Emmett/Gem County Community Review Report Summary
Emmett/Gem County Community Review Report Summary
Emmett/Gem County Community Review Report Summary
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Civic Life and <strong>Community</strong> Involvement<br />
Introduction and Key Issues<br />
A substantial source of a community’s strength, energy and creativity is generated through<br />
civic involvement and community arts and culture. Businesses and corporations consider<br />
moving to a community based upon a wide range of services and opportunities. On the top<br />
of their list is the health and vitality of a city’s civic and community life.<br />
• Is it a place where families want to raise their children<br />
• Are there entertainment and recreation opportunities<br />
• Is the community willing to engage citizens as active participants or is it a closed<br />
community where citizens are viewed as spectators or consumers<br />
These are all factors that greatly influence potential businesses moving to your community.<br />
This is why a close analysis of civic and community life is vitally important in creating<br />
vibrant economic development.<br />
<strong>Emmett</strong>’s Civic and <strong>Community</strong> Life focus area provided the Idaho <strong>Community</strong> <strong>Review</strong><br />
Visiting Team an opportunity to identify rich sources of civic and community life and<br />
identify specific areas for enhancement and improvement. In all areas, the Visiting team<br />
noted plentiful resources, momentum, and commitment. None was more evident than the<br />
Home Team’s enthusiasm and commitment to the review process. This core group has the<br />
potential to move <strong>Emmett</strong> through many of the growing pains it is currently experiencing.<br />
There are key issues and observations that emerged during <strong>Emmett</strong>’s <strong>Review</strong> that we would<br />
like to pay particular attention to in this summary:<br />
Arts and Culture<br />
Youth and Education<br />
Senior Citizens<br />
Civic Engagement and Leadership<br />
Arts and Culture<br />
Interviews with community members revealed that the community has a strong desire to<br />
preserve the “nostalgia” of <strong>Emmett</strong>, the unique history and culture of the place. As<br />
mentioned previously, the uniqueness of a city is tied to its culture and arts and, when<br />
celebrated and promoted, can positively impact economic development through cultural<br />
tourism and the development of a quality of life that attracts a quality workforce and,<br />
therefore, business. Survey results indicate that community members are not satisfied with<br />
the city’s arts and cultural opportunities (see page 74). Yet, <strong>Emmett</strong> and <strong>Gem</strong> <strong>County</strong> have a<br />
wealth of arts and cultural opportunities. Strategic planning and community leadership will<br />
be needed to mine these resources, make them available, and utilize them in economic<br />
development efforts.<br />
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