Frontier Credit Union Champions Arts, Access, and Community Connection in Idaho Falls

Posted by Alyse Knudsen on April 27, 2026

The City of Idaho Falls celebrated the completion of the newly enhanced Frontier Center for the Performing Arts with a ribbon cutting and public celebration on April 22, marking not only the culmination of years of community vision, but also the transformational investment of Frontier Credit Union in one of eastern Idaho’s most important cultural assets.

Originally built in the early 1950s, the Frontier Center has long served as a gathering place for Broadway productions, concerts, recitals, graduations, community celebrations, and performances by the Idaho Falls Symphony. For generations, it has been woven into the cultural fabric of Idaho Falls. As the region has grown, so too has the need to modernize the facility to better serve audiences, performers, and community organizations.

That vision began taking shape in 2016, when citizen committees evaluated the center’s long-term future and developed a phased plan focused on accessibility, safety, capacity, and preserving its role as a regional cultural anchor.

Phase I improvements, completed in 2019, enhanced the auditorium with new seating and carpet, acoustic upgrades, updated lighting, and a new marquee made possible through a partnership between the City of Idaho Falls and a contribution from the Bill and Shirley Maeck Family Foundation.

Phase II represents the transformational chapter of the project. Through a capital campaign led by the Civic Center for the Performing Arts Foundation — and anchored by a landmark $4.4 million investment from Frontier Credit Union — the center’s public spaces were completely reimagined. Frontier Credit Union’s donation not only helped bring the project to completion but secured naming rights for the next 50 years, reflecting the credit union’s deep and lasting commitment to the community it serves.

“We are proud to support a project that expands access to the arts, strengthens community connections and helps ensure this landmark venue continues serving Idaho Falls for decades to come,” said Dan Thurman, President and CEO of Frontier Credit Union. “Our Phase II investment was about helping bring this vision fully to life, and we are honored to be part of its next chapter.”

Thanks to Frontier’s investment, patrons now experience a dramatically expanded 6,600-square-foot lobby — tripling its former size — along with a redesigned exterior entrance and drop-off area and 27 ADA-compliant restrooms. These improvements create a more welcoming, accessible, and functional environment, ensuring the venue can host events comfortably and efficiently for years to come.

Frontier Credit Union’s contribution represents more than bricks and mortar. It is a long-term investment in Idaho Falls’ cultural vitality, economic activity, and quality of life. Performing arts centers draw visitors, support local businesses, provide educational opportunities, and serve as gathering places where communities connect and celebrate together.

The completion of the Frontier Center for the Performing Arts stands as a testament to what community partnership can achieve and as a lasting symbol of Frontier Credit Union’s commitment to strengthening Idaho Falls for generations to come.

Check out Dan Thurman on Local News 8.

Posted in Community Impact, Idaho, Regional Member News.