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PolicyOne Research
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New Cluster Report finds that Maine’s effort to grow a technology intensive economy is well underway and while there are weaknesses and challenges, the foundations are strong and warrant further support - Maine’s Technology Sectors and Clusters: Status and Strategy 2008 was prepared for the Maine Technology Institute and Maine Office of Innovation<<more>>
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Projects Recent projects, clients, and reports of PolicyOne Research Inc. and its principals include: Completed analysis and developed strategies to strengthen Maine’s targeted technology clusters. PolicyOne was part of a team led by the Maine Center for Business and Economic Research at University of Southern Maine and included the Battelle Institute and Planning Decisions to analyze and develop strategies for the sectors of: biotechnology, composites and advanced materials, environment and energy, forest products and agriculture, information technology, marine technology and aquaculture, and precision manufacturing. PolicyOne was the principal investigator/analyst for the sectors of information technology and forest products and agriculture.
Conducted analysis of the potential fiscal impact of a proposed petition in the town of Hermon that would. require 80% of all fiscal year revenues in excess of expenses be used to reduce the following year’s taxes and require 20% of all fiscal year revenues in excess of expenses be placed in an escrow fund to be used for and emergencies that might arise in the following fiscal year. Based on the analysis PolicyOne recommended that the Town allow recently adopted fiscal policies to take affect without passing the petition.
Produced economic benchmark analysis and report comparing the Portland region and City of Portland to 26 benchmark regions and cities nationally on more than 25 key indicators. The report provides data regarding the opportunities and challenges facing the City and region and is being used as the foundation for the development of local, regional, and state strategies to grow the economy.
PolicyOne designed and implemented an online survey for RTI International as part of their economic impact assessment of past clients and tenants of the NC State Technology Incubator.
Conducted research and analysis regarding the potential use of impact fees in the City of Auburn. Findings were presented to the City Council and are being used by the City for the development of an impact fee ordinance and schedule.
Analyzed the feasibility of tourist and traveler services and programs to be offered as part of the scenic byway system.
PolicyOne designed and implemented an online survey for RTI International as part of their evaluation of the economic contributions the state supported incubators make to the state’s economy in Maryland.
Strategic Economic Development Plan & Process, City of Westbrook, Completed March 2007 PolicyOne partnered with Biscaye Consultants to work with the City to conduct an Economic Summit among business and citizen leaders. The purpose was to determine how best to engage stakeholders in the process of economic development and foster a community-wide partnership to plan for and implement economic and community development in the City. Based on Summit results PolicyOne and Biscaye updated the City’s Economic Development Model, Vision and Goals, and presented a set of suggested next steps in the continuing process of realizing a long-term strategic economic development plan. This has lead the City to adopt a new collaborative model for economic development and create the Westbrook Development Collaborative, a new partnership among business, citizen leaders, policymakers, and staff to guide and advocate for economic development implementation.
Maine Innovation Index, Maine Office of Innovation, annual since 2002 Produce annual index containing over 75 indicators measuring Maine's progress on developing and growing an innovation-based economy.
Provide project management, research, analysis, and reporting on the impact of Maine's public investments in research and developmet. Work inlcudes development and administration of annual on-line data reporting system for recipients of State R&D support, analysis, case studies, and annual reporting. Work is completed through partnership between PolicyOne Research and RTI international.
PolicyOne worked with Jeff Beaudry, Professor, University of Southern Maine to evaluate the effectiveness of NASA grantee, Boston Museum of Science, in its efforts to help middle school teachers incorporate NASA scientific data into their classroom curricula. By means of online surveys conducted by PolicyOne at teacher workshops, presenters were able to immediately gain feedback from workshop participants. The result of this “real-time” feedback helped the Boston Museum of Science to more effectively determine how to write the scientific curricula that teachers can readily use in their classrooms.
