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Center for Economic Research
CER Information
The Cochise College Center for Economic Research (CER) was founded in 1995. In that year, the CER began hosting an annual economic focus luncheon in Sierra Vista, providing a review of the local economy over the previous year and an economic forecast for the coming year. Between 1996 and 2002, this program was expanded to include the cities of Douglas, Benson, and Bisbee. The CER produces four economic review and forecast publications annually: Sierra Vista Economic Focus, Douglas Perspective, Benson Prospectus, and Bisbee Outlook, which are released in conjunction with the economic focus luncheons held in those respective cities.
Throughout the year, the CER analyzes and interprets economic data for Cochise County and provides economic information and forecasts to assist leaders in making informed decisions on business and public policy issues. The CER responds to a wide range of data requests from citizens and business and community leaders throughout Cochise County and across the state and region. The CER also prepares a weekly press release providing insight into economic issues affecting Cochise County. The CER’s quarterly newsletter, The Indicator, provides updates on the local economy and CER activities. The CER’s website (http://www.cochise.edu/cer) provides updated economic news, information, analysis, and forecasts.
Mission Statement
The CER is dedicated to analyzing and interpreting economic data for Cochise County and providing economic information and forecasts to assist leaders in making informed decisions on business and public policy issues.
Advisory Committees
The CER has advisory committees in Sierra Vista, Douglas, Benson, and Bisbee to advise the CER director on planning economic focus luncheons and preparing its publications. Members of the committees represent a broad range of Cochise County community and business leaders.
State Data Center
In February 1996, the Arizona Department of Economic Security recognized the CER as a State Data Center/Business and Industry Data Center affiliate. This designation means the CER is able to provide up-to-date information on forecasts in population trends, demographics, and census information to interested businesses and the general public. In addition to information provided through the state data center, the CER maintains its own data collection and analysis services. The CER currently collects countywide data on employment; housing and real estate, to include commercial construction; and retail and trade.
Association for University Business and Economic Research (AUBER)
In fall 2002, the CER gained membership to AUBER. The association, founded in 1947, includes research bureaus, institutes, and centers from colleges and universities across the United States. AUBER is committed to furthering basic and applied research in business, economics, and public policy and improving the availability and quality of business and economic related public policy information. In addition to Cochise College, other members in the State of Arizona include the University of Arizona and Arizona State University. Cochise College is one of only two community colleges in the nation holding AUBER membership.
Data Dissemination
The CER answers numerous requests each week from local businesses, government agencies, students, the media, and the general public seeking information, analysis, and projections relevant to their current projects. Many of these customers have been referred to the CER by other agencies or organizations. Chambers of commerce, Cochise County, the Department of Economic Security, city governments, and real estate associations all refer inquiries to the CER. Since the CER has established a reputation for providing accurate, unbiased information, the CER also receives a large number of inquiries from businesses outside the Cochise County area, including developers interested in doing business in the county.
Public Education
Another involvement of the CER is public education relevant to the area’s local economy. Articles on the local economy appear in the Sierra Vista Herald/Bisbee Daily Review, Douglas Daily Dispatch, Arizona Range News, San Pedro Valley News-Sun, Tombstone Tumbleweed, and other local and regional news sources. Press releases are also aired on local radio news broadcasts. The CER is often asked to comment on breaking news stories relevant to the local economy.
In addition to providing educational information to the general public, the CER offers Cochise College students educational opportunities. At Cochise College, the activities of the CER are incorporated into business and economic classes. Additionally, the CER hires Cochise College students to work on CER activities and projects within the CER. This opportunity offers students experience in their field of study and exposure to the business community.
Consulting and Contracting
The CER also engages in economic consulting. Projects include economic and fiscal impact studies, feasibility studies, economic analyses, and a wide range of survey research. For example, the CER completed a contract with the City of Sierra Vista to survey 1,400 residents and businesses on the west side of Sierra Vista to facilitate three town-hall style meetings, and to present findings to the Downtown Neighborhood Commission. The findings were then used to develop a strategic plan for that part of the city.
Credentials
CER Director Robert Carreira holds a Master of Science degree in international political economics, a Master of Science degree in education, and a Master of Public Administration degree. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology and an Associate of Applied Science degree in criminal justice. He is currently working toward a Ph.D. in public policy.
In addition to his work at the CER, Robert also teaches classes in economics, business, and political science at the college. Robert’s articles on the local economy appear each week in newspapers across Cochise County. His articles dealing with politics and economics have appeared in major metropolitan newspapers across the nation, including the Philadelphia Inquirer, Denver Post, Atlanta Journal Constitution, and numerous others, and are routinely published by the Foundation for Economic Education in New York in the monthly journal and on their website.
Publications
The CER produces an economic review and forecast publication in conjunction with the economic luncheons it holds in Sierra Vista, Douglas, Benson, and Bisbee. These publications, titled the Sierra Vista Economic Focus, Douglas Perspective, Benson Prospectus, and Bisbee Observer, respectively, provide demographic, employment, retail and trade, real estate and housing, and other data of economic interest to the cities in which the luncheons are held. The CER also publishes a quarterly newsletter, The Indicator, which offers a brief look at economic happenings at the CER and within Cochise County.
A single copy of all CER publications is available free of charge to Cochise County residents. There is a $5 charge for each additional copy beyond the initial free copy offered to all residents, or for single copies for non-residents. Ten or more copies are $3 each. The Indicator is mailed each quarter to all persons and organizations on the CER mailing list; please contact the CER if you would like to be added to our mailing list.
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