The Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health program provides funding and support to help Idaho cities unite their communities through an outdoor space that brings people together

The Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health is awarding The Community Project granta to the cities of Dayton and Weiser. The grants are to help the cities unite community leaders and residents to create an outdoor public space that brings people together. The grant includes up to $85,000 in funding for the space, plus technical assistance to the city and an event to celebrate the project.

Dayton and Weiser are the sixth and seventh communities to receive The Community Project grant, which open to applications from Idaho cities that had completed the Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health’s Community Health Academy. Previous recipients were Chubbuck, Driggs, Glenns Ferry, Payette and Wendell.

“On behalf of Dayton City, I want to express gratitude and excitement for being selected for this grant,” Dayton Mayor Troy Moser said. “We are excited to team up with our citizens, local school and the Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health. With this grant, we will have a shared commitment to community health and well-being. Together we hope to create something special that community members now as well as future generations will be proud of.”

“The City of Weiser is very excited to receive funds from the Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health to transform our parks,” Weiser Mayor Randy Hibberd said. “The idea of enhancing the parks as a gathering place originally started with meetings held with the Weiser High School student body officers and class officers. They had great ideas. The city is grateful for the opportunity to get input from the community the make Weiser an even better place to live, work, and play.”

Both cities will begin working with the Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation this month to begin a professionally guided process that will help the city engage residents to determine the design and functionality of the outdoor space in the city.