2011 SUMMER REPORT articles
Dakota Rising plans for entrepreneur development - Dakota Rising, the entrepreneur development program of South Dakota Rural Enterprise, is transforming the way in which six South Dakota areas approach economic development...<click here to read the entire article>

Agriculture is South Dakota's leading industry - Agriculture is the life-blood of our state and is an integral part of our rural communities. South Dakota was founded by hardworking farmers and ranchers trying to give their children a better life by working the land...<click here to read the entire article>

Dakota Rising makes Facebook connections - Now you can check out the South Dakota Rural Enterprise entrepreneur development program Dakota Rising on Facebook...<click here to read the entire article>

Capital Investment Fund is about more than the money - The South Dakota Rural Enterprise Capital Investment Fund, which now totals over $12.65 million, builds the financial capacity of South Dakota's Economic Development Corporations and Revolving Loan Funds by making funding available to them for projects in South Dakota communities...<click here to read the entire article>

Projects show diversity of New Markets Tax Credit program - Dakotas America, the primary recipient of New Markets Tax Credits in the Dakotas, has recently been instrumental in assisting two community projects which have significantly enhanced the quality of life and economies of their respective regions...<click here to read the entire article>

Talking with you is the smartest thing we do - In our role as a resource for new ideas and successful programs to help grow local economies, we do a great deal of research. We talk with national leaders, attend valuable conferences that share the latest views on rural community development and we keep up-to-date on the latest publications in the field. But as we work together to make South Dakota's communities stronger, the smartest thing we do is to engage in dialogue with YOU...<click here to read the entire article>

Building our local businesses drives economic growth - As an agricultural state, South Dakota has a long history of homegrown prosperity through hard work that leads to success. From those who planted the prairie for subsistence crops through today's agri-business owners who literally feed the world, South Dakotans have always understood that supporting local enterprises is good for our families and for our state's economy...<click here to read the entire article>

The value of higher-wage jobs in our economy - Local labor data reveals that the majority of our workforce sits somewhere between the ten at $10,000 and four at $25,000 levels. This is largely due to our dependence on lower-wage, seasonal tourism, retail and local service industries. While we are grateful for the annual bounty tourism brings into our economy, there is more we can do...<click here to read the entire article>

2010 ANNUAL REPORT articles
Introduction - During 2010, South Dakota Rural Enterprise had several great opportunities to achieve our organization’s purpose: to stimulate financial and human investment in communities that are invested in themselves...<click here to read the entire article>

Dakota Rising Expands to Six South Dakota sites in 2010 - Dakota Rising, the statewide entrepreneur development program of South Dakota Rural Enterprise, awarded seven entrepreneur fellowships, chose two new sites during 2010 and recertified four other South Dakota locations for a third year...<click here to read the entire article>

Capital Investment Fund Helps Build the Madison Area - South Dakota Rural Enterprise’s Capital Investment Fund has provided the Lake Area Improvement Corporation flexibility and just-in-time abilities to provide funding of projects within our community. We have been able to utilize the fund to create new jobs in the technology and manufacturing sector in the Madison area. The development of phase 1 of the Lakeview Industrial Park also was made possible by Capital Investment Fund resources, creating opportunities for expansion by two local companies. The Lake Area Improvement Corporation also has been able to use the funds in our recruitment efforts...<click here to read the entire article>

2010 New Market Tax Credit Projects Show Vitality of Program - The New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) Program of the U.S. Department of Treasury gives corporate taxpayers the opportunity to receive a 39 percent federal tax credit by investing in qualified projects in low-income communities...<click here to read the entire article>

Two Join South Dakota Rural Enterprise Board - Ruth Christopherson, senior vice president of community development at Citi, and Rachael Sherard, vice president of rural health services for Avera Health, join the board of directors of South Dakota Rural Enterprise in 2011...<click here to read the entire article>

Custer Brings Community Together to Set and Achieve Goals - When the community of Custer began working with South Dakota Rural Enterprise seven years ago, bringing the LeadershipPlenty South Dakota program to town, they began a partnership that is still achieving goals today...<click here to read the entire article>

2010 Financial Summary

2010 WINTER REPORT articles
New Markets Tax Credits impact Dakota towns - A recent agricultural group investment in three Dakota towns will have a total economic impact of $170 million, thanks to the availability of a Dakotas America LLC, New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) allocation...<click here to read the entire article>

