Articles From the Director

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 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…   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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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   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...