Institutes, Centers, and Initiatives

Engaging With the Community

Institutes, centers, and initiatives empower Lutgert College of Business to engage with the community beyond the classroom. Through these organizations, FGCU faculty conduct research, collaborate with their regional business partners and offer their expertise, sharing resources and contributing to the community.

Center for Agribusiness
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The Center for Agribusiness (CAB) seeks to enhance the economic and environmental sustainability of agricultural operations in Southwest Florida by providing well-trained professionals who are knowledgeable about agriculture and its role in the Southwest Florida economy.

Visit the CAB website
Center for Supply Chain Excellence
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The Center for Supply Chain Excellence (CSCE) seeks to achieve excellence in supply chain management through high-quality leading-edge educational programs and outreach activities in partnership with industry. The CSCE is committed to bringing together professionals in the supply chain management with LCOB faculty and students to facilitate knowledge partnerships and to develop and disseminate best practices in supply chain management. The CSCE will facilitate the education and development of students to become future leaders in supply chain management, as well as offer certification and educational programs for industry professionals.

Visit the CSCE website
Lucas Institute for Real Estate Development and Finance
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The Lucas Institute for Real Estate Development and Finance was established to reflect the important role that real estate development plays in the Southwest Florida economy and to address the need for a graduate degree program to prepare students for the challenges in this highly competitive industry. The institute works closely with the Real Estate Investment Society (REIS) of Southwest Florida. Links to both websites are below.

Visit the Lucas Institute website
Newton Ethical Leadership Initiative
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Regional Economic Research Institute
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The Regional Economic Research Institute (RERI) performs economic research, analysis and forecasting for various organizations in Southwest Florida. The Institute has published many works, including a monthly Southwest Florida economic report and a quarterly business climate survey report.

Visit the RERI website
Small Business Development Center
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The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is a customer-driven organization of business professionals, dedicated to helping small businesses succeed, by enthusiastically providing creative solutions which exceed customer, employee, and stakeholders’ expectations.

Visit the FSBDC @ FGCU website
Southwest Florida Leadership Institute
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The Southwest Florida Leadership Institute (SFLI) serves as a source for training and programs, best practices, research, and other business leadership competencies for the Southwest Florida region and beyond.

Visit the SFLI website

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Regional Economic Indicators: January 2025 Report

January 07, 2025 / RERI Research Team

The RERI has published Regional Economic Indicators for January 2025. The monthly publication represents a collection and analysis of economic indicators including airport passenger activity, taxable sales, tourist tax revenues, labor force, employment, real estate, and consumer sentiment for the Southwest Florida workforce region.

Industry Diversification Project: Fourth Quarter 2024 Report

January 06, 2025 / RERI Research Team / Tag: Industry Diversification Project

The RERI has published the Industry Diversification Report for the fourth quarter of 2024. The goal of the IDI is to measure industry diversification and, by extension, that of the workforce, in each of Florida’s 24 workforce regions, the state of Florida, and the remaining 49 states. The index measure is computed quarterly, soon after the release of workforce data from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity’s Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages. It spans from 0 to 10, with 0 signifying no diversification (or an economy characterized by a single industry), and 10 signifying perfect diversification (no concentration).

2024 SWFL Holiday Trip Index

December 20, 2024 / RERI Research Team / Tag: Economics and Finance

With the holidays fast approaching, the Southwest Florida region will begin to see an influx of visitors from northern states and internationally to celebrate the holiday season. These visitors play a vital role in the regional economy, directly supporting the leisure and hospitality sector, one of the largest sectors in the region.

SWFL Real Estate: Fourth Quarter 2024 Report

December 20, 2024 / RERI Research Team

The residential market in Southwest Florida continued to experience notable shifts during Q3 2024, reflecting ongoing adjustments in the post-pandemic housing landscape, as evidenced by the latest data available. Single-family home sales in the region have come down over the past quarters and remain below their 2022 apex, with declines primarily concentrated in Collier County. Single-family and condominium real median prices in the region also continued to fall, with declines observed across all Southwest Florida counties. The percentage of total housing units that were actively listed rose year-over-year in Lee, Charlotte, and Glades counties. Meanwhile, Collier and Hendry counties saw declines.

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Engaging With the Community

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