Don't look back-set goals for tomorrow - As the year comes to a close, many people think it is important to look back over the events of the year gone by, to review the highs and lows of 2010. It's a natural phenomenon, designed to provide some perspective...<click here to read the entire article>

VanHofwegen named managing director for Dakotas America - Lin VanHofwegen, vice president of operations for South Dakota Rural Enterprise, has been named Managing Director for Dakotas America LLC. Dakotas America...<click here to read the entire article>

Focusing on our purpose makes us more effective - Economic development is a "hot topic" right now, as we all examine where we are and where we're headed, especially in the wake of the worst recession since the 1930s. Economic development is a political slogan, a community mantra and at the top of everyone's list of "must-do" items for the new year...<click here to read the entire article>

Capital Investment Fund reaches $12 million - Thanks to an infusion of capital by the U.S. Treasury Department's Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund and the Communities at Work Fund™ , a new Fund initially capitalized by Citi and managed by OFN and the Calvert Foundation, the South Dakota Rural Enterprise Capital Investment Fund has reached $12 million...<click here to read the entire article>

Entrepreneurs exchange ideas at Mobridge meeting - The Dakota Rising Fall Cohort Meeting was held November 7-9 in Mobridge. Attending the convocation were 2009 and 2010 Dakota Rising Entrepreneurs Fellows, Site Coordinators from all six Dakota Rising Sites, Program Consultant Jael Kampfe and Mentors Gerald Sherman, Dr. Larry Swain and Kristi Wagner, Dakota Rising Coordinator...<click here to read the entire article>

2010 SUMMER REPORT articles
Entrepreneurs chosen as 2010 Dakota Rising Fellows - Seven outstanding South Dakota business owners have been chosen in a highly competitive process as some of the state's most promising entrepreneurs....<click here to read the entire article>

New duties for Wagner - In addition to her duties as program developer, Kristi Wagner will serve as the Dakota Rising Program coordinator responsible for the development, management and expansion of the Dakota Rising program...<click here to read the entire article>

Taking stock of your community's strengths - Every town in South Dakota is a little different from the town down the road. We all have similarities in our basic values and prairie common sense, but each community has a unique set of challenges and opportunities...<click here to read the entire article>

Partner Spotlight: South Dakota Cooperative Extension Service - We spoke with Karla Trautman, Program Leader and Extension Specialist for Leadership and Community Development at the College of Education and Human Sciences, SDSU in Brookings about the Cooperative Extension Service and its role in business in South Dakota...<click here to read the entire article>

Dakotas America announces Wheat Growers projects in both Dakotas - Utilizing a $17 million New Markets Tax Credit allocation from Dakotas America LLC, the South Dakota Wheat Growers Association (SDWGA) is completing three projects to upgrade agricultural businesses in North and South Dakota locations and bring jobs and economic strength to those areas...<click here to read the entire article>

VanHofwegen receives national certification - Earlier this year, a dedicated group of our state's economic development officials, including Lin VanHofwegen, Vice-President of Operations for South Dakota Rural Enterprise, received the Economic Development Finance Professional certification from the National Development Council. The classes were sponsored in Sioux Falls by CITI...<click here to read the entire article>

YOU are the community leader of tomorrow - The most important person in your hometown-the one whose interest, dedication and commitment to community improvement will really make the difference-is YOU. Even if you're not an elected official or a member of a volunteer organization-and especially if you are-your determination to make your town a great place to live is vital to the future of your city and our state...<click here to read the entire article>

Community development creates more than jobs - The impact of economic development is more then just jobs for your community or county. Just ask communities like Aberdeen, Bowdle, McLaughlin, Huron and Pierre, among others. South Dakota Rural Enterprise, with its partnership in Dakotas America LLC, leverages financial programs to create a lasting impact for those communities...<click here to read the entire article>

Ag Summit focuses on development issues - The first annual South Dakota Governor's Ag Development Summit was convened in June by Acting Secretary of Agriculture Jon Farris at the Sioux Falls Convention Center. Agriculture remains the state's number one industry, creating more than $21 billion in economic activity each year in South Dakota...<click here to read the entire article>

