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FGCU research institute offers Fort Myers tools, city-level analyses and student capacity
Summary
Amir Borges Fayed Anathu, director of FGCU's Regional Economic Research Institute, outlined the institute's dashboard, quarterly reports and fee-for-service research offerings and said the group can scope city-level studies where data permit.
Amir Borges Fayed Anathu, director of the Regional Economic Research Institute at Florida Gulf Coast University, told the Fort Myers Economic Development Advisory Board that the institute produces a monthly dashboard tracking 10 to 12 economic indicators and offers fee-based research and technical assistance to municipalities.
"The Regional Economic Research Institute was established in 2005," Amir said, describing the center as the College of Business's research arm that aims to provide knowledge for public officers, businesses and community stakeholders. He said RERI funds student participation on projects and combines faculty expertise to deliver reports, forecasts and tools for local decision-making.
During a question-and-answer period, board members pressed the institute on the feasibility of city-level work. Amir said some analyses can be produced with census and commercial mobility datasets and that RERI often scopes projects case-by-case with a proposal, scope-of-work, timeline and service agreement. He pointed to past projects including a financial-planning tool for the Fort Myers Beach Fire District and seasonal population estimates created for nearby cities.
Amir said the institute can also perform industry analyses, benchmarking and literature reviews to help the board understand what policies have worked elsewhere and the likely trade-offs. He offered to circulate published items and reports to the board as they are released. "We are the window into the university," he said, explaining RERI's ability to tap faculty across colleges to assemble multidisciplinary teams.
Board members thanked Amir for the presentation and asked staff to circulate links and materials once the institute's reports are published.
