Economic research center set up at Mary Washington

The University of Mary Washington has established the Center for Economic Research in partnership with the Fredericksburg Regional Alliance and the Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce.

The center was created as a part of UMW’s Department of Economics.  Through internships and employment opportunities, the center will provide learning opportunities for students to assist the center’s faculty in the research and preparation of reports on the regional economy.

Tim Schilling has been appointed director of the center. He previously was an adjunct economics professor at UMW.

Schilling has taught economics at a number of schools. He served as the associate director for programs at the Powell Center for Economic Literacy in Richmond and as director of economic literacy programs at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago for 16 years.

The center will appoint an advisory board that will include UMW faculty members and representatives from the Alliance and the Chamber.

During its first year, the center plans to complete a study on the nearly 70,000 commuters who live in the Fredericksburg region. It also will establish the framework for the completion of semi-annual regional economic reports, with the first report expected to be disseminated next spring.