Articles From the Director

Requests for Information; In Other Words, RFI's

Tuesday, October 02, 2018

10/2/2018 Request for Information Forms; In Other Words “RFI’s” Did you know there are people all the time relocating to SD; businesses as well? The Governor’s Office of Economic Development on occasion sends by email, what they refer to as “RFI’s”. RFI’s stand for Request for Information. Many time businesses are looking to move to South Dakota and they are looking for specifics in way of land, property, water rights, natural gas and more. Communities receive these RFI’s from the State and respond back to their requests. If a community or county has no idea what is available should a business want to...

What's Up With Twin Homes

Monday, September 17, 2018

What’s Up With the Twin Homes? If you’re not a Facebook watcher, you’ve not seen the most current project DADi is working on (www.facebook.com/deuelarea), Wildlife Estates Development in Clear Lake is working diligently on a possible twin home at the development. Located in the cul-de-sac area, there are 4 lots for possible twin home development. This development started in 2014 with a merger between East Central Development Company and Deuel Area Development; two local non-profits. With that merger came already purchased land prior for development from the Engle’s family, advocates of economic development. The merged board of 17 members at the time,...

Agri-Tourism and the Future of South Dakota

Monday, September 03, 2018

Agri-Tourism and the Future for all of South Dakota If you are a reader of my articles here or my newsletter, you might have heard me talk about Agri-tourism. It is becoming a hot topic in the agricultural world and a light went on when I first heard about it. I’m a city girl and I admit and ask no one in the rural life hold it against me! I love rural and have learned a great deal but am always learning. I’m an advocate for the lifestyle and I think the trend is growing where families and individuals want to...

Coming Up in Deuel County

Wednesday, August 08, 2018

Coming up in Deuel County… Calling all Deuel County Businesses! Previously, DADi has held a few noon meals featuring outside resources or updates from Deuel County businesses. It’s been a while since those and Deuel Area Development has decided to bring it back on a regular basis. Beginning Thursday, September 13th, DADi will begin holding regular bi-monthly noon luncheons. Featuring different outside or local resources will be on the agenda for these future hour-long meetings from 11:45am to 1:00pm, along with time for eating and visiting with other businesses in Deuel County. This one will be held at the Sport’s Page. The...

Part 3 of Being a Rural Change Maker

Tuesday, July 24, 2018

Deuel Area Development, Inc August 1, 2018 Part 3 in Series of Becoming a Rural Change Maker The Road to Reinvention “In this day and age, communities, companies and organizations fail for many reasons, but one of the most common –and easily avoidable—is the failure to reinvent. Those who feel the most secure in the status quo are in fact the most vulnerable. Many organizations, once great, wither and die as a direct result of their deep entrenchment in the past. They discover too late that success isn’t about cracking the code once and then enjoying the spoils forever. Instead, it’s a moving target...

Part 2 of Being a Rural Change Maker

Tuesday, July 17, 2018

Deuel Area Development, Inc. July 17, 2018 Part 2 on Being a Rural Change Maker Enthusiasm seems to accompany the new thinking about the new rural. I am assuming that those that have lived in their communities forever do not even think about their quality of life and do not know what “new rural” concept is. I am just learning myself. At the recent RuralX Summit and as I stated in Part 1 in this series, the new rural is looking to thrive and not stress about their community growing. Some people have different definitions of “economic development”. In a recent conversation lately with...

Part 1 of Being a Rural Change Maker

Tuesday, July 10, 2018

Deuel Area Development, Inc. July 10, 2018 A note from Deuel Area Development: DADi recently adopted a new strategic plan for the next 5 years for Deuel County. We also joined Dakota Resources to become a member of their “Community Learning Network”. Through them we’ll be empowered by funding and other resources. More will be discussed in the following articles. Please take a minute and read the Opening Message from Joe Bartmann, new President of Dakota Resources at RuralX Summit held in Mitchell. The next couple weeks will be a series of articles on being a Rural Change Maker.) Part 1 of a Series...

DADi Business Grant Criteria

Monday, July 09, 2018

Business Grant Criteria DADi also has Business Grants available to help promote business. The criteria is as follows: 1) The business receiving the grant must be a Deuel County business. 2) An Application for a Business Grant must be filled out. 3) “Start-up’ businesses will take precedence in receiving grants. 4) Clientele need to demonstrate they have an understanding of the components of business planning and the corresponding importance of business plans to small business success. As a result, business plan coaching with the DADi Executive Director will be required as a component for technical assistance consideration. 5) Grants should ideally aid a business with Technical...

