Emmett/Gem County Community Review Report Summary

Emmett/Gem County Review Team Makeup and Contributions
Visiting Team members are a diverse mix of professionals from the public, private and nonprofit
sectors. Team composition includes federal, state, and local government
representatives, trainers and facilitators, and community leaders with years of experience in
infrastructure, streets & roads, telecommunications, land use planning, economic
development, labor, small business development and planning, community volunteerism,
youth asset development, senior services, community development, arts and culture, and
private consulting. All of the visitors’ time was donated to the community for this effort,
including travel and lodging costs.
As strong and committed partners in the process, the City of Emmett, Gem County, Gem
Economic Development Association (G.E.D.A.), Shadow Butte Development Corporation
(S.B.D.C.), Economic Development Grows Communities (E.D.G.E.), Citizens Organized
for the Revitalization of Emmett (C.O.R.E.), Citizens for a Safe Highway 16, Gem County
Chamber of Commerce, Emmett Job Service Office, Walter Knox Memorial Hospital,
U.S.D.A. Service Center, Emmett School District, Gem County Ministerial Association,
Emmett Senior Center, Cherry Bowl, Swing Scene Restaurant, Cloverleaf Restaurant, Big
Sky Telecommunications, Rotary, Kiwanis, and other community and civic groups provided
committed participants to this process, meeting areas, refreshments and meals for all
participants, and the most valuable resource of all: time.
The total estimated (in-kind) value of this review to the community of Emmett is well over
$20,000, reflecting approximately $355 per day per visiting team member along with other
preparation and follow-up time. Cost per day is based on average salaries (plus benefits),
travel, lodging and per diem costs contributed by visiting team members and associated
organizations. Aside from the actual review itself, select Planning Team members also spent
weeks coordinating the review, conducting site visits, participating in follow-up meetings,
and producing the report. This significant investment represents an in-kind match toward a
community's planning efforts and should be an incentive for community leaders and
residents to make the best possible use of the Review process and product. This is the
equivalent of hiring a 20-member consulting firm solely for the cost of meals, meeting areas,
and local tour transportation for the two days of the review.
The key Team Members for the Emmett/Gem County Review included the following
individuals; for background and contact information, see the team member biographies in
the appendix:
10