2009 ANNUAL REPORT articles
Introduction - The qualities of an entrepreneur include taking calculated risks and being willing to put skin in the game. By those measures of entrepreneurial spirit, South Dakota Rural Enterprise certainly earned its entrepreneurial stripes in 2009. In the second year of its three-year pilot, Dakota Rising was showing great promise when its external funding dried up. However, seeing the potential risk-to-return benefits, SD Rural Enterprise committed its own resources to the Dakota Rising project. In doing so we kept the momentum going to complete the Dakota Rising pilot....<click here to read the entire article>

Dakota Rising Demonstration Project Makes Great Strides - South Dakota Rural Enterprise has proved itself as the ideal organization to sponsor a statewide entrepreneurial development program. Despite funding cuts that imperiled the program, SD Rural Enterprise strengthened its commitment to Dakota Rising, keeping the entrepreneur program on track at all four pilot sites....<click here to read the entire article>

Filling The Capital Gap - South Dakota Rural Enterprise received a grant from the United States Department of Treasury that will help provide capital to community development groups and revolving loan funds throughout South Dakota....<click here to read the entire article>

Black Hills Partnerships Enhance Statewide Mission - The work of Program Developer Kristi Wagner in 2009 has strengthened the bonds between South Dakota Rural Enterprise and the cities and organizations in the Black Hills region....<click here to read the entire article>

Aberdeen Banker Joins Rural Enterprise Board - Daryl Ebach joins the South Dakota Rural Enterprise board of directors for a three-year term beginning in 2010. Ebach is a Community Banking District president with responsibility for Wells Fargo’s Business Banking operations in northeast South Dakota and western Minnesota....<click here to read the entire article>

Steve Baker Promotes Advantages Of New Market Tax Credits In Dakotas - Steve Baker understands the New Market Tax Credit system. The president of Global Food Partners is a specialist in finance, tax credit structuring, business feasibility and strategic business planning. As New Market Tax Credit (NMTC) consultant to Dakotas America, LLC, Baker brings his expertise to communities and organizations in North and South Dakota which may benefit from the federal tax credit program...<click here to read the entire article>

2009 Financial Summary

2009 WINTER REPORT articles
Capital Investment Fund reaches $10 million - The Capital Investment Fund now exceeds $10 million for the first time in South Dakota Rural Enterprise history—thanks to investors who have shown their confidence in the benefits of the fund. The Capital Investment Fund assists South Dakota community economic development efforts across the state, in communities of all sizes, from Eureka to Miller, Aberdeen to Pierre and in the Black Hills as well....<click here to read the entire article>

Black Hills Town Hall Meetings Focus on Priorities - South Dakota Rural Enterprise partnered with local development groups for a series of Town Hall meetings held throughout the Black Hills, facilitated by Program Developer Kristi Wagner. The meetings were held to discuss the region’s future and to gather community feedback to help shape the scope of work for each of the sponsoring organizations in coming years...<click here to read the entire article>

Opportunity Roundtable Discussions on Line - Community development leaders have discovered that they can share ideas with their counterparts all over the state without leaving their offices through South Dakota Rural Enterprise statewide Opportunity Roundtables. These conversational teleconference and information exchanges feature community leaders just like you joining in to talk about what works and what doesn’t in growing opportunity in South Dakota...<click here to read the entire article>

Dakotas America Provides Vital Funding for Regional Projects - The U.S. Treasury Department granted an $80 million New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) allocation for economic development across North and South Dakota last year. Dakotas America, LLC received the tax credit allocation from the U.S. Treasury Department’s Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund, with South Dakota Rural Enterprise administering the allocation for Dakotas America...<click here to read the entire article>

Micro-Enterprise Program to Benefit Small Business Statewide - The backbone of South Dakota’s economy is the success of small businesses in communities of every size throughout the state. Those small businesses, employing five people or less, represent the entrepreneurial spirit that has created towns and cities and transformed "mom and pop" enterprises into international companies...<click here to read the entire article>

2009 SUMMER REPORT articles
Introducing the first Dakota Rising Fellows - The Dakota Rising Rural Entrepreneur Fellows were chosen from sixteen finalists in four Dakota Rising areas: Spearfish, 57735 On The Rise, Four Mo T.R.E.E. and Glacial Lakes Dakota Rising. The Dakota Rising Entrepreneur Fellowship program is administered statewide by SD Rural Enterprise...<click here to read the entire article>

