Emmett, Idaho · Gem of the Payette

Grown over a century. Still growing.

Not much has changed here. Except everything that needed to.

Historic Downtown Emmett is waking up. Same brick streets, same river, new energy. We invite you to join in or pull up a chair.

Dowtown Today
About the EDF
Sunset over a Historic Downtown Emmett's Main Street with shops and cars parked along the curb. A red welcome to Emmett banner hangs on a streetlamp.

Downtown Emmett is open and full of possibilities!

With over 30 local shops, eateries, and services from morning coffee at Hebrews to hand-spun shakes at Emmett Creamery, our historic brick streets are ready for you right now.

Just steps away, enjoy two charming public parks downtown and City Park within easy walking distance, making our heart-of-town the perfect spot to shop, eat, play, and connect.

Plan Your Visit

Be part of what is next.

For grant agencies & investors

Emmett is a documented economic development opportunity with active municipal and county leadership, a clear multi-year roadmap, and measurable milestones.

Economic development overview →

Revitalization project reports →

Meet the executive committee →

Download the investment brief →

Plan Your Visit

Your place to visit and linger.

For residents & neighbors

Your downtown is coming alive. Find out what's open, what's coming, and how to get involved in shaping Emmett's next chapter.

What's open downtown right now →

Upcoming events & festivals →

Women's Business Network →

How to get involved →

SEE WHAT IS OPEN

Local Partnerships
Logo of Idaho Commerce featuring stylized mountains and the text 'IDAHO COMMERCE'.
Logo of Idaho Power, an IDACORP company, featuring mountains and water.
Idaho Gem County logo featuring a diamond, mountain range, bear, and trees.
Gem County Chamber of Commerce logo with green mountain, blue river, and beige land graphics and slogan 'Where Business Comes Together'.
Seal of the City of Emmett, Idaho, featuring two women in traditional clothing, a mountain in the background, a diamond in the center, and surrounding text.
Idaho Department of Labor logo on a blue background
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Featured

Events Happening in Emmett

See More Events

Come Explore Historic Downtown Emmett

Visit our full directory of local businesses and come taste, connect with your community, and find treasures.

Map of Downtown Emmett, Idaho, showing business locations, restaurants, shops, health and wellness centers, services, and historic sites, with labeled streets and parks.
Downtown Today
A gravel dirt road runs through a lush green vineyard under a partly cloudy sky with distant mountains on the horizon.
Fresh peaches on a market display next to a large pile of cherries in a wooden crate.
A group of young women and girls gathering on a city street corner, holding shovels and posing for a photo, with a brick building and traffic lights in the background.
Vintage yellow truck filled with pumpkins, gourds, and fall flowers, with more pumpkins and gourds surrounding it on the ground.
Child sitting on a blanket watching a large outdoor movie screen at dusk with a sunset in the background.
Sunset over a valley with hills, trees, and a winding dirt road, captured from a hillside with dry grass and scattered shrubs.
A man smiling and dressed in a black suit with a white shirt and black tie, wearing a military veterans cap with yellow embroidery, holding an American flag, standing outside on a grassy area with small American flags, with a brick building and a tre
Sunset over lush green farmland with rows of fruit trees, houses, and trailers, under a partly cloudy sky.
Four women wearing crowns and sashes celebrating at a festive outdoor event at night, with Christmas lights and decorations in the background.
Close-up of a white bucket filled with fresh blueberries outdoors on grass.
Various bottles of wine and alcohol on a wooden table in a dining room, with a water dispenser and blurred background.
An aerial view of a small town with a downtown area, parking lots, green spaces, and railroad tracks, with mountains in the background.
A cluster of ripe and unripe apricots hanging on a tree branch with green leaves, set against a clear blue sky and distant hillside.
Snow-covered orchard with rows of fruit trees, snow on the ground, mountains in the background, and a house to the right in a winter landscape.
Three women standing in front of a large inflatable Santa Claus holding a gift, at night near an illuminated sign for Santa's One Stop Shop.
A decorated outdoor gazebo with scarecrows and cornstalks in a grassy area, with a brick wall and children sitting at a table in the background in downtown Emmett, Idaho.

The Gem of the Payette

There is a special tranquility about Emmett and Gem County that evokes a sense of nostalgia, reminding you of your hometown. Neighbors know neighbors in the rural county, and it’s a place where you feel immediately welcome and instantly at ease. With over 150 years of tradition in farming, it has become a place to connect with people and the community.

You might call it the best little town on the Payette River, we believe it’s the Gem of the Payette.

The History of Emmett

Making Emmett a better place to live, work, and visit.

In January 2025, the Downtown Economic Redevelopment Team held an organizational meeting to begin a two-year process to make Emmett and its downtown an even better place to live, work, invest in, and visit, thus making Emmett a great place to raise a family.

Emmett’s Mayor, the Gem County Commission Chair, and key local leaders have formed an executive committee to drive economic development and business growth in the valley. The committee includes representatives from local government, education, and the business community, working together to position downtown Emmett as a prime location for investment and job creation.

Collaborating with select city employees and business owners, the committee is outlining a vision to transform downtown into a hub for site selectors, venture capitalists, commercial real estate professionals, and entrepreneurs. This initiative aims to attract new businesses, create jobs, and ensure long-term economic sustainability for the community.

Learn More >

Ongoing Initiatives

Downtown Business Blade Sign Program

The Gem Community Economic Development Foundation (EDF) is proud to support Downtown Emmett through our Blade Sign Beautification Initiative.

Learn more about the program and apply here.

Downtown Mural Sponsorship

The Downtown Emmett Mural Project is officially underway! We are excited to share that two downtown locations have already been selected for our first murals, helping bring new energy, art, and community pride to our historic downtown.

To sponsor a downtown mural, donate here.

Learn about the GCEDF

GIVE TODAY

The Gem Community Economic Development Foundation (EDF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to creating a thriving future for Emmett and Gem County. Through Visit Emmett and our community revitalization efforts, we invest in downtown, support local businesses, promote tourism, expand recreation, and showcase the unique character of our community. Every donation helps attract visitors, strengthen our local economy, and fund projects that improve the quality of life for residents today while ensuring a vibrant community for future generations.

Make a Donation