POCATELLO, Idaho -- Pocatello was just named as one of the top cities in the U.S. for raising a family by Kiplinger and Yahoo Real Estate. The city was chosen for its low cost of living, solid public schools and low crime and unemployment rates. One Pocatello family is passing down the tradition of improving the Gate City.

Gene Crawford and his family have lived in Pocatello for 40 years. His daughter lives there, she has children there, and a grandchild as well. They've opened two small businesses in town, and now Crawford wants to open something new: a community center.

The center, on Main St. in Old Town, has been renovated in just six weeks, thanks entirely to local donations. Crawford says it is that sense of community that allowed him and his partner, Pat Roley, the chance to get the project rolling.

Roley and Crawford met just a year ago, when Roley decided he wanted to build an events center in Pocatello and Crawford signed on. But things may have hit closer to home for Roley than he thought.

"I didn't realize it at the time, because Gene actually, he and my dad worked together over 30 years ago in the real estate business," said Roley.

Breaking ground on the administrative and community center is just the first step for Roley's plan to build a 30,000 square foot event center. Roley wants to give Pocatello residents a chance to host events at a low cost.

And for Roley, whose father passed away last year, the Gate City Community Center is giving him a second chance as well.

"I kinda consider [Gene] my second dad," said Roley.

The Gate City Community Center will have after school tutoring with help from ISU students, computer classes and study space. They've set a tentative grand opening for September 30th.