Crystal Springs Rodeo & City Wide Rummage Sales

Monday, June 18, 2018

Deuel Area Development, Inc June 19, 2018 Crystal Springs Rodeo Weekend & Clear Lake City-Wide Rummage Sales The Crystal Springs Rodeo Weekend will be off to a start again in just a day or two from writing this. Clear Lake citizens and businesses have gotten behind it and are promoting it as widely as they can. The Clear Lake City-Wide Rummage listings became available Tuesday morning at Maynards, the C-Store, DNB National Bank, The Cowboy and the City Office. The Clear Lake City-Wide Rummage Sales begin on Wednesday – Saturday, June 20th – 23rd, with two in Altamont. This year the City-Wide Rummage Sales are...

Agri-Tourism Intro

Tuesday, June 05, 2018

Deuel Area Development, Inc. June 5, 2018 Agri-Tourism in South Dakota Some times it’s difficult to see Economic Development moving at all. It takes quite a while for things to take place, for grants to be accepted or turned down, for committees to form and work together towards their goal. Many people want to see change and some do not. Many people want to see it when they snap their fingers and I learned when I took this position that it won’t happen that way. As director, I try to keep moving forward and many times work with those I network with in...

We Need to Move in Many Directions

Tuesday, May 15, 2018

Deuel Area Development, Inc. May 14, 2018 We Need to Move in Many Directions I do not know about you, but being energized and uplifted certainly helps a mood. This past week I attended a conference with about 105 other people that was held in De Smet SD. It was sponsored by SDSU Extension ENERGIZE! and was a fantastic event at a very affordable price for attendees. That’s the key for so many small rural communities. Also attending from Clear Lake was Deb Lessman for the 4-H program and Christina Magedanz for the Clear Lake Chamber. Talk to either of them to hear...

Govenor Daugaard's Think Big

Tuesday, April 17, 2018

Deuel Area Development, Inc. April 17, 2018 Governor Daugaard’s Message – Think Big This time of year there are always so many conferences, workshops, and webinars to register for. Sometimes I feel like, as a ED Director, that my brain is on overload in this information age we find ourselves in. I will forever be learning about this position and all the possibilities out there. I recently returned from the Governor’s Office of Economic Development Conference on “Think Big.” Governor Daugaard has led the charge these past two terms, where economic development is concerned. He’s done a marvelous job in being an ambassador...

When a Business Closes Their Doors

Monday, April 02, 2018

April 2, 2018 When A Business Closes Their Doors As the Director of Deuel Area Development and attending so many conferences on community and economic development, I wonder a great deal about what is ahead for the rural lifestyle and the counties we live in. A colleague of mine once shared what seemed like an outrageous number as to the number of Baby Boomers that will be retiring in the next 8-10 years. His statistic is that nearly 6,000 Baby Boomers will be retiring in the Brookings area alone. It’s going to affect them hugely in housing needs, and changing the landscape...

Working Together - Collaboration

Monday, March 19, 2018

Working Together – Collaboration Are we willing to view the world in a different way? The following are ways that our countys’ non-profit organizations can develop and sustain successful skills at collaborations; working with others to produce or create something together. The impact we have on our communities relates to how we work together—not only in Deuel County but outside our borders. The following are some effective rules of effective collaboration for all our organizations. Believe in the value of the work you do every day. Non-profits have never been more important to the well-being of our communities and society as they...

Those Big Box Stores

Tuesday, February 06, 2018

Those Big Box Stores I have wondered if it is about aging that I do not really care to walk to walk through “Big Box Stores” anymore; even with 'falling prices." The whole "Big Box" idea seems so impersonal and I'm not crazy about the size of these mega beasts. I don't mean to point fingers at some of these stores, I realize they provide many jobs and meet many budgets. I really do not want to walk from the dog food aisle to the back corner for a gallon of milk. I have a close friend that owned her own...

Creating a Healthy Environment & Looking for Opportunities

Tuesday, January 09, 2018

Creating an Healthy Environment and Looking for Opportunities Wrapping up another year with DADi, 2018 is already off and running. In his 1958 State of the Union address, Dwight D. Eisenhower relayed this message to our country’s citizen’s: “Our real problem, then is not our strength today; it is rather the vital necessity of action today to ensure our strength tomorrow.” There is an insurgence of energy lately in our communities in Deuel County; changes are being made, businesses starting, expansion happening. There have been inquiries from outside state businesses looking to relocate in our county. One of the key components that...

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