Tax Increment Financing Application, NAPPI Distributors, completed November 2006 Prepared analysis and application for the creation of a tax increment finance (TIF) district for Nappi Distributors for the development of a new $15 million distribution facility in Gorham, Maine. Work included fiscal projections, calculations of tax shifts, preparation of Town application to the state, and presentation to the Town Council
Tax Increment Financing Application, Moody's Collision Centers, completed November 2006 Prepared application for the creation of a tax increment finance (TIF) district for Moody's Collision Center for an expansion at their current site in Gorham, Maine. Work included fiscal projections, calculations of tax shifts, preparation of Town application to the state, and presentation to the Town Council
Business Planning and Grant Preparation, Warp Drive Engines, in progress PolicyOne is assisting Warp Drive Engines with business planning and completion of a grant application to the Maine Technology Institute for research and development funding. Warp Drive is a start-up company that is designing a low-speed, high torque engine for use in marine and other industries and is exploring research, development, and commercialization in Maine.
Fire & EMS Study, Town of Gorham, Maine, Completed February 2006 Conducted over the course of 2005-06, the Gorham Fire & EMS Study was a joint effort between PolicyOne Research and Maine Fire Training & Education (MFTE) a department of Southern Maine Community College. MFTE was responsible for assessing and documenting the fire department’s facilities, apparatus, and staffing levels. Other areas examined included fire code enforcement and mandatory sprinkler requirements. Policy-One was responsible for identifying and analyzing demographic, fiscal, and demand and supply trends as they relate to the delivery of fire-EMS services and developing fiscal estimates for various options. The analysis team conducted site visits, a survey of membership (using PolicyOne's Websurvey system), interviews, and two open forums with members.
Tax Increment Financing Application, VIP Auto, completed February 2006 Prepared application for the creation of a tax increment finance (TIF) district for VIP Auto for a new site to be developed in Gorham, Maine. Work included fiscal projections, calculations of tax shifts, and preparation of Town application to the state.
As part of the effort to evaluate and strengthen the RTRP Cluster Network, PolicyOne designed and implemented an on-line survey of network members for RTI International. The survey was implemented using PolicyOne's custom online survey system. The Research Triangle Regional Partnership (RTRP) is a public-private partnership of economic development agencies that works collaboratively with the N.C. Department of Commerce to market the 13-county Research Triangle Region of North Carolina for the economic benefit of its communities.
School Enrollment Projections, SAD 51 - Cumberland & North Yarmouth, Maine, Completed January 2006 Using their custom cohort survival model, PolicyOne completed 10-year enrollment projections for SAD 51 to assist the district in long-term facility planning. PolicyOne's work included an analysis of past trends in enrollments and the factors that influence school enrollments including births, residential development, and economic development. These trends were used along with existing enrollments at each grade level to project enrollments for ten years.
Jim Damicis of PolicyOne, co-developed and instructed with Chase Saunders of Burgess Computer, a workshop on designing and implementing Web surveys for the non-profit sector.
Overview of Impact Fees, City of Auburn, Maine, completed October 2005 PolicyOne prepared an overview of the use of impact fees for the City of Auburn, Maine and briefed the City Council at a council workshop on their potential uses.
Through a partnership with Legacy Philanthropy Management, LLC, provided evaluation of eight community mental health service programs funded by the Collaborative. Effort included evaluation design, survey design and analysis, structured interviews, and case studies. Survey was implemented using PolicyOne’s on-line survey system.
Completed analysis of the impacts of TIF’s on the City’s fiscal condition and financial tables for the City’s state application for a TIF in the Auburn Mall Area.
Evaluation of Business Incubators in North Carolina, RTI International, completed September 2005 PolicyOne designed and implemented an on-line survey for RTI international for the evaluation of the E-NC business incubators/telecenters. The survey was implemented using PolicyOne's custom Web survey system. The telecenters are technology and entrepreneurship hubs within North Carolina’s most rural areas. The telecenters provide free high-speed Internet service to the public and a variety of fee-based business and technology services to local nonprofits and businesses. The telecenter system offers employee training, state-of-the-art office space, technology expertise and business advice.
Strategic Plan and Evaluation Plan Development, Maine Space Grant Consortium, completed Fall 2005 Developed strategic plan and evaluation methodology and plan for use by MSGC in meeting NASA requirements and implementing their 3-year work plan.
