Emmett/Gem County Community Review Report Summary

At the conclusion of the survey, the respondents were asked to express, in their own
words, their perceptions about the strengths and weaknesses of Emmett. Specifically, the
respondents were asked to list: 1) what they considered to be strengths and assets of
Emmett; 2) what they felt the short-term challenges of Emmett were; 3) what they felt the
long-term challenges of Emmett were; 4) what they hoped to see accomplished in
Emmett; and 5) any additional comments or suggestions. The written answers were
analyzed for common themes through a content analysis procedure.
The respondents listed a large number of features that they considered to be strengths and
assets of the Emmett area. A number of common themes emerged. As seen in Table 6,
the most commonly reported strength/asset was the rural, small town nature of the
community (reported by over one-third of the respondents who completed this item),
followed closely by the friendly, caring people of the community. Other fairly common
response themes focused on Emmett’s proximity to other Idaho cities and recreation
areas, and its quiet, sparsely populated, and family-oriented nature.
Table 6: Strengths and Assets of Emmett
Percent of
Respondents Number
Rural/Small town setting 33.7 55
Friendly and caring residents 30.7 50
Proximity to other communities and cities (e.g., Boise) 14.1 23
Access to outdoor recreation opportunities (e.g., hunting,
13.5 22
fishing, horseback riding)
Quiet area 12.3 20
Not a crowded area 9.2 15
Family-oriented community 8.6 14
Note. The percentages listed are “valid percentages”, meaning that they are calculated
out of the total number of respondents who completed the item (123 respondents, or
43.0% of the sample, did not complete this item). Because the respondents could make
more than one response to this item, the cumulative percentage may exceed 100.
A number of short-term challenges were also identified. As seen in Table 7, the most
commonly cited short-term challenge regarded bringing in businesses and industry
offering well-paying local jobs (reported by over 40% of the respondents who completed
this item). Other perceived short-term challenges included needing effective leadership
in local government, slowing growth and development, providing more activities for
youth and families, and generating greater community involvement (see Table 7).
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