Build our economy by playing to our strengths - A recent newspaper story pointing out that South Dakota is the top-ranked state for small business and entrepreneurial growth focused primarily on attracting recession-stressed companies to locate here to save money. That story highlighted our state's low tax burden and low wages as incentives to relocate companies from high-cost neighboring states to South Dakota...<click here to read the entire article>

SAVE THE DATE - Please mark your calendar today and plan to attend the 2nd Annual Rural Development Institute: Exchanging Ideas, Connecting for Progress on September 16 & 17, 2009...<click here to read the entire article>

South Dakota Cooperative Extension Service is a valued partner - Prior to Governor Mike Rounds taking office, the South Dakota Cooperative Extension Service (Extension) did not have a programming emphasis dedicated solely to community development. Governor Rounds, SD Rural Enterprise chair Dr. Gary Lemme, and Karen Pearson, Extension's West River Ag Center Director and community services advocate, helped changed that. Today, Extension has a programming area called Community Innovation and Leadership and is an active partner with South Dakota Rural Enterprise in a variety of ways...<click here to read the entire article>

Vital lessons already learned from Dakota Rising - As we conclude the recertification process for the Dakota Rising Pilot Sites and prepare to select the second class of Entrepreneur Fellows, we can look back on the first year of this innovative entrepreneur development program with pride-and having already learned a few things...<click here to read the entire article>

When losers are winners - When the new Dakota Rising program was announced, Eureka was interested but had no idea how to proceed. About the same time Eureka and Leola development corporations had set a first-ever joint meeting. We knew we wanted to work together but didn't really know each other as individuals, or know the goals and functions of each other's organizations-we didn't even have an agenda for that initial meeting...<click here to read the entire article>

2008 ANNUAL REPORT articles
Introduction - Thriving rural communities are created through the hard work of their residents. But not everycommunity has all of the right resources at hand when they need them. South Dakota Rural Enterpriseseeks to make a difference by making available tools for community and economic development...<click here to read the entire article>

Glacial Lakes area Illustrates the Power of Partnership - When people pull together, communities, counties and regions are transformed. One of the most dramatic examples of the power of partnership in South Dakota is in the northeastern corner of the state. Glacial Lakes Area Development (GLAD) has utilized resources made available by South Dakota Rural Enterprise and community development partners to create a dynamic program with a paid executive director, economic development strategies and four of the first eight Dakota Rising Rural Entrepreneur Fellows...<click here to read the entire article>

Capital Investment Fund Demand - The economic challenges brought to South Dakota communities and businesses by the recession has led to increased demand for the South Dakota Rural Enterprise Capital Investment Fund (CIF)...<click here to read the entire article>

Dakota Rising: Cultivating Entrepreneurs, Strengthening Business, Sustaining Communities - Rural enterprise and employment depends on successful entrepreneurship and small business development. Entrepreneurs create businesses that generate jobs in a thriving community. Rural community volunteers and even paid development staff have not had access to a systematic approach to growing and sustaining their entrepreneurs and local businesses...<click here to read the entire article>

Sturgis is Creating a Value Added Community - Community capacity-building begins with bringing people together to share their hopes and dreams for their community. South Dakota Rural Enterprise has learned that simple fact through helping Gregory County, the TREE area, the Glacial Lakes region, and the communities of Huron and Mobridge in the Creating a Value-Added Community (CVAC) process. Those locations have reported excellent preliminary results in implementing local initiatives. The latest community to share their visions for community capacity-building is Sturgis...<click here to read the entire article>

Dakotas America, LLC Receives $80 Million New Markets Tax Credit Allocation - Last year, Dakotas America, LLC, received an $80 million New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) allocation for economic development across North and South Dakota from the U.S. Treasury Department's Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund. South Dakota Rural Enterprise will administer the fund for Dakotas America. The NMTC Program is designed to attract private-sector capital investment into North and South Dakota lowincome areas to help stimulate economic growth and create jobs. In 2006, Dakotas America received a $50 million New Markets Tax Credit award, which has already begun to show promising results in the state...<click here to read the entire article>

