GRA Award Archives
A history of excellence in research
Governmental Research Association awards recognize exceptional research and educational efforts regarding state, regional and local governmental issues performed by the association’s members.
The awards competition, judged by fellow GRA members, offers staff of member organizations and individual members the chance to showcase their work and learn from their peers, with the goal of enhancing the quality of the GRA’s contribution to governmental research.
Award categories:
- Frederick P. Gruenberg Award, recognizing lifetimes of service to research organizations.
- Research and Education Awards, celebrating research, policy achievements, and activities to educate the public.
- Communications, recognizing extraordinary graphic, audiovisual and written work.
2024
Frederick P. Gruenberg Award Winner
Nancy Rose and Kriss Sjoblom
The GRA conferred the Gruenberg Award for lifetime achievement to Nancy Rose, who served the N.C. Center for Public Policy Research and EducationNC for more than 35 years; and to Dr. Kriss Sjoblom, research director and senior economist with the Washington Research Council.
Communications Category
Digital Communication
Wisconsin Policy Forum, Teacher Turnover in Wisconsin: Interactive Data
Digital Communication - Certificates of Merit
Bureau of Governmental Research, Property Tax Dashboards
Worcester Regional Research Bureau, Understanding Your Neighborhood Schools
Best Short-Form Writing
Worcester Regional Research Bureau, Questions to Consider about Worcester’s Now|Next Master Plan
Best Short-Form Writing - Certificates of Merit
Bureau of Governmental Research, Strengthening New Orleans’ Use of Its General Fund Balance
Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council, Rhode Island needs to pick up the pace to tackle affordable housing crisis
Outstanding Policy Achievement Award
Local Government Issue
EducationNC, The Canton Recovery
Regional Government Issue
Wisconsin Policy Forum, Milwaukee Sales Tax Increase and Pension Reform
State Government Issue
Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council, State Education Multilingual Learner Funding
State Government Issue - Certificate of Merit
Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury Office of Research and Education Accountability, Temporary Staffing in Long-Term Care Facilities in Tennessee
Most Distinguished Research Award
Local Government Issue
Bureau of Governmental Research, Waterworks in Progress: Reassessing the Sewerage & Water Board’s Governance Problems and Potential Paths to Long-Term Improvement
Worcester Regional Research Bureau, Environmental (In)Justice: An Evaluation of Climate Impacts on Worcester Neighborhoods
State Government Issue
Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council, Empty Seats: Enrollment and Chronic Absenteeism in Rhode Island’s Public K-12 Schools
Most Effective Education Awards
State Government Issue
Citizens Research Council of Michigan and Altarum, Michigan’s Path to a Prosperous Future: Challenges and Opportunities
State Government Issue - Certificate of Merit
Florida TaxWatch, Census Institute at Florida TaxWatch
Regional/Multi-Jurisdictional Issue
The Sycamore Institute, Federal K-12 Funding in Tennessee
Local Government Issue
Worcester Regional Research Bureau, Building the Future: Investing in Worcester Public School Facilities
2023
Frederick P. Gruenberg Award Winner
Laurence J. Msall
Throughout his time as President of the Civic Federation over twenty years, Laurence made an immeasurable contribution to the policy discourse on good governance and responsible budgeting in Chicago and the State of Illinois. He was deeply respected by government leaders on both sides of the aisle and served as an unwavering voice for sustainable fiscal practices. He transformed the Civic Federation into a leading voice for
fiscal responsibility and government accountability and increased the Civic Federation’s
profile and reputation as a trusted resource for government leaders, as well as a go-to source for the news media on Chicago and Illinois tax and budget issues.
Laurence supported the mission of the GRA and ensured that the Civic Federation served as a committed and involved member, empowering his staff to dedicate resources, time and expertise to the organization. He played an important role in support of the GRA and member institutions behind the scenes. He also provided guidance to other executive directors of GRA organizations. Laurence was the epitome of GRA values as an advocate for good government and nonpartisanship in evaluating government performance.
