Newsroom
For all media inquiries, please contact:
Nick Thiriot
Communications Director
nick.thiriot@utah.edu
801-587-3717
News Releases
Utah’s agricultural sector generated $2.3 billion in annual sales in 2022
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Nick Thiriot, Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, nick.thiriot@utah.edu, 801-842-9150 December 18, 2025 (Salt Lake City) – Utah’s farm operations generated $2.3 billion in animal products and crop sales in 2022, according to a report released today by the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute. Agricultural activities, primarily concentrated in seven counties, employed over 16,000 people and utilized 10.5 million acres of state land. […]
Utah’s population reaches 3.55 million in 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Nick Thiriot, Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, nick.thiriot@utah.edu, 801-842-9150 December 17, 2025 (Salt Lake City) – Utah’s population reached an estimated 3,551,150 as of July 1, 2025, according to new estimates released today by the Utah Population Committee (UPC), chaired and staffed by the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute. The state added 44,351 residents since July 1, 2024, reflecting a continued moderation in growth, with the annual growth rate slowing to 1.3% from 1.5% in the previous year. […]
Northwest Salt Lake County is young, diverse, multilingual, and international
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Nick Thiriot, Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, nick.thiriot@utah.edu, 801-842-9150 December 2, 2025 (Salt Lake City) – To inform local decision-makers and community partners, the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute recently launched “Northwest Valley Datapoints,” a series of fact sheets designed to provide important data about Northwest Salt Lake County. This second installment provides a demographic overview of the region. […]
A Winning Formula: Utah’s college sports score big for communities and universities
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Nick Thiriot, Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, nick.thiriot@utah.edu, 801-842-9150 November 24, 2025 (Salt Lake City) – Beyond the scoreboards and stadium lights, Division I collegiate athletics at Utah’s public universities confer substantial benefits to communities and their respective institutions of higher learning. A first-of-its-kind study from the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute illustrates the many ways in which collegiate athletics contribute more than just economic benefits. The report reveals how these programs serve as cornerstones of community identity, encourage school pride, and provide invaluable opportunities for student-athletes to excel both on and off the field. [...]
Recent Media Mentions
The power of Utah college sports is more than money
SALT LAKE CITY — It’s no secret that Division I college athletics in Utah are a pretty big deal, driven by thousands of premier athletes across two dozen sports that generate tens of millions in ticket sales and hundreds of million dollars in revenue every year. But for the first time, an expansive study conducted by the University of Utah’s Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute has captured the depth and breadth of big-time college sports’ impacts, and the benefits stretch far beyond the financial tallies.
Utah on pace to add 2 million people over the next 40 years, but is growth slowing?
SALT LAKE CITY — Utah remains on pace to add 2 million more people over the next 40 years, but the state's rate of growth may continue to slide over the next few decades, according to a new projection of statewide population trends.
Utah’s 2065 projections see 2M more people, and a birth rate that keeps falling
SALT LAKE CITY — Lots of changes are in store for Utah’s population by 2065. However, the predicted fast-and-furious pace of population growth may already be slowing. New projections from the University of Utah's Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute expect Utah to grow by roughly 2 million people in the next 40 years, giving the state a population of 5.6 million.
New Study by Kem C. Gardner Institute Sheds Light on Veteran Suicide Crisis in Utah
SALT LAKE CITY — The stark reality of veteran suicides in Utah is not just a statistic but a clarion call for change, as highlighted in a recent report from the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute geared toward addressing how veterans interact with available suicide prevention resources.
Utah’s ski industry generates more than $2 billion for the state’s economy
SALT LAKE CITY — Utah’s ski industry generated more than $2 billion for the state’s economy during the 2024–25 ski season. A detailed breakdown of what the ski industry meant for Utah’s economy was released by the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute at the University of Utah.
Ski industry brought $2.5 billion to Utah economy last season, report shows
SALT LAKE CITY — New numbers once again show how important the ski industry is to Utah's economy, with skiers and snowboarders funneling $2.51 billion into the state last season.
