The Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health had a bold idea in 2013: what if we partnered with one community, over multiple years, and asked residents to define what health and a thriving community look like to them? That idea became the Community Transformation Grant, built on a simple but powerful premise: when residents shape the vision for health in their own community, the outcomes stick.

The City of Orofino was selected as a partner for the Community Transformation Grant in 2019. Our team worked alongside local leaders to bring that vision to life through survey data, events, parent nights, youth engagement, and community‑driven projects designed by the people who would ultimately use them.

Together, we invested in a trail system, a skatepark, a bike pump track, and more — tangible spaces where kids gather, families move, and neighbors connect. In a rural community, investments in the built environment naturally contribute to a stronger sense of belonging. They reflect a town’s confidence in where it’s headed.

I returned to Orofino recently to see the projects firsthand. Susan Jacobson, Director of Clearwater County Economic Development, drove me through town as we revisited each site and talked about what worked and what we learned. What struck me most were the ripple effects. Five years after the partnership ended, they’re still using the original survey data to guide decisions. The mayor’s daughter helped create the town’s first dog park because residents identified it as a need. Susan and other community leaders are now advancing the 72‑acre Orofino Adventure Park, with plans for disc golf, zip lines, and more. None of that required our foundation to still be there, it required ownership. Orofino has shown just how powerful that can be, and we couldn’t be more proud.

Here’s where things get interesting.  The Foundation created a program called The Community Project in 2022 in response to hearing about division in communities and growing data that shows the sense of belonging impacts health. It was a shorter, one‑time grant focused on thorough community engagement and creating a gathering space. It was catalytic and tangible, but narrower in scope.

As we reflected on Orofino’s experience, it became clear that the strongest path forward is a blend of the two approaches: the deep engagement, data, and cross‑sector collaboration of the Community Transformation Grant, paired with the clarity and placemaking focus of The Community Project.

And that insight leads us to this announcement: for the first time in five years, we’re bringing back our multiyear partnership, evolved and strengthened by everything we’ve learned. At its core is the same belief that guided us in 2013: community engagement isn’t just part of the process; it is the process. When residents co‑create the spaces they use every day, they build trust, pride, and momentum that outlast any grant program.

And we’re keeping the name The Community Project, because it captures what has always mattered most: communities leading the way. We’re excited for this next chapter in our story and look forward to sharing more soon.