Approval by the council will set over $1 million into motion, monies received through a $616,000 grant from the Idaho Transportation Department, as well as a $400,000 match by Driggs Urban Renewal, a tax district created several years ago to help enhance downtown Driggs.

Teton Valley Chamber of Commerce President Reid Rogers is scheduled to meet with Bill Shaw of the Idaho Transportation Department to help expedite the bidding process for the project.

In addition to approval of the new structure outside of city hall, the council approved the construction of partitions within the Driggs Community Center that will enable the facility to accommodate multiple users. A variety of spaces will be created to accommodate conferences, offices, and other uses. The City had anticipated that monies for the Teton Scenic Byway project would be used to enhance the Driggs Community Center; now the City will have to find alternate funding sources for the transformation of the space.

With a goal of funding the Driggs Community Center transformation, the council approved the creation of a 501(c)3 within the Teton Valley Chamber of Commerce in order for the Chamber to be eligible for USDA Rural Development grants and loans while also bird-dogging tax deductible donations.

In order for the Driggs Community Center facility to be eligible for USDA monies, Rogers said that 80 percent of the facility needs to be occupied by nonprofit organizations. While the current tenant in the building, Teton Indoor Sports Academy takes up more than 20 percent and is a for profit business, Rogers said a number of solutions are available if the City of Driggs wants to keep the tenant in the future.

By Hope Strong
Valley Citizen
September 30, 2009