The Center for Rural Pennsylvania 2011 Research Grant Projects
Traditional Research Grant Program
Rural Pennsylvania’s Tourism Industry
Dr. Paula A. Holoviak, of Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, will examine the impact of the hotel room-rental tax on county governments and Tourist Promotion Agencies (TPAs) across Pennsylvania.
The Economic Viability of Microfinancing in Pennsylvania
Dr. Gayle A. Morris, of Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, will conduct research to identify and analyze microfinance programs and their clients to determine if microfinance is a viable tool for economic growth in Pennsylvania. The research will emphasize microfinance programs serving rural counties and will examine the opportunities and barriers to participating in microfinancing programs from the lenders’ and borrowers’ perspectives.
Pennsylvania’s Wine Industry – An Assessment
James M. Dombrosky, of the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, will provide a comprehensive assessment of the Pennsylvania wine industry including viticulture, enology, and marketing within the Pennsylvania liquor control system. The research will compare best practices with nearby states, and determine current capacity and growth potential for the industry.
An Examination of Pennsylvania State Police Coverage of Municipalities
Dr. Gary Zajac, of Pennsylvania State University, will conduct research to analyze the types of services provided by the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) to rural municipalities over the past five years. The research will examine funding derived from these services and related issues.
An Examination of Pennsylvania’s Rural County Prison Systems
Dr. Gary Zajac, of Pennsylvania State University, will examine population trends, jail capacity, finances, programs and other operations of Pennsylvania’s 44 rural county jails. The research will use existing county jail data from the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections and the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics and original data collected from county jails.
An Examination of Rural County Veterans Affairs Offices
Michael T. Behney, of Pennsylvania State University–Harrisburg, will conduct research to inventory, compare, and analyze services provided by County Veterans Affairs Offices in Pennsylvania. The research will examine why variations in service provisions exist and how satisfied veterans are regarding the services they are receiving.
The Status of Pennsylvania’s Rural Nonprofit Organizations
Dr. Roberta M. Snow, of West Chester University of Pennsylvania, will assess the current state of and develop policy recommendations for Pennsylvania’s rural nonprofits. The research will analyze nonprofit organizations quantitatively, based on type, revenues and expenditures distribution, community needs, and location.
Mini Grant Program
Unemployment in Rural Pennsylvania
Dr. Simon Condliffe, of West Chester University of Pennsylvania, will identify industry groups affected by the most recent recession and examine unemployment patterns across Pennsylvania. The research will profile the unemployed, and identify differences between the unemployed in rural and urban counties.
Comparisons of Cancer Incidence and Mortality for Rural and Urban Pennsylvania Counties and Rural U.S. Appalachia
Dr. Steven Godin, of East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania, will analyze cancer registry data to examine differences in cancer incidence and mortality in Pennsylvania’s rural and urban counties and in rural Appalachia in the U.S. The research will cross-tabulate a number of cofactors, such as the stage of diagnosis and demographics, with cancer epidemiology.
Food Assistance Program Response During the Recession
Dr. Suzanne McDevitt, of Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, will analyze the response of major food assistance programs during the most recent recession, from 2007 through 2010. The programs to be analyzed include SNAP (food stamps), WIC (Women, Infants and Children Program) and the State Food Purchase Program (SFPP), which distributes food through the food bank/food pantry system.
