After survey results suggested many UW-Madison alumni living outside Wisconsin would return to the state, the Wisconsin Alumni Association announced an effort Monday to retain the university’s graduates.

The survey came in response to a trend, dubbed the “brain drain,” of UW-Madison alumni leaving Wisconsin to work and live in major metro areas around the country.

In partnership with Competitive Wisconsin Inc., the WAA will use a $25,000 grant from the Wisconsin Department of Commerce for marketing efforts to reverse this trend.

Bill McCoshen, executive director of Competitive Wisconsin, said the alumni already have a connection to Wisconsin, but the organizations must inform them of the opportunities in the state to attract them back and achieve a “brain gain.”

According to the survey, over half the respondents would consider moving back to Wisconsin for the right opportunity.

“[Alumni] said they would move [to Wisconsin] for their family and friends and for the good quality of life in Wisconsin,” said Kate Dixon, WAA director of media and public relations.

When well-educated people live and work in Wisconsin, it leads to a higher per-capita income, which is better for the state of Wisconsin, she said.

According to Dixon, the WAA holds Badger Career Expos in different cities in the United States, and more than a dozen Wisconsin companies will be visiting these cities to showcase job opportunities in the state.

“[Wisconsin] has a lot of opportunities for people, and the quality of life is second to none,” said Tony Hozeny, communications director for the Wisconsin Department of Commerce.

According to Hozeny, Wisconsin has researched opportunities that are spinning off into new companies leading to “jobs of the future.”

“Wisconsin offers competitive housing and utility costs, short commutes to work, recent entrepreneurial efforts and an excellent educational system,” Hozeny said.

UW System spokesperson David Giroux said the university is increasingly having a direct role in developing job opportunities where graduates can put their education to use and earn decent salaries.

“The question isn’t if people want to come back, the question is whether we can retain that great quality of life,” Giroux said.