Newsroom
For all media inquiries, please contact:
Nick Thiriot
Communications Director
nick.thiriot@utah.edu
801-587-3717
News Releases
Utah population and economy projected to grow by the 2034 Olympic Winter Games
July 23, 2024 (Salt Lake City) – On July 24 at approximately 3:00 AM MST, the International Olympic Committee will announce the final selection for the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games host city. State and local officials are confident that Salt Lake City, Utah, will be selected to host the Games for a second time. A new fact sheet released today by the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute details the significant demographic and economic growth that has occurred in the state since Salt Lake first hosted the games in 2002 and projected growth through 2034. […]
Utah’s Olympic venues contribute to the state’s economy and community benefits, report finds
July 17, 2024 (Salt Lake City) – The Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation (UOLF) preserves Utah’s living Olympic legacy by managing three world-class, multiuse Olympic venues (the Utah Olympic Oval, Utah Olympic Park, and Soldier Hollow Nordic Center) as well as Park City Ski and Snowboard (PCSS). A new report from the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute shows that UOLF, combined with visitor spending at the venues, annually contributes an estimated 1,045 jobs, $78 million in GDP, and approximately $132 million in output (total intermediate and final industry sales) from direct, indirect, and induced economic contributions. […]
Salt Lake County Zoo, Arts & Parks (ZAP) awarded over 200 grants to arts, botanical, cultural, and zoological organizations in fiscal year 2023
July 16, 2024 (Salt Lake City) – Utah’s botanical, cultural, recreational, and zoological tax (informally known as the zoo, arts, and parks tax, or ZAP tax in Salt Lake County) supports organizations that enrich Utahns’ lives. A new analysis from the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute shows that Salt Lake County collected $36.7 million in ZAP tax revenue in fiscal year 2023, supporting organizations employing nearly 15,000 individuals and receiving over 11 million visitors to in-person events and services annually. […]
2034 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games would generate $6.6 billion in economic output in Utah
July 10, 2024 (Salt Lake City) – Hosting the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games will bring $2.6 billion (in 2023 dollars) in net new direct expenditures to Utah from 2024 through 2034, according to a report released today by the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute. This will generate estimated cumulative total economic impacts of $6.6 billion in output, almost $3.9 billion in state gross domestic product (GDP), over 42,000 job-years of employment, and $2.5 billion in personal income. […]
Recent Media Mentions
2034 Winter Games in Salt Lake City could generate billions in economic impact
SALT LAKE CITY – If Salt Lake City hosts the 2034 Winter Olympics, it's projected to generate over $6.6 billion in economic impact for the state between now and 2035, with expenditures totaling $4.1 billion.
Utah rental market softens, but for how long?
SALT LAKE CITY —After years of skyrocketing rent prices, the market in Utah is softening a little. That’s thanks to a lot of new units currently hitting the market, prompting some landlords to offer more incentives to new tenants.
What’s the boost to Utah’s economy from a 2034 Winter Games?
SALT LAKE CITY — A 2034 Winter Games in Utah would have a $6.6 billion economic impact on the state over the coming decade. That’s according to a new, eight-page report by the University of Utah’s Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute released Wednesday, ahead of the International Olympic Committee’s final decision on whether Salt Lake City will host another Olympics, a vote scheduled to be held in Paris on July 24, Utah’s Pioneer Day.
Utah’s middle class is ‘fairly stable.’ Here’s why it might not feel that way.
SALT LAKE CITY – The state has a larger middle class proportionally than most other states, but housing costs are a big reason why people might not feel like they meet the label, a panel said.
Two Utah counties have lots of housing being built, but they probably aren’t in most people’s budget
SALT LAKE CITY – Two counties in Utah had some of the most housing growth in the nation last year — but not all of that growth was for people planning to live there. The Beehive State added 30,381 housing units in one year, according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates — which represents about 2.5% growth.
Report showcases Utah’s population and employment centers by region
SALT LAKE CITY — The Greater Salt Lake region is the cultural, economic and political heart of the state, according to a new report. While some may have suspected — or not suspected — this to be the case, there are now numbers to back it up.