Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute

Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute
Name	Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute
Type	Public policy think tank
Established	2004
Location	Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
Affiliation	University of Utah

Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute is a public policy research organization based in Salt Lake City, Utah that conducts applied analysis on demographic, fiscal, and urban issues affecting the Intermountain West. The Institute produces data-driven studies, forecasts, and policy briefs used by officials in Salt Lake County, the State of Utah, and regional planning bodies such as the Wasatch Front Regional Council, Mountainland Association of Governments, and the Utah System of Higher Education. Its work informs debates involving the Utah Legislature, Salt Lake City Mayor's Office, Governor's Office, and municipal councils across the region.

History

The Institute was established in 2004 within the University of Utah during a period of rapid regional growth that drew attention from entities like the Utah Governor's Office, Salt Lake Chamber, Envision Utah, and the Utah Foundation. Early collaborations connected the Institute to projects involving the Utah Transit Authority, Utah Department of Transportation, and Salt Lake County Mayor's Office. Over time the Institute expanded ties to national organizations such as the Brookings Institution, Urban Institute, Pew Charitable Trusts, and RAND Corporation while participating in initiatives with the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, U.S. Census Bureau, and Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Mission and Organization

The Institute's mission emphasizes applied research, economic forecasting, and public data provision to support policy decisions by actors including the Utah Legislature, Salt Lake City Council, Governor's Office, and county commissions. Organizationally it reports through the University of Utah and collaborates with academic units like the David Eccles School of Business, Huntsman Cancer Institute, and S.J. Quinney College of Law. Leadership has engaged with figures from the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management, American Planning Association, National Governors Association, and Council of State Governments to align research priorities with institutional partners such as the Mountain States Employers Council and Utah Infrastructure Agency.

Research Areas and Programs

Research spans demographic projections, fiscal analysis, housing market studies, transportation planning, and public finance, intersecting with stakeholders like the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Economic Analysis, Utah Department of Workforce Services, and Salt Lake City Housing Authority. Programmatic work includes collaboration with the Wasatch Front Regional Council, Mountainland Association of Governments, Utah Transit Authority, and Utah Department of Transportation on land use and mobility, as well as partnerships with the Utah System of Higher Education, Salt Lake Community College, and University of Utah Health on workforce and health economics studies. The Institute has addressed issues central to entities such as the Federal Highway Administration, Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Housing and Urban Development, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration when analyzing resilience, air quality, and water resources.

Publications and Data Tools

The Institute publishes policy briefs, economic forecasts, centerlines, and interactive data tools used by municipal leaders including Salt Lake City Mayor's Office, Sandy City Council, West Valley City, and Park City Council. Its outputs have been cited alongside reports from the Brookings Institution, Urban Institute, Pew Charitable Trusts, National League of Cities, and International City/County Management Association. Data products often incorporate inputs from the U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Moody's Analytics, and CoreLogic to produce accessible dashboards for audiences including the Utah Legislature, Governor's Office, county councils, and metropolitan planning organizations.

Policy Impact and Notable Projects

Notable projects include regional population forecasts used by the Utah Legislature and Salt Lake County for budgetary planning, housing needs assessments informing Salt Lake City Housing Authority and Utah Housing Corporation strategies, and transportation analyses that supported decisions by the Utah Transit Authority and Utah Department of Transportation on projects linked to the Mountain View Corridor and FrontRunner rail. The Institute's work has influenced planning efforts sponsored by Envision Utah, Salt Lake Chamber, Sierra Club Utah Chapter, and Utah Clean Cities, and has been utilized by municipal agencies such as the Salt Lake City Planning Division, South Jordan City, and Draper City in zoning and capital investment decisions.

Funding and Partnerships

Funding sources and partnerships include state and local government contracts from the Utah Legislature, Salt Lake County, and city governments; grants and collaborations with foundations such as the Pew Charitable Trusts, Rockefeller Foundation, and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation; and institutional support from the University of Utah, David Eccles School of Business, and philanthropic contributions associated with civic actors like the Salt Lake Chamber and Envision Utah. The Institute also contracts with federal agencies including the U.S. Department of Transportation, Environmental Protection Agency, and Department of Housing and Urban Development, and partners with research organizations such as Brookings Institution, RAND Corporation, and Urban Institute on comparative and technical projects.

Category:Think tanks based in the United States Category:University of Utah