The University of Pittsburgh received a $188,360 federal Project Grant from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) program. The grant supports a 2-year postdoctoral fellowship to conduct a mixed-methods evaluation of federal place-based rural development policies, such as the Federal Regional Commissions and Authorities (FRCAs). The project aims to generate recommendations for improving the design and impact of rural economic development programs in the U.S. by incorporating insights from international policy analogues. The research will also develop the postdoctoral fellow's capacities as a rural policy leader through independent project management, international research residencies, and collaboration with rural development experts. This grant addresses the AFRI priority area of rural economic development, aligning with the National Institute of Food and Agriculture's mission to support agricultural science and policy leadership.
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