Nampa mayor announces the news

NAMPA -- The list for best places for young people to live is out and two Idaho cities have made it.  The two cities are Boise and Nampa.

This morning, Nampa Mayor Tom Dale made the big announcement to a group of kids and community members.

The announcement was no surprise to the community since this was Nampa’s third consecutive year they've been included in the top 100.

Mayor Dale attributes the success to a community geared towards having their youth succeed in life.

"More than ten years ago former Secretary of State Colin Powell founded a youth advocacy agency called America's Promise," said Meredith Vieira, NBC Today Show.

And their promise is to improve the lives of more than 15 million at risk kids over the next five years.

"Every year the group sponsors a competition to recognize the top 100 communities across the nation which did the best job of helping their young people succeed," said Viera.

One of the cities on the list is Nampa, Idaho.

Mayor Tom Dale delivered the big news to a group of students and community members at the Snake River Elementary School.

"And for the third year in a row I am very proud to announce that Nampa, Idaho has been selected as one of the best places for youth in the entire country,” said Dale.

Nampa was one of 750 cities across the nation to apply for the honor. 

Nampa was selected for meeting the five promises young people need to succeed in life.

They are: Having a community with caring adults, safe places for kids, a healthy start, effective education and having opportunities to help others.

"I love helping out in the community, it's one of my favorite things to do," said Alyssa Brumbaugh, Mayor's Teen Council.

Alyssa Brumbaugh says she's benefited from Nampa's supportive community.

"You see we're just one piece of the puzzle and I have to make sure that my puzzle piece is well defined, is working well so it fits in with what everybody else does," said Gary Larsen, Superintendent Nampa School District.

Larson says keeping kids in school is just a small part.  But the community has played the bigger role.

"So I want to say a great big thank you to everybody who's been involved, down through the years in serving youth in Nampa, Idaho,” said Dale.

Dale says he is planning on competing again for the honor next year and would like to make it four in a row.

Along with the title, a grant is given to each city to send a representative to next year’s youth summit at our nation’s capital -- a big honor for the person who attends the event.