Laurence’s untimely passing in February 2023 marks the loss of a dedicated leader. This award is presented posthumously to honor Laurence's legacy and contributions to the field of government research.
Communications Category
Digital Communication
Wisconsin Policy Forum, Data Interactive: Conservation Funding in Wisconsin
Best Short-Form Writing
The Sycamore Institute, “Make court fees and fines more consistent and transparent” | Opinion
Outstanding Policy Achievement Award
Local/Regional Government Issue
Worcester Regional Research Bureau, All Aboard: Financing a Fare-Free WRTA and Resurging Regional Ridership: An Analysis of Mobility Flows, Riders, and Ridership in the WRTA Region
State Government Issue
Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council, Statewide Tangible Personal Property Tax Exemption
Most Distinguished Research Award
Local Government Issue
Bureau of Governmental Research, Keys to the Jail: How New Orleans Can Sustain Jail Reforms through Better Governance
Most Effective Education Awards
State Government Issue
Citizens Research Council of Michigan, Analyses of 2022 Statewide Ballot Questions
Regional/Multi-Jurisdictional Issue
The Sycamore Institute, K-12 Education Funding in Tennessee
Local Government Issue
Bureau of Governmental Research, Managing the Windfall: Tracking the City of New Orleans’ Use of Federal Pandemic Relief Funds
2022
Frederick P. Gruenberg Award Winner
Dr. Kent Gardner
Recognized for his decades of service to New York through his leadership and work at the Center for Governmental Research, and for his work in leadership roles at the GRA.
Communications Category
Best Data Visualization
Wisconsin Policy Forum, Municipal Data Tool
Best Short-Form Writing
The Economy League of Greater Philadelphia, Inside Philadelphia’s Imminent Construction Boom
Best Video
Utah Foundation, The Missing Middle of the Housing Market
Best Original Commentary
Wisconsin Policy Forum, In Wisconsin, Racial Disparities in Homeownership are a Statewide Problem
Outstanding Policy Achievement Award
Local Government Issue
Wisconsin Policy Forum, Laying the Foundation
Local Government Issue (Certificate of Merit)
Bureau of Governmental Research, Revitalizing New Orleans’ Office of Inspector General
Most Distinguished Research Award
State Government Issue
Utah Foundation, Going for the Green: How Utah Can Thrive in the New Climate Economy
Local Government Issue
Most Effective Education Awards
State Government Issue
Wisconsin Policy Forum, Falling Behind? The State of Higher Education in Wisconsin
Regional/Multi-Jurisdictional Government Issue
EducationNC, A Playbook for Audience Engagement
Local Government Issue
Utah Foundation, Middle Housing Study
2021
Frederick P. Gruenberg Award Winner
Janet Howard
Recognized with lifetime achievement as the past President and CEO of the Bureau of Governmental Research.
Communications Category
Best Data Visualization
Utah Foundation, Redistricting in Utah
Best Short-Form Writing
Utah Foundation, Utah’s Housing Crisis
Best Short Video
Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana, How the Louisiana Coastal Master Plan is Formed
Best Original Commentary
Wisconsin Policy Forum, Racial Disparity is Holding Back the Milwaukee Region
Best Short-Form Writing Certificates of Merit
Florida Tax Watch, It Is Time to Overhaul the State Procurement System and Wisconsin Policy Forum, Wisconsin School Referenda Rise Above Economy, Politics
Best Original Commentary Certificates of Merit
Florida Tax Watch, Beyond the Pandemic: Long-Term Changes and Challenges for Health in Florida and Utah Foundation, Why Post Secondary?
Outstanding Policy Achievement Award
Certificate of Merit
Florida TaxWatch, Tallahassee, FL: The Suncoast Connector: What We Still Need to Know
Most Distinguished Research Award
Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana, Baton Rouge, LA: Louisiana Constitutional Reform, Part 1 and Part 2
Utah Foundation, Salt Lake City, UT: Utah Water Funding
Certificate of Merit
Certificate of Merit
Most Effective Education Awards
Wisconsin Policy Forum, Milwaukee, WI: Teacher Diversity Series, Part 1 and Part 2
Best COVID-19 Response
Wisconsin Policy Forum, Milwaukee, WI and Bureau of Governmental Research, New Orleans, LA
Certificate of Merit
Utah Foundation, Salt Lake City, UT
2020: Due to COVID-19, no awards were granted this year.
