The Center’s activities have been 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; and the Ohio Township Association. The Center’s primary efforts are directed towards student-centered 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 staff, and also draws upon Miami University 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. Numerous local governments (cities, villages, townships, and counties) and non-profit organizations across Ohio have benefited from direct applied research projects. For example, the Center conducted a citizen attitudes and public opinion survey for Hanover Township in Butler County, and the Center assisted with the development of the Scioto Foundation's University/College Access Network (UCAN). In addition, the Center for Public Management and Regional Affairs had been designated as a University Center by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration.
The CPMRA is pleased to announce Sarah E. Larson, Ph.D. as our new Research Fellow. Sarah's research areas within public finance include understanding the impacts of state and local sales and property taxation policy changes. Sarah also brings a wealth of practical experience in contractual state and local government researcg from her time as a Senior Research Associate at the Center for State and Local Finance and Fiscal Research Center at Georgia State University.
The CPMRA is pleased to announce Brigham McCown, J.D. as our new Research Fellow and Executive in Residence. Brigham's career spans over three decades of corporate, non-profit, academic, and government service as a federal regulator and chief legal officer, corporate CEO, and a trusted advisor to governmental and private entities across a wide variety of legal and policy topics.
The CPMRA is pleased to announce Anne Williamson, Ph.D. as our new Research Fellow. Anne's experience includes leadership in public and private organizations and extensive public service outreach activities with federal, state, and local government, as well as nonprofit organizations, through university research centers.



