpa.org.

All Letters of Intent must be received in the Center for Rural Pennsylvania office by the close of business (4:30 p.m.) on Monday, April 21, 2008.

All proposals for the 2009 Research Grant Program must be received by the close of business (4:30 p.m.) on Monday, August 25, 2008.


TARGETED TOPICS FOR THE 2009 GRANT PROGRAM

1. Examination of the Use of Specialty Courts in Rural Pennsylvania
In Pennsylvania, several counties have established specialty courts for offenders with substance abuse and mental health issues. The goal of these 42 specialty courts is to help offenders achieve long-term quality recovery in order to prevent repeat criminal behavior. This research will examine the use of specialty courts (DUI court, drug court, and mental health court) in rural Pennsylvania to determine costs and benefits, issues affecting establishment, and innovative ways of providing these services.

Key Expected Outcomes

  • Estimation of the cost to operate specialty courts in Pennsylvania.
  • Identification of issues affecting the establishment of specialty courts in rural Pennsylvania.
  • Identification of innovative methods of providing specialty court services in rural Pennsylvania.
  • Public policy implications and relevant recommendations.

2. Use of Distance Learning in Providing GED Services to Rural Students
In Pennsylvania, students studying for their GED (General Educational Development credential) have a variety of distance learning options available to them. This research will assess the types, usage and effectiveness of distance learning methods available to Pennsylvania rural students studying for the GED.

Key Expected Outcomes

  • Identification of types of distance learning methods available to GED students, and estimation of the average number of GED students who currently use each method.
  • Correlation analysis of distance learning use with student outcomes.
  • Cost analysis of providing GED education via distance learning.
  • Identification of issues relating to the expanded use of distance learning in rural Pennsylvania.
  • Public policy implications and relevant recommendations.

3. Evaluation of Workforce Training Programs in Rural Pennsylvania
Among Pennsylvania’s portfolio of economic development supports are two grant programs designed to improve the skills of the workforce. Customized Job Training (CJT) and Guaranteed Free Training (GFT) grants are available to support specialized (CJT) or basic (GFT) employee training. This research will analyze the use of CJT and GFT in rural Pennsylvania and identify policy options for maximizing their use and effectiveness.

Key Expected Outcomes

  • Identification of employee and employer participation in CJT and GFT in rural Pennsylvania over the last 10 years.
  • Evaluation of the impact of these programs in terms of stated program goals in rural Pennsylvania.
  • Identification of issues related to the expanded use of these programs.
  • Public policy implications and relevant recommendations.
4. Examination of Transportation Services Available to Rural Military Veterans for Medical Services
Medical services to veterans are provided at Veterans Administration (VA) regional medical centers and outpatient clinics throughout Pennsylvania. Transportation services, often limited in rural Pennsyl vania, can make access to these VA centers challenging for some veterans. This research will assess the health care transportation needs of rural military veterans in Pennsylvania and the transportation services available to them.

Key Expected Outcomes

  • Estimation of the number of veterans needing transportation services for VA medical services in rural Pennsylvania.
  • Identification of the transportation services currently available to veterans and the resources that support these services.
  • Gap analysis for veterans health care transportation networks.
  • Public policy implications and relevant recommendations.

5. Examination of Rural County Veterans Affairs Offices
Deployment in support of U.S. military operations has increased the number of veterans in rural Pennsylvania eligible for services. County veterans affairs offices can assist with compensation and pension claims, healthcare applications (VA hospitals and Champ VA), and funeral and burial benefit claims as well as recording county veterans’ burial places. However, the range of services provided varies greatly from county to county. This project will examine the services provided by county veterans affairs offices in rural Pennsylvania.

Key Expected Outcomes

  • Analysis of the operating budgets and staffing patterns of county veterans affairs offices.
  • Identification of the universe of services currently provided by county veterans affairs offices.
  • Identification of gaps in services and innovative ways of closing the gaps.
  • Public policy implications and relevant recommendations.

6. Affordable Child Care in Rural Pennsylvania
According to Census data, 61 percent of rural Pennsylvania children under age 6 live in a two- parent household where both parents work, or in a single parent household where the lone parent works. For many of these families, affordable child care is important for their employment. This research will analyze the need for affordable child care in rural Pennsylvania. The study will also include an examination of registered and licensed providers’ participation in public and private subsidy and quality improvement programs.

Key Expected Outcomes

  • Analysis of state licensed child care providers in rural Pennsylvania, to include capacity, revenue sources, hours of operation, staffing, participation in quality improvement programs, etc.
  • Profile of families who use these child care services.
  • Public policy implications and relevant recommendations.