2019
Frederick P. Gruenberg Award Winner
Samuel R. Tyler
Recognized with lifetime achievement for his 46 years of service to Boston through his leadership and work at the Boston Municipal Research Bureau.
Outstanding Policy Achievement Award
Bureau of Governmental Research (New Orleans): Improving a Tax Proposal for Jefferson Parish Public Schools
Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (Nashville): Refining Tennessee's Criminal Statutes of Limitations
Certificate of Merit
Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama (Nashville): Good Neighbor Pledge
Most Distinguished Research Award
Bureau of Governmental Research (New Orleans) The Lost Penny: An Analysis of the Orleans Parish Hotel Tax Structure
Most Effective Education Awards
Citizens Research Council of Michigan (Livonia): Statewide Ballot Analyses 2018
Certificate of Merit
Utah Foundation (Salt Lake City): Utah Foundation Quality of Life Survey: Measuring Utahns’ Perceptions of their Communities, Personal Lives
2018
Frederick P. Gruenberg Award Winner
Ran Coble
Ran Coble is President Emeritus of the N.C. Center for Public Policy Research. From 1981 to 2014, Ran served as Executive Director of the North Carolina Center for Public Policy Research, a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan corporation dedicated to strengthening public policy through nonpartisan research, education, and community engagement.
Outstanding Policy Achievement Award
Bureau of Governmental Research (New Orleans): Reducing the Cost of Tomorrow
Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (Nashville): Refining Tennessee's Criminal Statutes of Limitations
Certificate of Merit
Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama (Nashville): Good Neighbor Pledge
Most Distinguished Research Award
Utah Foundation (Salt Lake City): Utah Health Care Cost Series
Bureau of Governmental Research (New Orleans): Paying for Streets: Options for Funding Road Maintenance in New Orleans
Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama (Birmingham): Together We Can: Charting a Course to Cooperation for Greater Birmingham
Certificate of Merit
Center for Governmental Research (Rochester, NY): Essex County (NY) EMS Strategic Plan
Most Effective Education Awards
Utah Foundation (Salt Lake City): Tax Policy Series
Public Policy Forum (Milwaukee): On the Money
2017
Frederick P. Gruenberg Award Winner
Stephen J. Hershey Kroes
Recognition of his outstanding contribution to governmental research over three decades, most recently through his leadership of Utah Foundation.
Outstanding Policy Achievement Award
Bureau of Governmental Research, New Orleans, LA: New Orleans Firefighter Pension Reform
Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations, Nashville, TN: Municipal Boundaries in Tennessee: Annexation and Growth Planning Policies After Public Chapter 707
Most Distinguished Research Award
Bureau of Governmental Research, New Orleans, LA: Beneath the Surface: A Primer on Stormwater Fees in New Orleans
Utah Foundation, Salt Lake City, UT: Utah Priorities Project
Certificate of Merit
Washington Research Council, Seattle, WA: The Growth Management Act at 25 Years
Most Effective Education Awards
Louisiana Association of Business and Industry: Louisiana Business Tax Policy: Research, Awareness, and Advocacy
Public Policy Forum, Milwaukee, WI: The Last Mile: Connecting Workers to Places of Employment
Certificate of Merit
Citizens Research Council of Michigan, Detroit, MI: Detroit Public Schools' Legacy Costs and Indebtedness
Certificate of Merit
The Civic Federation, Chicago, IL: A Profile of Unincorporated Areas in Cook County and Recommendations to Facilitate Incorporation
2016
Frederick P. Gruenberg Award Winner
James Williams
Executive Director of the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama (PARCA) from its founding in 1988 until his retirement in 2015, James Williams led PARCA’s study of state and local government and public education, winning nine national awards for research excellence.