FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Nick Thiriot, Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, nick.thiriot@utah.edu, 801-842-9150 November 20, 2025 (Salt Lake City) – Utah’s below-replacement fertility rate is not the norm for most counties in the state, according to a new report from the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute. The research brief, a first-of-its-kind from the Gardner Institute, analyzes Utah’s past and present county fertility rates. Most county fertility rates remain above the replacement fertility of 2.1, but approximately two-thirds of Utah’s counties experienced significant declines. Regional variations are present, with higher fertility rates in Central Utah and the Uinta Basin, and lower fertility [...]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Nick Thiriot, Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute nick.thiriot@utah.edu, 801-842-9150 November 18, 2025 (Salt Lake City) – Utah’s demographic and economic future will be marked by significant growth and change. Long-term planning projections released today by the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute indicate the state’s population will increase from nearly 3.6 million residents to 5.6 million by 2065, an increase of 2 million people, or the approximate size of Idaho today. The projections release follows a 15-month development process and review by several state agencies and stakeholders. […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Nick Thiriot, Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, nick.thiriot@utah.edu, 801-842-9150 Alison Palmintere, Ski Utah, alison@skiutah.com, 480-406-0190 November 3, 2025 (Salt Lake City) – Utah’s ski industry continues to be a major economic driver for the state, with significant contributions in the 2024/25 ski season. According to a new fact sheet from the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, the industry generated $2.51 billion in skier/snowboarder spending and $342.6 million in state and local tax revenue. […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Nick Thiriot, Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, nick.thiriot@utah.edu, 801-842-9150 October 23, 2025 (Salt Lake City) – A projected 70.6% of Utah jobs will require some level of postsecondary education by 2031, according to a new report from the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute and commissioned by Envision Utah. The report notes that Utah’s current attainment rate of 61.7% ranks third in the nation, yet disparities persist among different demographic groups, highlighting the need to increase educational attainment to meet the demands of its evolving economy. […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Nick Thiriot, Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, nick.thiriot@utah.edu, 801-842-9150 October 15, 2025 (Salt Lake City) – The Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute released a comprehensive review of community-based strategies aimed at improving educational achievement and workforce development for Utah youth. The report, commissioned by the Utah State Legislature, examines how community partnerships that engage parents, families, schools, service providers, and communities can effectively improve education, health, and economic outcomes. […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Nick Thiriot, Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, nick.thiriot@utah.edu, 801-842-9150 Laurie Wynn, UT Dept. of Veterans & Military Affairs, lwynn@utah.gov 801-707-7263 October 9, 2025 (Salt Lake City) – Suicide is a leading cause of death in both the United States and Utah, and data show that Veterans have an increased risk for suicide-related deaths. A new report from the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute sheds light on how Utah’s Veterans access suicide prevention resources. The study, commissioned by the Utah Department of Veterans and Military Affairs (UDVMA), identifies key barriers and offers recommendations to improve outreach and [...]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact:            Nick Thiriot, Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, nick.thiriot@utah.edu, 801-842-9150 September 25, 2025 (Salt Lake City) – This month, the University of Utah’s Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute commemorates “10 Years of Impact” with the release of its “2025 Report to the Community.” Over the past decade, the Institute emerged as Utah’s premier source for economic, demographic, and public policy research that guides community leaders and helps policymakers make INFORMED DECISIONS™. […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact:              Nick Thiriot, Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, nick.thiriot@utah.edu September 23, 2025 (Salt Lake City) – On the eve of commemorating its 10-year anniversary, the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute released a new monograph: “Keepers of the Flame: Utah’s Olympic-Sized Opportunity.” The publication examines how Utah can leverage the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games to address critical challenges and solidify its position as a national economic leader. […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact:              Nick Thiriot, Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, nick.thiriot@utah.edu September 23, 2025 (Salt Lake City) – Utah benefits from a high concentration of commercial banks, industrial banks, and other financial institutions that engage in Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) activities throughout the state. A new report from the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute summarizes Utah’s community needs that can be addressed by CRA activities, including the needs of low- and moderate-income individuals, small businesses, and the general community. […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Nick Thiriot, Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, nick.thiriot@utah.edu, 801-842-9150 Anna West, Office of Primary Care and Rural Health, awest@utah.gov, 801-231-3044 September 16, 2025 (Salt Lake City) – Understanding and addressing risk factors for poor maternal health, reducing gaps in access to care, and strengthening the maternal health workforce are key to improving health outcomes for women and children in Utah. A new report from the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, co-produced by the Utah Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Primary Care and Rural Health, details how Utahns face compounding challenges to accessing maternal [...]