Research Homepage
Research activities of the Center are an important aspect of our mission. We seek out and engage in applied policy research on a myriad of policy topics that affect local and state government in particular. Among the research topics that faculty have examined are economic development, information technology policy, concentrated poverty, budgeting and finance, criminal justice, and discriminatory lending practices.
Recently Completed Reports
The Center has recently released a report analyzing the consolidation of Summit County’s Public Health Departments into a single agency: Summit County Public health (SCPH). The Akron Health Department, Barberton Health Department, and the Summit County Health District became one organization on January 1, 2011. The Center’s analysis focused on the challenges, opportunities, and outcomes of the consolidation one year later.Kent State University’s Center for Public Policy and Health has released recommendations for public health leaders who are implementing local health department consolidations. These recommendations are based on the Center's report, "Consolidating Health Departments in Summit County, Ohio: A One Year Retrospective".
Improving Public Health in Portage County
Authors: Ken Slenkovich, JoAnne Boulter, and Aimee Budnik
Prepared: February 2012
EfficientGovNow 1.0 Project Case Studies - Summary Report
Authors: John Hoornbeek, Ph.D., Tegan Beechey, MPA, Heather Sell, BFA
Prepared: February 2012
Building E-Government Capacities Survey - Final Report
Authors: Kent Sowards, MBA, Ph.D. Candidate, Brian Kelley, MPA, John Hoornbeek, Ph.D.
Prepared: November 2010
Sustainable Infrastructure in Shrinking Cities - Options for the Future Authors: John Hoornbeek Ph.D. and Terry Schwarz, Senior Planner Prepared: July 2009
Water Resource Management in Northeast Ohio: Opportunities for Environmental Protection and Sustainable Economic Growth Authors: John Hoornbeek, Ph.D. & Holly Burnett-Hanley Prepared: June 2008
Is There a Capital Gap?: An Assessment of Credit and Financing Among Small and Medium-Sized Manufacturing Firms in Northeast Ohio Author: Mark Cassell, Ph.D. Prepared: June 2006 Environmental Policy Integration: A New Approach for the Environment Author: John Hoornbeek, Ph.D. Prepared: April 2006 Economic Enterprise Zones Author: Mark Cassell, Ph.D. Prepared: October 2003
All Eight EGN 1.0 Project Case Studies in one Document
Authors: John Hoornbeek, Ph.D., Tegan Beechey, MPA, Tom Pascarella, Ph.D., Matt Flemming, BS, Kerry Macomber, MPA
Prepared: February 2012
Measuring Water Quality Improvements: TMDL Implementation Progress, Indicators, and Tracking Authors: John Hoornbeek, Ph.D., Evan Hansen, M.S., Anne Hereford, M.S., Josh Filla, and Sayantani Satpathi Prepared: June 2011
Local Government Collaborations in Ohio: Are We Walking the Walk or Just Talking the Talk Authors:John Hoornbeek Ph.D., Kerry Macomber, MPA, Melissa Phillips and Sayantani Satpathi, Graduate Research Assistants Prepared: December 2009 Implementing Total Maximum Daily Loads: Understanding and Fostering Successful Results Authors: John Hoornbeek, Ph.D., Evan Hansen, MS, Evan Ringquist, Ph.D., Robert Carlson, Ph.D. Prepared: December 2008 The University, Downtown Redevelopment, and Historic Preservation
Authors: Jera L. Oliver, Graduate Research Assistant,
With Assistance from John Hoornbeek, Ph.D.
Prepared: May 2007
Putting Labor's Capital to Work: Capital Strategies for Ohio Employees Authors: John Logue, Ph.D. & Steve Clem Prepared: May 2006 Race, Place, and Information Technology Authors: Michele Gilbert, Karen Mossberger, and Caroline J. Tolbert Prepared: September 2004 Predatory Lending: Analysis of Lending In Summit County Authors: David Kaplan, Ph.D. & Gail Sommers Prepared: 2002-2004