The University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) recently announced that it will receive a three-year, $950,000 grant from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation to conduct a study about the way municipal governments responded to the recession.

"The Great Recession has endangered city services and cities' ability to invest in any future economic growth. This level of analysis will enhance dialogue on issues like pensions, workforce development, cuts to social and human services, jobs, public safety and the tax base," said Michael Pagano, dean of the UIC College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs.

In collaboration with the National League of Cities Center for Research & Innovation, Pagano will lead the study to identify ways the recession has affected various communities across the country, taking into consideration budget cuts that affected service workers' benefits, wages and pensions. With those findings, the study will seek out ways in which local governments can adapt to accommodate more sustainable growth in the future.

Universities that receive multi-year funding for a large research initiative could benefit from grant management software to track accounts and also generate reports about their efforts throughout the donation period.