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Redistricting Priorities – Local Government Perspectives on Communities of Interest

Written by: Christopher Collard

Choosing Communities In 2020, the Utah Foundation surveyed city officials to understand how they view their communities. One of the priorities of Utah’s redistricting commission was to keep together “communities of interest.” With that in mind, the Utah Foundation sought to better understand how city officials viewed their communities and which communities shared interests. To accomplish this, the Utah Foundation showed respondents a map of the state, asking them to select which four to six … Continued

Utah Thrives Podcast | Planning for Aging Utahns part 1

Written by: Dan Bammes

A new Utah Foundation report examines plans to serve Utah’s aging population in communities across the state. Researcher Ashley Marshall-Cantor outlines her findings, followed by a roundtable conversation with representatives of agencies serving older Utahns and their families.   The podcast includes a conversation with:   Ashley Marshall-Cantor, Utah Foundation Researcher Jimmy Golding, Mountainland Association of Governments Paul Leggett, Salt Lake County Aging and Adult Services Joe Hirabayashi, AARP Linda Cole, Mountainland Association of Governments … Continued

Utah Thrives Podcast | Healthcare Costs in Utah

Written by: Dan Bammes

This podcast explores the topics of the Utah Foundation’s report, Healthcare Costs for Utahns: A 2026 Update. Dan Bammes narrated the podcast with excerpts from the following guests: Bryn Ramjoue, my529 Shawn Teigen, Utah Foundation Troy Pritchett, University of Utah Health Matthew Slonaker, Utah Health Policy Project Kathryn Macdonald-Poelman, Utah Foundation Brian Monson, Molina Healthcare

Utah Thrives Podcast | Homeownership in Utah

Written by: Dan Bammes

This podcast explores four approaches for boosting homeownership for prospective homebuyers. Dan Bammes narrated the podcast with excerpts from the following guests:  Karson Eliers from the Utah League of Cities and Towns sets the stage from the 2026 Utah General Legislative Session. Shawn Teigen from the Utah Foundation spoke about education, finance, downpayment assistance, and shared equity. Jessica Long from Giv Development focused on one part of shared equity with the Rocky Mountain Homes Fund. … Continued

Significant Statistic | Kids On Phones During School? Not in Utah  

Written by: Staff

The increased use of mobile devices in educational settings has raised questions about whether they harm Utah students’ learning experiences.1 More specifically, during the 2026 General Session, the Utah State Legislature discussed whether mobile devices are appropriate in school settings. Senate Bill 69, School Device Revisions, passed with bipartisan support, aims to increase productivity and reduce distractions by implementing a “bell-to-bell” ban on mobile devices.2 This technology revision is implemented as Utah’s mobile device usage … Continued

Utah Thrives Podcast | Nonprofits in Utah

Written by: Dan Bammes

There are more than 12,500 non-profit organizations in Utah, according to data from the Internal Revenue Service. Most of them are very small, with less than $50,000 in annual revenue, though some are much larger. The number is growing and it appears the sector as a whole is flourishing. At the request of the Utah Nonprofits Association, the Utah Foundation has just published a report on the state of Utah’s nonprofit sector. In this edition … Continued

#1 Finding from 2025: Utah’s Soaring Social Capital

Written by: Shawn Teigen

The Finding Of the 14 research reports released in 2025, there were a lot of key findings. The Utah Foundation’s Board of Directors selected the top 10. In 1st place: “In 2025, Utah had the highest Social Capital Index score in the nation and has consistently been among the top states over the previous 12 years.” The Details How does Utah do so well? This year, Utah ranks first or second nationally across three of … Continued

#2 Finding from 2025: Voting Turnout and Vote-by-Mail

Written by: Shawn Teigen

The Finding Of the 14 research reports released in 2025, there were a lot of key findings. The Utah Foundation’s Board of Directors selected the top 10. In 2nd place: “Voter turnout in Utah improved markedly with the adoption of universal mail-in voting, rising from 44th in 2014 to 13th in 2018. Utah may revert to among the lowest of states with the removal of universal mail-in voting scheduled for 2029.” The Details Civic engagement … Continued

#3 Finding from 2025: Families Falter

Written by: Shawn Teigen

The Finding Of the 14 research reports released in 2025, there were a lot of key findings. The Utah Foundation’s Board of Directors selected the top 10. In 3rd place: “Utah’s sub-index score for focus on future generations has declined by 60% over the past 12 years.” The Details The Utah Foundation’s Social Capital Index project is a series of reports that measure whether Utah is thriving in terms of its “social capital.” Put simply, … Continued

Utah Thrives Podcast | Digging into the Data on Social Capital

Written by: Dan Bammes

The Utah Foundation’s project on social capital has included a series of reports on the idea and its potential application to communities in Utah. The project was guided by members of the Utah Foundation’s Board of Trustees, including Sandy City Council member Aaron DeKeyzer. He joins Utah Foundation President Shawn Teigen and Research Director Christopher Collard for a roundtable discussion.