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Rec district recommends grants for dozens of local youth programs; one application not recommended
Summary
The Teton County recreation board recommended grants to multiple after‑school and youth organizations (most requests were for $5,000); Slow Food in the Tetons and a Teton Avalanche request were not recommended. The board debated eligibility and program access for several applicants.
The Teton County recreation‑district board heard presentations from more than a dozen community organizations seeking FY26 grant support and recommended multiple grants to the Teton County School District #1 school board.
Presenters included Carrie Geraci of Jackson Hole Public Art, Matt Daley of Jackson Hole Writers, Andrew Vitale of Jackson Hole Youth Basketball, Trent Hovland of youth soccer, Sadie Frank for the Off Square Theater Company, Ekap Manoukian for the Grand Cheetah Skating Association, Sandy Sandberg for the Skating Club of Jackson Hole, Adrienne Henderson for Teton Adaptive, Joel Bridal for Teton Avalanche, Maddie Johnson for Teton County Search and Rescue Foundation, Amanda Plaszok for Teton Music School, and Sarah Caballero for Teton Youth and Family Services. Most organizations asked for $5,000; Teton Avalanche requested $3,420 and Teton Literacy Center requested $15,000.
Board members generally praised the reach and quality of the community programs. Presenters emphasized access and inclusion: Carrie Geraci said the public‑art projects “are free and open to all people,” and Maddie Johnson said search‑and‑rescue youth programming is being kept free to reduce barriers to participation. Several presenters described partnerships with district programs such as After the Bell and the Teton Literacy Center.
Votes at a glance (board recommendation to school board): • Jackson Hole Public Art — recommend $5,000 (vote: 4–1 in favor). • Jackson Hole Therapeutic Writing — recommend $5,000 (vote: 4–1 in favor). • Jackson Hole Writers — recommend $5,000 (vote: 4–1 in favor). • Jackson Hole Youth Basketball — recommend $5,000 (vote: 4–1 in favor). • Youth Soccer — recommend $5,000 (vote: 4–1 in favor). • Off Square Theater Company — recommend $5,000 (vote: 4–1 in favor). • Grand Cheetah Skating Association (Skate JH) — recommend (vote: 3–2 in favor). • Skating Club of Jackson Hole — recommend $5,000 (vote: 3–2 in favor). • Teton Adaptive — recommend (vote recorded as passing; forwarded to school board). • Teton Avalanche Inc. — not recommended (motion did not move forward). • Teton County Search and Rescue Foundation — recommend $5,000 (vote recorded as passing). • Teton Music School — recommend (motion passed; forwarded to school board). • Teton Youth and Family Services — recommend $5,000 (vote: 4–1 in favor).
One application, Slow Food in the Tetons, was not recommended after trustees expressed concern that the program as described only served partner‑enrolled students; the board voted 2–3 against recommending that request. For several other applicants trustees noted partnerships with district initiatives such as After the Bell and asked presenters to clarify how funds would supplement, not supplant, existing supports.
The board also approved a motion to recommend a rec‑district mill set to 1 mill to the school board, and the meeting concluded after a short period of public comment about systems coordination among after‑school providers.
