Emerging research institutions (ERIs) and primarily undergraduate institutions (PUIs) play a vital role in the national research ecosystem, yet many lack the infrastructure to maximize faculty research potential and community partnerships. This planning project at the University of Evansville (UE) will design an innovative Grants Development Office (GDO) that integrates university research capacity with regional economic development through new public-private partnerships. The planned GDO will serve as both a faculty support hub and a catalyst for cross-sector collaboration, aligning university research with workforce development and economic innovation goals in Southwestern Indiana. This approach advances the national interest by promoting scientific progress, supporting economic prosperity, and creating a replicable model for increasing access to the research enterprise. The collaborative planning process will engage faculty, community stakeholders, and economic development leaders to ensure the GDO is scalable and grounded in national best practices, generating transferable strategies for how ERIs can strengthen both institutional and regional research capacity. This GRANTED planning project will develop a comprehensive strategic framework for establishing a GDO at the UE through three integrated objectives: (1) forming a two-tiered advisory structure—an Internal Advisory Board with faculty representatives from all three colleges and a Community Advisory Council with re