The Bureau of Governmental Research (BGR) won two awards from the Governmental Research Association (GRA) at its national conference July 24-26 in Worcester, Mass.
BGR’s 2022 report calling for governance reforms for the Orleans Parish jail received the Most Distinguished Research award. The report, Keys to the Jail: How New Orleans Can Sustain Jail Reforms through Better Governance, analyzed the problematic relationship between the Orleans Parish Sheriff, who runs the jail, and the City of New Orleans, which provides most of its funding. The report makes recommendations to help the Sheriff and the City develop a stronger relationship and deal with problems that have persisted for decades. BGR Research Analyst Paul Rioux led the research for this report.
In addition, BGR won the Most Effective Education Award for a Local Government Issue for its 2022 report educating citizens on how the City of New Orleans has deployed American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) pandemic relief funds. The report, Managing the Windfall: Tracking the City of New Orleans’ Use of Federal Pandemic Relief Funds, explained the money flow – including how ARPA enabled rapid growth in the City’s General Fund reserve – and informed public participation in City Council appropriations of ARPA funds and surplus General Fund dollars. BGR presented its research through a report, an interactive dashboard and webinars to engage citizens. The project was supported by a grant from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation. BGR Research Analyst Susie Dudis led the research for this project.
The GRA was established in 1914 as the national organization for governmental research professionals, and it has presented BGR with 48 awards in the past 30 years. These awards have recognized BGR’s distinguished research, effective citizen education, distinguished service, research presentation and policy achievements. This is the 16th year in a row that the GRA has recognized BGR’s work.
“These awards acknowledge the high quality of public policy research that BGR delivers to our community,” said BGR President and CEO Rebecca Mowbray. “We thank the GRA and its member organizations nationwide for recognizing our work, and BGR remains committed to highlighting ways to improve local government in the New Orleans area.”
Click here to download the media release.