2008 Financial Summary

2008 AUTUMN REPORT articles
Entrepreneur Fairs focus on the future - Resources and community participants came together to share ideas for the future and their businesses at the four Dakota Rising Site Entrepreneur Fairs during October. South Dakota Rural Enterprise president Beth Davis and Vice President of Development Rey Gonzales attended each fair and presented the Dakota Rising Rural Entrepreneur Fellowship opportunity...<click here to read the entire article>

South Dakota heritage will serve us well today - If you have roots in South Dakota, you probably have family stories about the Great Depression. The dust storms, drought and loss of farms all gave rise to a frugality that has stayed with us ever since. As one of the hardest-hit states, unemployment soared and many breadwinners signed up for the alphabet programs of the Roosevelt Administration, such as the Civilian Conservation Corps and the Works Progress Administration...<click here to read the entire article>

Development Institute provides creative networking opportunities - South Dakota Rural Enterprise and Northwestern Energy partnered to host a Development Institute August 21st and 22nd at Cedar Shores in Oacoma. Meeting a need for connecting resources and peer networking, the Development Institute attracted rural development professionals, volunteers, board members and resource providers from across the State...<click here to read the entire article>

CVAC communities are building success - Gregory County, the T.R.E.E. (Timberlake, Isabel, and Dupree) area, the Glacial Lakes region, (Marshall, Day, and Roberts counties) and the communities of Huron and Mobridge are seeing solid results from their Creating a Value-Added Community (CVAC) process planning efforts...<click here to read the entire article>

SAVE THE DATE - Please mark your calendar today and plan to attend the Annual Midstates Conference on April 1, 2009...<click here to read the entire article>

Positive actions for troubled economic times - South Dakota development corporations are not seeing the same economic pattern that is happening nationally. We hear of layoffs and rising unemployment in other parts of the country, along with foreclosures and declining home values. In South Dakota, the challenge is finding workers to fill the job demand and finding affordable homes for that new labor force. There are exceptions, but on the whole we're weathering the current economic storm fairly well. But South Dakota is not an island-what happens nationally and globally will have an effect on our local economies...<click here to read the entire article>

Qualifying is easier for the 2008 Dakotas America New Markets Tax Credit allocation - We're excited about Dakotas America, LLC receiving $80 million in New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) allocation for economic development across North and South Dakota. South Dakota Rural Enterprise will administer the fund for Dakotas America and help this program attract private-sector capital investment into North and South Dakota low-income areas to help stimulate economic growth and create jobs. Dakotas America's 2006 $50 million NMTC award has already begun to show promising results in the Dakotas...<click here to read the entire article>

New Markets Tax Credit Low Income Communities by County - The list of low-income eligible areas is by county based on US Census Tracts. Census tracts follow no logical pattern. The CDFI Fund of the US Treasury established the criteria for identifying eligible tracts based on low-income, unemployment and out-migration. Census Tracts must also be qualified as "Distressed" in order to be considered for Dakotas America transactions. In some cases, the entire county does not qualify. Specific addresses should be researched to validate qualification...<click here to read the entire article>

Gregory and Lakota Fund receive "Success Stories" awards - South Dakota Rural Enterprise has presented "Community Success Stories" awards to the community of Gregory, for the attraction of Ranchers Livestock Equipment & Welding, and to the Lakota Fund, for assistance in the creation of Heathershaw Designs on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. The stories of these two economic development successes earned each recipient a check for $250. You can read the inspiring stories of these community achievements on the South Dakota Rural Enterprise web site, www.sdrei.org...<click here to read the entire article>

2008 SUMMER REPORT articles
Entrepreneur program finalist communities - Dakota Rising, an exciting new program aimed at building partnerships to assist entrepreneurs committed to developing their skills and growing their businesses, has chosen eight finalist communities from forty applicants. From these eight finalist geographic areas, four pilot communities will be selected to participate in the initial program...<click here to read the entire article>

Appreciating the value of lifetime learning - South Dakota Rural Enterprise values its role in connecting community leaders with the information they need to grow and prosper. Whether it is the local economic development corporation or the individual entrepreneur, SD Rural Enterprise has the right tools and network of experts to help...<click here to read the entire article>

First round of CVAC planning completed - Consisting of ten modules, the Creating a Value Added Community (CVAC) program is geared for gathering input from community residents while focusing on an Asset-Based Community Development model. The CVAC process is aimed at helping rural communities find practical ways to build capacity and fuel their economic engines toward a vibrant local economy...<click here to read the entire article>

