The Council may: prepare studies of the region’s resources with respect to existing and emerging problems of industry, commerce, transportation, population, housing, agriculture, public services, local governments, and any other matters relevant to regional planning; collect, process, and analyze at regular intervals the social and economic statistics for the region that are necessary to planning studies; and make the results available to the public; participate with other governmental units, educational institutions, and private organizations in the coordination of the research activities; and provide information to: units and instrumentalities of the federal, State, and local governments; and the public, in order to: foster public awareness and understanding of the objectives of the plan and the functions of regional and local planning; and stimulate public interest and participation in the orderly, integrated development of the region.