GROW SD in the News

Loan Supports Young Entrepreneur’s Daycare Dreams in Philip

Tuesday, July 10, 2018

A young entrepreneur is pursuing her dream of owning her own daycare business, thanks to the help of a loan from GROW South Dakota. Hallie Konst was born and raised in Philip, South Dakota. She has always loved children and caring for people. She considered pursuing a teaching degree but opted to study business management because she thought it would translate to a higher paying job after graduation. In the end, she figured out a way to combine her passion with her schooling by purchasing an existing Philip daycare in 2017 and opening Konst Kids Daycare. The daycare facility in Philip has been...

GROW SD Grant Supports Faulkton Elevator Mural

Monday, July 09, 2018

GROW South Dakota has received a grant that will support a unique mural going up in Faulkton this summer. Australian artist Guido van Helten, who has created large murals on public buildings around the world, will be painting images representative of the people of the Faulkton area on the grain elevator there. GROW SD received a grant from a Rural Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) program meant to support arts and culture projects that help drive economic development. Van Helten was recruited to Faulkton to paint the Agtegra elevator in order to create a one-of-a-kind South Dakota artwork in the town...

Unique Board Structure Guides GROW South Dakota

Monday, July 09, 2018

GROW South Dakota is not a typical nonprofit organization. Governing an affiliation of three separate, independent nonprofits with complementary missions and shared staff can be a challenge, but the boards of directors of the three agencies are up to the task. Each organization has its own board of directors. NESDCAP, founded as part of President Lyndon Johnson’s War on Poverty, has a 15-member board, divided into groups serving from three sets of counties in the 17-county service area. By law, board members must represent low-income, private, or public official constituencies. NESDEC also has a 15-member board representing its 22-county service area....

GROW SD Celebrates 40th Anniversary with Business Loan Special

Tuesday, June 26, 2018

In 1978, GROW South Dakota made its first business loans. In the 40 years since then, the agency has had significant impact on businesses and...

Celebrating Homeownership Month

Tuesday, June 05, 2018

June is National Homeownership Month, a time to recognize how owning a home relates not just to achieving the American Dream, but also to providing...

GROW SD Celebrates Community during NeighborWorks Week

Tuesday, June 05, 2018

During NeighborWorks Week, GROW South Dakota will host two open houses on June 6, 11 AM to 6 PM, with lunch being served 11 AM...

Celebrating Homeownership in June

Monday, June 04, 2018

June is National Homeownership Month. It’s a time to celebrate the positive effect homebuying can have on household wealth and neighborhood stability as well as...

Facilitating Strong Communities, Celebrating NeighborWorks Week

Thursday, May 31, 2018

“We cannot seek achievement for ourselves and forget about progress and prosperity for our community … Our ambitions must be broad enough to include the...

Encouraging Homegrown Businesses

Monday, May 14, 2018

Small businesses can have a big impact. Did you know that two out of three new private-sector jobs in the United States since the Great...

Encouraging Homegrown Businesses

Monday, April 30, 2018

Small businesses can have a big impact. Did you know that two out of three new private-sector jobs in the United States since the Great...

Celebrating Community Action Month

Monday, April 30, 2018

In May, community action agencies nationwide observe Community Action Month, a period set aside to recognize the contributions that nonprofits, volunteers, and other committed citizens...

NESDEC Board Member Sought

Monday, April 16, 2018

The Northeast South Dakota Economic Corporation (NESDEC) dba GROW South Dakota is seeking a board candidate for a Low Income Representative on the Board of...

An Opportune Time to Improve Financial Literacy

Monday, April 16, 2018

A recent survey by GOBankingRates indicates 57 percent of Americans have less than $1000 in savings. Without an adequate buffer of emergency funds, unexpected expenses...

Down Payment Funds Deploying Ahead of Schedule

Wednesday, April 04, 2018

GROW South Dakota has received $4.1 million in funding to support down payment assistance for families with low to moderate income. In April 2017, GROW...