7. Analysis of Municipal Financing of Road and Street Construction and Maintenance
Rural municipalities maintain 42,750 miles of Pennsylvania roads and streets. On average, 35 percent of local municipal budgets are used for road and street construction and maintenance. This research will analyze rural municipal fiscal and physical capacities to maintain roads, streets, and highways.

Key Expected Outcomes

  • Analysis of rural municipal budgets to determine funding (including Liquid Fuels Taxes) and expenditure trends in road construction and maintenance for the last five years.
  • Projection of the cost of municipal road construction and reconstruction for the next five years in Pennsylvania’s rural communities.
  • Analysis of municipal participation in the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s Turnback and Agility Programs.
  • Public policy implications and relevant recommendations.

8. Impact of the Statewide Building Code in Rural Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania’s General Assembly first enacted Act 45, the Uniform Construction Code, also
known as the statewide building code, in 1999. This research will analyze the implementation and enforcement of the statewide building code and determine its impact in rural areas.

Key Expected Outcomes

  • Identification and assessment of the methods rural municipalities use to implement and enforce the statewide building code.
  • Impact analysis of the statewide building code on rural residential building construction.
  • Public policy implications and relevant recommendations.

9. County Property Reassessment Impact on Local Government Finances
Based on property assessments, local governments determine property tax rates and resulting tax revenues. Some counties have reassessed property more frequently than others. This research will compare the tax revenues of counties that have recently reassessed with those counties that have not reassessed.

Key Expected Outcomes

  • Analysis of property tax revenues of local taxing bodies (counties, municipalities and school districts) to identify trends and differences between those whose counties have and have not reassessed.
  • Determination of the impact of frequent property reassessment on county, municipal and school district revenues.
  • Public policy implications and relevant recommendations.

10. Impact of Market-Based Electricity Pricing
By 2010, electric rate caps imposed by Act 138 of 1996 will be eliminated statewide. This research will examine the impact of market-based pricing for electricity on rural residents and businesses in Pennsylvania.

Key Expected Outcomes

  • Analysis of the effect of elimination of rate caps on electricity costs for residents and businesses in those areas where the rates have already expired.
  • Analysis of the potential impact of rate cap removal on residents and businesses in areas where the rate caps have not yet expired.
Public policy implications and relevant recommendations.


HOW-TO GUIDES

11. Agricultural Land Protection Tools
In 1995, the Center published Zoning for Farming, a guide for Pennsylvania municipalities on protecting agricultural land. Issues affecting Pennsylvania agriculture, however, have changed over the last decade. This research will provide an updated guide on agricultural protective zoning and include other tools, such as conservation easements and land trusts, that municipalities can use to preserve agricultural land.

Key Expected Outcomes

  • Examination of methods available to Pennsylvania municipalities to preserve agricultural land.
  • Estimation of how many municipalities are currently using agricultural land protection tools and identification of the types of tools they are using.
  • Determination of the effectiveness of agricultural land protection methods.
  • A guide for local municipalities that will include:
  • Identification of innovative methods and models that can be used by Pennsylvania
  • municipalities to protect agricultural land.
  • Description of the steps needed to implement agricultural land protection tools in
  • Pennsylvania.

12. Property Owners Guide for Managing Oil and Gas Exploration
High-energy prices and global issues have resulted in increased interest and activity in oil and gas development in Pennsylvania. Many property owners may not be prepared for the economic and environmental issues that result from oil and gas development. This project will develop a guide to assist property owners in preparing for and managing this type of development.

Key Expected Outcomes

  • Checklist of issues for property owners to consider when selling or leasing mineral rights.
  • Case studies of Pennsylvania property owners’ experiences in selling or leasing mineral rights.


OPEN TOPICS FOR THE 2009 RESEARCH GRANT PROGRAM

In addition to the targeted topics listed above, other reasonable and potentially beneficial projects will be considered by the Center for Rural Pennsylvania under the Open Topics category.

Proposed projects for this category must show a clear relationship to one or more of the Center's mandated research areas listed above. Application procedures for proposed open topic projects must follow the Letter of Intent guidelines listed above. Open topic projects must define specific key outcomes and specific policy implications that will benefit communities in rural Pennsylvania.


MINI-GRANT RESEARCH TOPICS

13. Examination of State Rural Development Policy Nationwide
Increasingly, state governments are developing policies and programs to improve rural communities and their overall quality of life. This research will identify and comparatively assess state rural development strategies and policies from across the United States to identify their potential utility for Pennsylvania.

Key Expected Outcomes

  • Identification and analysis of states’ rural development policies and programs.
  • Analysis of states’ policies to determine applicability to Pennsylvania.

NOTE: The following Mini-Grant topics are designed to expand the Center for Rural Pennsylvania’s database on rural conditions and trends.

