Every day, business owners, policymakers and community leaders in Chattanooga are handed a flood of economic data—job numbers, housing figures, income trends and unemployment rates. The hard part is knowing what those numbers mean and what to do about them.
The Center for Regional Economic Research (CRER) at the Gary W. Rollins College of Business connects those dots.
A new center with a clear purpose
The CRER was founded in 2024 to produce high-quality, data-focused research and analysis of the Chattanooga regional economy. The center also connects the university and its students with the local community through unbiased economic analysis people can trust.
That word—unbiased—is the heart of it. Policymakers and business leaders crave a perspective that helps them better understand the tradeoffs behind tough decisions and see the full picture before they act.
Becoming Chattanooga’s go-to economic voice
For a center that’s only a couple years old, the CRER has made a remarkable amount of noise. It has quickly become the first call for local media covering the economy, averaging more than 50 media appearances per year. The community is turning to the center to understand what’s happening in the local economy and the CRER is helping people see it more clearly.
The success story that says it all
The CRER’s research has proven beneficial to our community officials, quoted regularly by Chattanooga city and Hamilton County mayors. The region’s leaders are aware of the center’s work and are using it to assist with decision-making that impacts the community.
That kind of recognition—from the top of local government in a public setting—is a powerful signal for a center founded just two years ago.
What’s next: students, real projects, real partners
The CRER’s most important initiative right now is its Student Research Fellows Program. A partnership with EPB is giving students the chance to work on projects that matter to the Chattanooga community while gaining hands-on experience alongside an industry leader. It’s the mission in action—students doing real work, for real stakes, with a real partner.
“No one is surprised when a seasoned economist delivers useful analysis,” said CRER Research Fellow and RCOB Finance and Economics Department Head Bento Lobo. “But when a young economics student does it—when a student sits across from a decision-maker and offers real, credible insight—that turns heads.”
The best-kept secret: A data hub anyone can use
The CRER’s online data hub makes government data on employment, unemployment, income, housing and demographics across the Chattanooga region available for the public.
You can download or create charts out of 60 datasets in just a few clicks. It’s a useful tool for researchers, business owners, journalists and curious residents alike.
Get involved
If you’re an alumnus, local executive or community partner who wants to support this work, the CRER would love to hear from you. Donations directly support student initiatives.
Community engagement helps the center connect UTC students with the region and help Chattanooga understand its own economy a little better every year.
Let’s see where the numbers will take you.
The best analysts don’t just read data. They turn it into decisions. At UTC’s Gary W. Rollins College of Business, we’re bringing real research, real community partners and unbiased analysis to prepare students to lead in any industry that runs on smart decisions.
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