Bringing Homeowners Warmth, Safety and Savings

Thursday, March 01, 2018

Taking steps to weatherize and increase the energy efficiency of a home can result in serious long-term savings. The average American homeowner that makes weatherization...

Tax Law Changes Demand Attention

Friday, February 16, 2018

by Kelly Weaver, Small Business Development Center Regional Director For most small business owners, changes in the tax law take a back seat to the day...

GROW SD Receives State Farm® Grant to Support Small Business

Friday, February 09, 2018

The Northeast South Dakota Economic Corporation (NESDEC) dba GROW South Dakota (GROW SD) recently received a Good Neighbor Citizenship Grant from State Farm for its...

Aberdeen to Host 2018 SD Women’s Business Conference

Wednesday, February 07, 2018

On March 9, 2018, women business leaders from across the state will gather in Aberdeen, South Dakota for The Women’s Business Conference. The one-day will,...

Improve the Air Quality in Your Home

Wednesday, February 07, 2018

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, indoor air quality is very important. Poor indoor air quality is currently one of the top five leading factors...

Boosting homeownership rates

Monday, January 29, 2018

After the housing crash, the U.S. homeownership rate fell to 50-year low. The economy has taken a while to turn around but Census Bureau data...

Promoting stable housing

Monday, January 22, 2018

One of the big benefits of owning a home is a stable living environment for children. Studies have shown that safe, secure housing improves children’s...

Homebuyer 101

Monday, January 15, 2018

Are you ready to buy your first home? This is a question GROW South Dakota wants to help you answer. Our knowledgeable staff can work with...

NESDEC Provides Financing to Dakota Provisions

Thursday, January 04, 2018

NESDEC Provides Financing to Dakota Provisions The Northeast South Dakota Economic Corporation (NESDEC), dba GROW South Dakota, recently received a $780,800 Community Economic Development grant from...

Homeless Count to be held January 23, 2018

Thursday, January 04, 2018

Homeless Count to be held January 23, 2018 Every year, the South Dakota Housing Development Authority conducts a one-day count of homeless persons in the state....

Homebuyer Coaching is a Success

Sunday, December 31, 2017

Homebuyer Coaching is a Success GROW SD received grants from the Citi Foundation and State Farm to support programs to help prepare people to buy homes...

Rental Property Repairs Available

Monday, December 04, 2017

Whether it is for a new roof or a new bathroom, landlords looking to improve their properties have a great opportunity. Rental property owners can...

GROW SD Uses State Farm® Grant to Prepare Homebuyers

Wednesday, November 01, 2017

GROW SD Uses State Farm® Grant to Prepare Homebuyers New homebuyers in South Dakota are more prepared for homeownership thanks to GROW South Dakota’s Preparing Homebuyers...

Kelly Weaver Recognized for Providing Exceptional Service

Thursday, October 12, 2017

News announcement from Small Business Development Center & America's SBDC ABERDEEN, S.D - Kelly Weaver, regional director of the South Dakota Small Business Development Center in...

Looking Towards the Future

Tuesday, October 10, 2017

When Lindsey Jennings graduated from cosmetology school at Lake Area Tech, she started her career at a JC Penny’s salon. She worked there for five...

BIG Idea Competition Celebrates 10th Anniversary with Special Speaker and Entrepreneurship Survey

Tuesday, October 10, 2017

The BIG Idea Competition—the business idea contest for South Dakota high school students—is celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2017 with a few new wrinkles. The...

Down Payment Loan Makes New Home a Possibility

Monday, September 18, 2017

Jeff and Judy lived in a Sioux Falls apartment and had been planning to buy a home for years. They found a place they liked,...

GROW SD Provides Lasting Improvements

Thursday, August 10, 2017

A disabled man was having problems with his house to the point that the city had issued citations requiring him to make improvements by a...

Sisseton Landmark Selected for Art Installation

Friday, March 31, 2017

Markus Tracy is preparing his canvas for one of the public art project to be completed on Veterans Avenue in Sisseton in preparation for the community's 125th celebration...

