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.

But what the recent Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council's Business Tax Index 2009 really tells us is that our state is perfectly positioned to help grow our existing companies and encourage local entrepreneurs. The tax climate and pro-business stance that our state and local governments have taken gives homegrown companies and individuals with good ideas the opportunity to make a difference in their current communities. Businesses that succeed in places where they have experienced growth are likely to become permanent residents of South Dakota-and permanent additions to the tax rolls. Companies that move to a South Dakota community in response to incentives and the promise of reduced costs are often times the first to depart when incentives run out or market conditions change.

The retention and expansion of existing businesses has significant advantages for communities and families, too. Companies owned by your neighbors, people committed to their hometown, work to make the community succeed, along with the success of the business. Another factor is that, historically, 80% of the new jobs added to any community come from businesses already in town. People and businesses right here at home already understand the advantages of a South Dakota location.

In order for our state to succeed and for our communities to grow stronger, we need to ask how we can allocate our resources to enhance the growth of our own companies and encourage the success of our own entrepreneurs.

We should be proud of the fact that South Dakota is ranked number one, the best state for small businesses and entrepreneurs. We should be pleased that state and local economic development officials are working to grow South Dakota's economy. But to succeed, let's focus on building our existing strengths: the hard work, determination and great new ideas of South Dakotans.

2009 SUMMER REPORT
	Introducing the first Dakota Rising Fellows
	Build our economy by playing to our strengths
	SAVE THE DATE
	South Dakota Cooperative Extension Service is a valued partner
	Vital lessons already learned from Dakota Rising
	When losers are winners