Public advisory board meeting UPDATE

Public Advisory Board, I want to sincerely thank each of you for attending our first Public Advisory Board meeting. I know everyone has busy schedules, and I truly appreciate you taking the time to be part of this conversation. Your ideas, questions, and willingness to help reaffirmed that Gem County has people who care deeply about our community and its future. There is no question that we have some heavy lifting ahead of us. Projects like this don't happen overnight, but after our first meeting I feel like we have a much clearer understanding of what needs to happen next—and who we need sitting around the table to make it happen. City of Emmett We have the City's support. While there is no financial commitment, they have identified a potential 10-acre property that could become the future home of this project. That is a tremendous first step. Gem County Recreation District The Recreation District has also expressed its support. In addition, they continue to hold funds that have been earmarked from previous community pool efforts. As we move through the feasibility process, those funds may become an important part of the conversation. Gem County Commissioners Our next priority is connecting with the Gem County Commissioners. I am working to schedule that meeting now and will keep everyone updated. To be clear, we are not approaching the County to ask for funding. Our goal is to gain their partnership and support for a community-wide initiative that benefits all of Gem County. As we continue, we will officially be referring to this effort as the Gem County Aquatic Center (GCAC) Initiative. This name reflects a much bigger vision than simply "bringing a pool back to Emmett." Our goal is to create a community asset that supports: Water safety and drowning prevention Youth recreation and education Rehabilitation and therapeutic services Senior health and wellness Family recreation Economic development Community connection I've quickly learned that the words we use matter. As we begin exploring grants and major partnerships, presenting a broader vision opens more opportunities than focusing solely on a community pool. Our immediate priority is completing a Feasibility Study. Without it, this project cannot move forward. Everything we do over the coming months will be focused on making that happen. Some of the opportunities we're already exploring include: Boise State University's Policy Institute https://www.boisestate.edu/sps-ipi/ Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation In-Kind Donation If anyone has additional ideas, contacts, or resources that could help us complete a feasibility study, please don't hesitate to share them: gcacinitiative@gmail.com Next Public Advisory Board Meeting Thursday, September 3, 2026 Carberry Elementary 6:00 PM At our next meeting we will begin forming our committees, identifying committee leads, and assigning tasks so we can continue moving this initiative forward. Thank you again for believing in this vision. Tuesday's meeting was only the beginning, but it was an important first step. I truly believe that if we continue building the right partnerships, listening to our community, and staying focused on the process, we have an opportunity to create something that will serve Gem County for generations. Swimmingly, Gem County Aquatics Center (GCAC) Initiative