WHO WE ARE
Friends of Gros Ventre Fire Station is a Teton County–based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization formed in 2023. We exist to collaborate with Teton County to improve fire and emergency medical services for communities north of Jackson.
Board Directors
Rocky Barber, Former Investment Manager
Jim Ramo, Former Corporate Executive
Joe Wenger, Former Commercial Real Estate Broker
BACKGROUND
Fire Station 8 is included in the county’s long-term facilities plan, but no construction timeline has been established.
Communities north of Jackson have experienced significant growth since 2020, with almost 1,000 homes currently in the response area and nearly 100 new homes under construction (a ~10% increase).
The service area now represents over 12% of the county’s assessed value, and may be well over 15% by the end of the decade.
A community survey conducted in 2023–2024 showed overwhelming support to establish fire and EMS coverage within the Station 8 response area
Communities north of Jackson have an ISO rating of 10 (worst in the county). The Town of Jackson is rated a 5.
WHY STATION 8 MATTERS
Reduced emergency response times: 15-20 minutes from town to most areas north of Jackson, and the same time back during good weather and traffic. This can pose a risk of death for an emergency service call.
Improved wildfire readiness. There is no EMS service north of the town of Jackson—including the park, the airport and Moran.
Insurance premiums and even availability are at risk without a station within five miles. The entire county's Standard of Cover—particularly the response area north of Jackson— would improve with a fire/EMS station in the communities there.
CURRENT CHALLENGES
The fire department and county face several ongoing challenges, including:
• Budget and capital funding constraints
• Firefighter recruitment and retention
• Competing short-term infrastructure priorities
We have met with fire department leadership and County Commissioners and understand these constraints.
OUR PROPOSAL
Establish a public-private effort to build and operate the Gros Ventre Fire/EMS Station 8.
The station would be built on county-owned land designated for a fire station across from the Jackson Hole Golf & Tennis Club on Spring Gulch Road.
Construction would be privately funded with the county responsible for building, equipping and operating the station.
The fire station would include housing for firefighters and/or volunteers.
OUR PROPOSAL
Establish a public-private partnership to build and operate Fire Station 8.
Funding
The station would be built on County-owned land across from the Jackson Hole Golf & Tennis Club. Construction would be privately funded, with the County responsible for equipping and operating the station.
The private-sector goal is to raise $8 million to fund construction. Pledges will be turned into cash as the project begins.
The total construction cost goal is $8 million.
Any project savings or amount raised over the goal would be available for pre-operating expenses (recruiting, training, FTE staffing, equipping).
Any building costs over $8 million would be the responsibility of the county.
OUR PROPOSAL
Establish a public-private partnership to build and operate Fire Station 8.
Funding:
The station would be built on County-owned land across from the Jackson Hole Golf & Tennis Club.
The private sector would raise $8 million to fund construction.
Operations
Construction would be privately funded, with the County responsible for equipping and operating the station.
Initially pledges will be turned into cash, as project begins with "calls against pledges" when needed.
On-site housing for firefighters/volunteers would assure staffing.
Estimated construction cost is approximately $6.5 million.
Migration from volunteer staffing to full-time employee staffing would be at the discretion of the fire department.
Remaining funds would be available for contingencies, operations or apparatus purchases. Any costs exceeding $8 million would be the responsibility of the County.
FACILITY OVERVIEW
The proposed station design has been developed in coordination with the fire department and our project architect.
Based on the schematic design, we have received an estimate of the project’s cost at $8M.
FACILITY OVERVIEW
Fire and EMS operational space with support spaces for training, equipment and operations.
FACILITY OVERVIEW
Three priority housing units for firefighters or volunteers.
WHY THIS IS THE BEST SOLUTION
This approach meets our goal of establishing a fire station and accelerating the county’s plan to do so.
Housing assures FTE's and/or volunteers are on site.
Given the state of the county's budget and fire department priorities, there is simply no other way for the county to provide the service this decade.
Donations are tax-deductible.
WHY THIS IS THE BEST SOLUTION
Business Case: Potential for major impact on each resident’s homeowner’s insurance premium or even availability if within 5 miles of the site.
Example:
A Teton Pines Dwelling, close to fire station 6 – fully insured premiums:
• $5Mil. House value - $12,000
• $10Mill house value - $22,000
• $25Mil House value - $51,000
A Solitude Dwelling, beyond the 5-mile range - fully insured premiums:
• $5Mil. - $30,000
• $10Mil - $51,000
• $25Mil. - $129,000
TIMELINE
2026
Memorandum of Understanding
Secure fundraising and pledge commitments
Finalize design, conduct preconstruction activities, site survey and geo-technical assessments
2027 - 2028
Ground-breaking
Construction
Pre-operating expenses (recruiting and training)
2029
Operations Begin
OUR ASK
We would like every resident of the territory to take part in the funding.
"Cornerstone" Donors: $1M+
"Tentpole" Donors: $500K-$1M
"Champion" Donors: $250-$500K
"Major" Donors: $100K-$250K
"Key" Donors: $25K-$100K
"Friends of the Gros Ventre Fire Station": $1,000-$25K
Donations are initially pledged (see form) and converted to cash at specific milestones during the design and construction phase of the project. The first milestone is scheduled for 9/30/2026.
Donations should be made to The Friends of The Gros Ventre Fire Station 501(c)(3) and are tax-deductible under federal income tax laws.
THANK YOU