Parker wins Community Success Stories award - Posting success stories on the SD Rural Enterprise web site seeks to build a culture of confidence in South Dakota by sharing the stories of individual communities and their successes in overcoming obstacles and meeting challenges...<click here to read the entire article>

Wagner to represent SD Rural Enterprise - Western South Dakota communities now have a SD Rural Enterprise representative, Kristi Wagner. Wagner will be working with Revolving Loan Funds and economic development groups in western South Dakota to acquaint them with SD Rural Enterprise and its range of programs...<click here to read the entire article>

Early childhood development is a sound investment - Too often, investments made in early childhood development projects in communities are not considered with the same look at return on investment as other business investments. When local leaders plan for a community’s economic future, they often discuss the economic return on investment...<click here to read the entire article>

Slow down and make things happen - We’re learning that it is important to take the time to delve into an issue, to explore models of success and to learn from others' failures before “solutions” are implemented that have unintended consequences which may create more problems...<click here to read the entire article>

Don't let your assets become future liabilities - We’ll take a look at some easy and common sense suggestions for maintaining your assets as an asset for your organization, community or service area rather than a future liability or expense...<click here to read the entire article>

2007 ANNUAL REPORT articles
Collaboration creates entrepreneur program - “Slow Down—Get Done Early” is the mantra of Jael Kampfe, consultant and ranch manager of the Lazy EL Ranch, working with the Rural Entrepreneur Fellowship Design Team. This philosophy is well matched to the process that the Design Team has been using since March 2007 to determine the best approach for creating infrastructure in support of entrepreneur development in rural SD...<click here to read the entire article>

What it takes to change the world - Each member of our Board brings a unique perspective on economic development in our state, based on his or her experiences in the private and public sectors. When we meet, our ideas are focused like a laser on the challenge of supporting communities who wish to build their economic vitality...<click here to read the entire article>

Collaboration is the touchstone for progress - Collaboration is one of the most powerful means we have to accomplish our goals. It is also one of the most difficult. Collaboration is the foundation on which we built SD Rural Enterprise and on which we continue to grow community opportunities...<click here to read the entire article>

Taking prosperity into our own hands - We seem to be investing in the right things in third world countries and the radical impact these investments have on the lives of people and communities. Yet inner cities and rural places in America continue to struggle with outmigration, poverty and other social and economic challenges...<click here to read the entire article>

South Dakota Community Capital Fund aids Pierre man in business ownership - Larry Robinson, a Pierre man who had been an employee in the retail grocery business for 37 years, was able to experience his dream of business ownership when he purchased Korner Grocery in Pierre through a cooperative team effort...<click here to read the entire article>

Collaboration produces results in Chamberlain-Oacoma area - It was a region united by the Missouri River, with two city governments, two county governments, a school board and lots of organizations all working to improve the quality of life and economic prosperity in their part of central South Dakota. But until the Community Vision Coalition was started in the Chamberlain-Oacoma area, those groups were just not communicating...<click here to read the entire article>

What is Community Capacity? - Simply put, community capacity is “a community’s ability to define and solve their own problems.” The more skills, assets and strengths that a community group has, the better prepared they are to achieve their goals...<click here to read the entire article>

Staff changes at Rural Enterprise - Lin VanHofwegen has been named vice president of operations for South Dakota Rural Enterprise. VanHofwegen has worked with the organization since 2005 in administrative and operational roles...<click here to read the entire article>

2007 Financial Report

2007 Autumn Report articles
Opportunity Dialog focuses on action plans - The Oct. 22 Opportunity Dialog for Stakeholders sharing an interest in South Dakota’s future focused on transforming the six Development Opportunities identified by this summer’s statewide development market research into statewide action plans, spread the word about the state ’s exciting possibilities and stimulate new innovation that can move SD into the future...<click here to read the entire article>

Smart communities follow seven steps to success - In her excellent guide to community revitalization, Smart Communities, Suzanne Morse lists seven steps critical to keeping communities strong or improving the prospects of any town...<click here to read the entire article>

New IDA concept helps low-income families save - Individual Development Accounts, tools that enable low-income and low-wealth American families to enter the financial mainstream, are matched savings accounts that enable low-income families to save and build assets...<click here to read the entire article>