Downtown Revitalization Plan, Town of Houlton, Maine, completed April 2005 Provided a complete plan for the revitalization of Houlton's downtown in partnership Kent Associates, Wright-Pierce, and Colin Baker. PolicyOne's work included downtown economic development, marketing, and financing strategies.
Survey of Maine School Superintendents: Essential Programs and Services, completed March 2005 The
current debate about Maine school funding reform has evolved from that
which has driven debate for decades in Maine : the desire to offer a
strong education to every child in Maine , regardless of where that
child lives. Embedded annually in every legislative session and every
community budget process are school funding subsidy amounts and distribution
methods. Realizing the importance of this policy debate, PolicyOne Research,
Inc., a public policy analysis firm in Portland , Maine constructed
a survey and, as a public service, made it available to each Maine school
superintendent through PolicyOne's online survey capability.
Research and Advocacy Services, Pierre’s School of Cosmetology, completed Spring 2005 Provided research and advocacy services to change the system of providing student academic credits to improve student services and industry’s profile.
Drafted grant proposal for a coalition lead by the Maine Manufacturing Extension Partnership for a U.S. Department of Labor, WIRED Grant. The coalition included economic development and health service entities in the North/Central Penobscot region of Maine. The grant proposal was for the integration of innovative practices in rural health care, workforce development, education, and manufacturing to increase regional economic competitiveness.
Worked with Community Services Advisory Committee to provide survey design, implementation, analysis and reporting of Town-wide household survey to assess existing and future needs of citizens related to parks and recreation facilities, programs and services. Survey was implemented in both hard-copy format as well as through PolicyOne’s on-line survey system.
Provided state issue briefings
on the subjects of Maine's tax burden and business climate, small business
economic development strategy, and technology related business profiles for Maine State Senator Lynn Bromley
Provided research and
analysis regarding the impacts of a proposed statewide property tax
cap on business and economic development. Completed analysis of
the impact of the proposed tax cap on ten Maine municipalities.
Design of Evaluation Plan, Camp Kieve, completed July 2004 Partnered with Dr. Jeff Beaudry, University of Southern Maine, to develop evaluation plan and methodology for science programs delivered by the Camp.
Through partnership with Colin Baker, provided the Town of Houlton an assessment of a new North/South Aroostook highway under consideration by the Maine Department of Transportation. The assessment focused on the potential impacts to the Southern Aroostook Region's Economic Strategy.
Providing grant writing for a NASA grant proposal by the Bones for Life Program to provide research and training regarding bone density for Astronauts of the International Space Station.
Provided research, analysis, and reporting in the area of increasing access to higher education for the State as part of a comprehensive report developed for the Maine Compact for Higher Education.
Provided the Town of Houlton a regional economic development
plan that included development of goals and objectives, assessment of
assets and opportunities, detailed strategies, and actions for implementation.
Integral to the plans development were the facilitation of four regional-leadership
forums.
Analysis of City of Auburn's fiscal condition and fiscal trends, City of Auburn, Maine, completed January 2004 Prepared analysis of the City of Auburn's fiscal condition and fiscal trends relative to Maine's other large communities and service centers. The research and analysis was prepared for the City Manager's Office to assist in the development of long-term fiscal, service delivery, and budget strategies.
Analyzed and developed strategies for growing and supporting the information technology industry in Aroostook County. This project was part of a study completed for NMDC through a collaboration between Jim Damicis, Colin Baker, and Planning Decisions. Five industry sectors were examined including agriculture, forest products, tourism, precision manufacturing, and information technology.
Review of Literature, City of Portland, Maine, completed Summer 2003 Provided literature review for use in the City’s legal process for the development of a program to provide local property tax relief to homeowners.
Grant Preparation, Maine Space Grant Consortium, completed May 2003 Prepared application for a National Science Foundation
Grant to provide develop a statewide network of science based programs
and activities for K-12 students and families in Maine.
Facilitation of Strategic Planning Session, Maine Metal Products Association, completed April 2003 Facilitated session at Association’s annual meeting to
be used by Association to improve research and advocacy services.
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