FIU Jorge M. Pérez Metropolitan Center

What FIU Jorge M. Pérez Metropolitan Center does

The FIU Jorge M. Pérez Metropolitan Center is an applied research institute within Florida International University's Steven J. Green School of International & Public Affairs, headquartered in Miramar, FL. Founded in 1997 with a current staff of approximately 10 employees, it operates as a university research center rather than a commercial enterprise and is described as "South Florida's Leading Urban Think Tank." Its core function is providing policy research, demographic analysis, survey research, and customized training to public, private, and non-profit organizations across South Florida.

The center's service portfolio spans three primary research areas — Economic Development and Housing Policy, Strategy/Performance and Training (multilingual surveys, focus groups, one-on-one interviews, secret shops), and Demographics and Analytics — supplemented by Public Finance and Local Government Planning and Management service lines. It holds a designated U.S. Census Information Center status, giving it authorized access to census data and a federally recognized role in disseminating demographic and economic information. Recent published outputs include reports on women's status, maternal health, population trends, and a peer-reviewed tax abatement disclosure study.

Revenue is generated through custom research contracts, service agreements, grants, and training program fees with government agencies, private organizations, and non-profits. The go-to-market is sales-led via direct engagement with municipal clients, government relationships, and professional networks. Primary customers are state, county, and municipal government agencies (e.g., City of West Park, City of Miramar), with secondary segments in non-profits (DASI, YWCA HER Miami) and private-sector organizations. The center distributes through direct contracts, in-person training sessions at its Miramar facility and sponsored sites, and institutional marketing channels including the FIU website, newsletters, and earned media in outlets like WLRN and the Miami Herald.

Name

FIU Jorge M. Pérez Metropolitan Center

Legal name

Florida International University

Website

https://metropolitan.fiu.edu

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The FIU Jorge M. Pérez Metropolitan Center is an applied research institute within Florida International University that provides policy research, demographic analysis, survey research, and customized training to government, private, and non-profit organizations across South Florida, operating as a designated U.S. Census Information Center.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Policy Research Services

NAICS

Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling (541910), Administration of Urban Planning and Community and Rural Development (925120)

akta.pro primary industry

Urban/Metropolitan Public Research Universities (EDAHAAAH)

Keywords

• Policy research services
• Demographic data analysis
• Economic development research
• Survey research services
• Public sector consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Miramar

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations

Revenue model

1. Research Contracts and Service Agreements: The center generates revenue through contracted research services to government agencies, private organizations, and non-profits seeking policy analysis and demographic research.
2. Training Programs: Customized training programs offered to organizations including conflict resolution, delegation, team-building, and other professional development topics.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The FIU Jorge M. Pérez Metropolitan Center is an applied research institute providing policy solutions to public, private, and non-profit organizations across South Florida. It conducts contracted research on economic development, housing policy, demographics, public finance, and local government planning, and delivers customized training programs on topics such as conflict resolution, team-building, and economic development strategy. As a designated U.S. Census Information Center, it interprets, disseminates, and analyzes demographic and economic data for clients.

Product overview

The FIU Jorge M. Pérez Metropolitan Center is an applied research institute providing policy solutions to public, private and non-profit organizations across South Florida. It operates as a multi-service research center offering Economic Development and Housing Policy research, Strategy/Performance and Training services, Demographics and Analytics (as a U.S. Census Information Center), Public Finance research, and Local Government Planning and Management. The center also offers customized training programs including DASI, Economic Development in Motion: Strategy and Decision-Making, and West Park training. Research outputs include reports, press releases, policy briefings, and project archives on topics ranging from economic resilience to COVID-19 recovery and demographic trends.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Economic Development and Housing Policy Research Cutting-edge research on the state of the economy and housing markets within Florida, focusing on demand and supply factors impacting availability of affordable housing. Targeted at government, private, and non-profit organizations in South Florida.
• Strategy, Performance Evaluation and Survey Research Research solutions including multilingual surveys, focus groups, one-on-one interviews, and secret shops to provide feedback on customer and resident satisfaction. Designed for organizations seeking performance evaluation and stakeholder feedback.
• Demographics and Analytics (Census Center) Designated U.S. Census Information Center that interprets, disseminates, and analyzes demographic and economic data to assist clients in turning data into action. Serves organizations requiring demographic and economic intelligence.
• Public Finance Research Research and analysis on public finance topics for government and non-profit organizations.
• Local Government Planning and Management

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• City of West ParkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing municipal partnership for research and training services, working closely on economic development and community programs.
• City of MiramarcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal partnership providing research services and professional training programs.
• DASIcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTraining and research support partnership, with DASI as both a client and collaborator on training programs.
• U.S. Census BureaucoreTechnology or IntegrationThe center is designated as a U.S. Census Information Center, providing authorized access to census data and acting as a dissemination hub for demographic information.
• YWCA HER MiamiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative research partnership producing the Women's Voices Shaping Community Services report on women's experiences in Miami-Dade County.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• University of Central Florida Center for Economic and Business Research: State-university research center producing regional economic forecasts, demographic studies, and policy analysis for Florida governments and businesses. Closely analogous institutional model and service portfolio within the same state.
• Florida Policy Institute: Florida-based independent policy and research organization focused on economic mobility, demographics, and state/local policy. Comparable as a Florida-focused policy research provider serving government and nonprofit clients.
• University of Florida Bureau of Economic and Business Research: University-based research bureau producing Florida-focused economic, demographic, and policy analysis. The most direct peer — both operate as state-university applied research institutes doing Florida demographic and economic research for government clients.

Broad incumbents

• Urban Institute: Washington-based economic and social policy research organization focused on housing, demographics, and urban issues. Highly comparable research domains (housing policy, demographic analytics, government-facing research), serving a similar client base at much larger scale.
• Pew Research Center: Nonpartisan research organization conducting demographic, economic, and public opinion research. Comparable in its survey research and demographic analytics capabilities, though Pew operates nationally with philanthropic funding.
• Brookings Institution: National policy think tank conducting economic, urban, and demographic research for public and private clients. Comparable as a research-driven policy organization, though Brookings operates at vastly greater scale and national scope.
• RAND Corporation: Global policy research institution delivering economic, demographic, and public-sector research to government clients. Comparable in the research-services-for-government model, though RAND operates globally with vastly deeper resources.
• Gallup: Global analytics and advisory firm known for survey-based public opinion and workforce research. Comparable in the survey research and customer/resident satisfaction measurement capability the Metropolitan Center offers via secret shops and focus groups.

Regional players

• Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau Research Division: South Florida regional tourism and economic research entity producing local market and demographic data. Regional peer — also produces South Florida-focused economic research and shares the same municipal client ecosystem.

Others

• Cushman & Wakefield Research (Florida): Commercial real estate services firm with significant Florida-market research output on housing, condo markets, and economic trends. Adjacent peer — overlaps in Florida housing market research output that competes for the same media and policymaker attention.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-metropolitan-center-fiu

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about FIU Jorge M. Pérez Metropolitan Center