Opportunity Roundup provides nationwide info links - Good ideas deserve to be shared, and South Dakota Rural Enterprise links you to development information, technical assistance and success stories nationwide through the Opportunity Roundup on our website...<click here to read the entire article>

Let’s be proud to tell our South Dakota stories - Sometimes, growing opportunity in our communities takes more than bringing committed people together in leadership roles. The spark of change sometimes needs to come from outside the community itself...<click here to read the entire article>

Pilot communities selected for CVAC - South Dakota Rural Enterprise has received and accepted three Creating a Value-Added Community (CVAC) program applications that together involve 17 South Dakota communities...<click here to read the entire article>

2007 Summer Report articles
Market research shows progress, promise and potential - During the summer, South Dakota Rural Enterprise conducted a multi-sector, statewide analysis of the financial and technical assistance needs of the development industry...<click here to read the entire article>

"Enterprise" fuels the spirit of South Dakota business - We're proud that the name of our organization includes "enterprise", a word that illustrates the energetic spirit of our state's business community...<click here to read the entire article>

Author presents workshop to Rural Enterprise board - National consultant and seminar leader Luther K. Snow's program for community revitalization involves analyzing the positive aspects of any location and building on those findings...<click here to read the entire article>

Microenterprise program begins to take shape - As we convened our state and national microenterprise experts for a second time, some interesting and inspiring ideas began to emerge...<click here to read the entire article>

Capital Investment Fund is working for South Dakota - One of the most effective tools in the South Dakota Rural Enterprise toolbox is the Capital Investment Fund (CIF)...<click here to read the entire article>

Rural Enterprise representatives participate in Meadowlark Retreat - The Meadowlark Leadership Laboratory on the Future of the Northern Great Plains is a two-year process bringing a diverse sample of the region's population to the table and engaging in intense dialogue about the kind of future we want...<click here to read the entire article>

Helping communities and organizations to GROW - There is no substitute for committed people working together to help our communities develop their assets for prosperity...<click here to read the entire article>

Program creates value-added communities - South Dakota Rural Enterprise is teaming with the Northwest Area Foundation to offer a new process aimed at helping communities develop new strategies to plan for economic development as well as reduce poverty...<click here to read the entire article>

2007 Winter Report articles
Understanding where the money comes from - Business owners and community leaders are often expected to facilitate successful community development by understanding available capital resources. What do our communities need, leaders are asked, to create a business-friendly environment which supports the creation, attraction, retention and expansion of business enterprises?...<click here to read the entire article>

Tell us how we're doing - Since our goal is to grow community opportunity, we need communities—and the economic development leaders in those communities—to keep us on target as we move forward...<click here to read the entire article>

An exciting moment in our history - Never before, in over a decade of service to South Dakota, has Rural Enterprise been poised to do more for the entrepreneurs, development organizations and communities of this state...<click here to read the entire article>

A new vision for leadership development - While everyone agrees that leadership training is a vital necessity for the future, there has been some confusion about available leadership programs in South Dakota. Who delivers those programs across the state? Are they all the same?...<click here to read the entire article>

Mirehouse joins board of directors - Newly selected for the South Dakota Rural Enterprise board of directors is Jim Mirehouse of Rapid City. A United States Air Force pilot, staff officer and commander for 22 years, Mirehouse retired as a colonel and began a career in financial services...<click here to read the entire article>

Meadowlark Projects creates scenarios for the future - If the rural northern Great Plains region is to reach its fullest economic, social, environmental and spiritual potential, it can no longer seek answers to these societal concerns through technical solutions...<click here to read the entire article>

Another great year for Rural Enterprise - South Dakota Rural Enterprise ended 2006 with excellent growth in the usage of our variety of credit products and services during the year. Here are just a few of the numbers that I think illustrate our growth...<click here to read the entire article>

Partnership update: Greater Huron Development Corporation - South Dakota Rural Enterprise talked with Jim Borszich, executive director of the Greater Huron Development Corporation, about the organization’s economic development work...<click here to read the entire article>

Gonzales new Vice President of Business Development - South Dakota Rural Enterprise has chosen Rey Gonzales, former training director and business consultant with the South Dakota Small Business Development Center, as its new Vice President of Business Development...<click here to read the entire article>