Gardner Institute releases 2020 Report to the Community, marks five years of service

The Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute today released its 2020 Report to the Community, a collection of research highlights, testimonials, student experiences, and community events that celebrate the five-year history of the Institute. Since its launch in September 2015, the Gardner Institute has released over 250 research briefs and reports, convened over 60 community events and gatherings, and engaged in over 1,000 presentations and speeches given by its professional staff.

“After five years of service, the Gardner Institute stands as a treasured asset and leading voice on public policies impacting Utah,” said Director Natalie Gochnour. “The success of the Institute stems from a dedicated and talented staff, the support from Utah’s flagship university, dozens of committed community partners, and the backing of a respected advisory board that guides and supports our work.”

Highlights from the report include the following:

• Utah’s Long-Term Demographic and Economic Projections: The Gardner Institute produces population projections for the State of Utah and all 29 counties. Currently, it provides long-term (50-year) projections of population, households, and economic indicators; short-term (10-year) projections of population and households, including projections of the population by age, sex, race, and Hispanic origin, consistent with the long-term totals.

• Housing Affordability Study: In May 2018, the Gardner Institute released a landmark study analyzing what these rapidly rising prices mean for housing affordability across the state. Key findings included an in-depth analysis of housing price appreciation trends, the impact of income trends and household income and housing affordability, and other trends that state and community leaders have utilized to inform policy considerations related to housing.

• Utah Coal Country Strike Team: The Utah Coal Country Strike Team serves Carbon and Emery counties by helping to raise incomes and diversity the economy. The Strike Team was formed as part of the Alliance for the American Dream to help lift the middle class in Utah and across the nation. This locally led initiative continues to invest in workforce training, create opportunities for remote work, reward grants for economic diversification, and assist with tourism infrastructure across Carbon and Emery counties. 

• Mental Health Study: On August 14, 2019, the Gardner Institute released a report on Utah’s Mental Health System. The report served as a starting point in finding new and important ways to improve Utah’s mental health system and inform those investing in the future of mental health across the state and region.

“Since its launch five years ago, the Gardner Institute and the Thomas S. Monson Center have more than fulfilled our hope of creating a gathering place for our community to hear directly from thought leaders in our state and nation about the important issues of our time,” said University of Utah President Ruth V. Watkins. “The center has provided an excellent home for the Gardner Institute and its remarkable team of analysts, who produce insightful research that is helping guide and inspire our state’s policy makers, change agents, and governmental leaders.” 

Looking forward, the report emphasizes the Gardner Institute’s commitment to fulfilling its core vision and mission by utilizing expertise to address and analyze economic, demographic, and public policy issues that are front and center for all Utahns. The Gardner Institute also remains committed to being a trusted and independent research and thought leadership, service to the community, supporting the missions of the David Eccles School of Business and University of Utah, and incorporating equity, diversity, and inclusion in both its work and hiring practices.

The Gardner Institute will continue to be an honest broker of INFORMED RESEARCH, which guides INFORMED DISCUSSIONS, and leads to INFORMED DECISIONS™.

The full report is now available online.

###

 ABOUT THE GARDNER POLICY INSTITUTE

The Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute serves Utah by preparing economic, demographic and public policy research that helps the state prosper. We are Utah’s demographic experts, leaders on the Utah economy, and specialists on public policy and survey research. We are an honest broker of INFORMED RESEARCH, which guides INFORMED DISCUSSIONS, and leads to INFORMED DECISIONS™. For more information, please visit gardner.utah.edu or call 801-587-3717.

ABOUT THE DAVID ECCLES SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

The Eccles School is synonymous with ‘doing.’ The Eccles experience provides a world-class business education with a unique, entrepreneurial focus on real-world scenarios where students put what they learn into practice long before graduation. Founded in 1917 and educating more than 6,000 students annually, the University of Utah David Eccles School of Business offers nine undergraduate majors, four MBAs, eight other graduate programs, a Ph.D. in seven areas and executive education curricula. The School is also home to 12 institutes, centers, and initiatives, which deliver academic research and support an ecosystem of entrepreneurship and innovation. For more information, visit Eccles.Utah.edu or call 801-581-7676.