14. Examination of Rural Residents’ Participation in LIHEAP
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is a federally supported program providing assistance to low-income residents with their home energy bills. This research will analyze rural Pennsylvanians’ participation in the LIHEAP program.

Key Expected Outcomes

  • Analysis of rural LIHEAP participation rates over the last 10 years for both the home heating energy assistance and crisis grants.
  • Estimation of the number and a demographic profile of rural Pennsylvanians eligible but not currently participating in LIHEAP.

15. Profile of Rural Pennsylvania Students Who Have Used PHEAA Services
The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) serves post-secondary students and schools through its state grant, guaranty, servicing, and financial aid processing systems. This research will analyze PHEAA’s database of Pennsylvania residents attending Pennsylvania schools to develop a comprehensive profile of these students.

Key Expected Outcomes

  • Profile of rural Pennsylvania college graduates and former students who have used PHEAA products and services over the last 10 years to include retention rates, drop-out rates, change in residency, etc.
  • Analysis of students who have used PHEAA services by type of institution, and type and amount of funding provided.

16. Analysis of Special Education Funding in Pennsylvania
From 1996 to 2006, special education expenditures in Pennsylvania school districts increased by 61 percent. This research will analyze total special education expenditures and related revenues for Pennsylvania’s rural and urban school districts.

Key Expected Outcomes

  • Analysis of program mandates and funding sources for special education in school districts over the last 10 years.
  • Analysis of school district special education enrollment and expenditures over the last 10years.
  • Comparison of the growth rate between special education spending and general education spending in school districts.
  • Rural/urban data comparison.

17. Analysis of Pennsylvania Mental Health/Mental Retardation Funding
Excluding Philadelphia, $1.4 billion was spent in 2004 by Pennsylvania counties to support mental health and mental retardation (MH/MR) services. This research will analyze county MH/MR expenditures to determine cost differences between rural and urban areas and examine the state and federal funding formula to determine its impact on rural service provision.

Key Expected Outcomes

  • Analysis of the state and federal funding formulas and revenue sources for MH/MR services at the county level.
  • Analysis of rural and urban MH/MR expenditure patterns over the last 10 years.
  • Examination of the client base over the past 10 years in terms of overall numbers, expenditures per client, types of services provided, etc.

18. Analysis of Suicide Data for Rural Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania Department of Health collects data on suicides by age, gender, race and residence. This research will analyze suicide data to identify patterns and trends among
Pennsylvania rural and urban areas.

Key Expected Outcomes

  • Analysis and comparison of rural and urban suicide data to identify rates, patterns and trends over the past 15 years.
  • Analysis of suicide data in terms of county-level, socio-economic data to determine correlations, if any.

19. Analysis of Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Use in Pennsylvania
Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) provide management assistance to current and prospective small business owners. This research will identify the characteristics of rural and urban Pennsylvanians who have participated in SBDC programs over the past 10 years.

Key Expected Outcomes

  • Profile of users of SBDC services in Pennsylvania over the last 10 years.
  • Identification of any use patterns and trends for these programs.

20. Analysis of the GED Scoring Database
Annually, about 12,500 Pennsylvanians take the GED (General Educational Development credential) test. To better understand the characteristics of these individuals, this research will use the GED scoring service database to develop a demographic, socio-economic and academic profile of Pennsylvania GED students.

Key Expected Outcomes

  • A demographic, socio-economic and academic profile of students who have taken the GED test in Pennsylvania.
  • Comparison of rural and urban students who have taken the GED test.
  • Analysis of the database to determine differences in the success rate in receiving their GED, among rural and urban students.

21. Analysis of Migration Patterns in Rural Pennsylvania
Migration into and out of rural Pennsylvania impacts the labor force, housing availability, school enrollment, economic development and the tax base. Using secondary data, this project will document and analyze migration patterns into and out of rural Pennsylvania over the last 20 years.

Key Expected Outcomes

  • Documentation of the migration patterns into and out of rural Pennsylvania over the past 20 years.

Analysis of the impact in- and out-migration has had on rural Pennsylvania’s labor force, housing, school enrollment, economic development and tax base.


OPEN TOPICS FOR THE 2009 MINI GRANT PROGRAM

Open topic projects will also be accepted for the Mini Grant Program. Proposed Mini Grant topics should focus on basic data collection and analysis, time-sensitive issues and/or the preparation of reference materials. Mini Grant projects are to be a maximum of nine months in duration.

Proposed projects for open Mini Grants must show a clear relationship to one or more of the Center's mandated research areas listed above. Application procedures for proposed open Mini Grant projects must follow the Letter of Intent guidelines listed above.

2009 Letter of Intent Cover Sheet (Word file)

2009 Request for Proposals (pdf file)