GROW SD Receives State Farm® Grant to Prepare Homebuyers

Friday, March 31, 2017

GROW South Dakota recently received a Good Neighbor Citizenship Grant from State Farm for its Preparing Homebuyers project. The purpose of the project is to...

GROW SD Staff Earn Professional Designation

Tuesday, February 07, 2017

Sandy Leiseth and Wade Veflin with GROW South Dakota received certification as a Housing Development Finance Professional (HDFP) from the National Development Council (NDC). HDFP...

Energy Assistance Available

Monday, February 06, 2017

The Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) helps eligible South Dakotans Pay for home heating costs. Energy assistance can be applied for from October 1 through...

Is Small Specialty Retailing Coming Into Its Own?

Thursday, January 19, 2017

by Kelly Weaver, Small Business Development Center Regional Director According to some retail experts, we have entered into a new phase of retailing where customers are...

GROW SD Celebrates Anniversary by Giving Back and Paying Forward

Tuesday, January 03, 2017

In 2016, GROW South Dakota celebrated its 50th anniversary of the establishment of NESDCAP and the beginning of its mission of serving the people of...

GROW SD To Participate in the 2017 Homeless Count

Tuesday, January 03, 2017

Every year, the South Dakota Housing Development Authority conducts a one-day count of homeless persons in the state. The count is mandated by HUD. This...

2016 Annual Report

Tuesday, January 03, 2017

Duenwald Transportation

Wednesday, December 28, 2016

Dan Duenwald knows transportation. He had been in the business twenty seven years when he decided to take a risk and start his own business....

GROW South Dakota Pays-It-Forward to the Eureka Thrift Store

Monday, December 26, 2016

Successful communities depend on organizations and people that make things happen. Sometimes organizations make things happen for other organizations. The Eureka Thrift Store is one...

Marshall County VFW Receives Pay-It-Forward Donation

Thursday, December 22, 2016

America as a whole owes a debt of gratitude for the service of its veterans who have served the country. The same applies at the...

GROW South Dakota Pays-It-Forward to Britton Lions Club

Wednesday, December 14, 2016

Successful communities are made up of many people and organizations who contribute to the overall good of their hometown. Service clubs are the backbone of...

GROW South Dakota Pays-It-Forward to the Webster Library

Tuesday, December 13, 2016

Libraries are important to communities that want to get ahead. As more and more information becomes available, libraries remain one of the primary places where...

GROW South Dakota Pays-It-Forward to Miller Helping Hands

Wednesday, December 07, 2016

Successful communities depend on organizations that look out for people in need. Miller Helping Hands is one of those. The food pantry and thrift store...

South Dakota Community Foundation Awards $10,000 Grant to Northeast South Dakota Economic Corporation

Thursday, December 01, 2016

The South Dakota Community Foundation (SDCF) has awarded a $10,000 South Dakota Fund grant to Northeast South Dakota Economic Corporation (NESDEC). Since 1978, NESDEC has...

GROW South Dakota Pays-It-Forward to Langford Daycare

Monday, November 28, 2016

Childcare is an obvious priority for parents and is becoming more and more important for communities. For two-working parent or single-parent families, daycare is a...

Weatherization Day Celebrated on October 30th

Monday, October 31, 2016

Each year, October 30 is recognized as Weatherization Day. This day marks 40 years of the weatherization program and is an annual opportunity to bring...

Certified Navigators to Assist During Open Enrollment

Monday, October 31, 2016

With open enrollment for 2017 under away, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), announced $63 million in Navigator grant awards to returning and...

GROW SD Featured in NeighborWorks America Book

Sunday, October 30, 2016

NeighborWorks America recently published NeighborWorks Works: Practical Solutions from America’s Community Development Network. The book, published in December 2016, inlcudes GROW South Dakota. The book consists of case...

Customer Service: What to Do When Things Go Wrong

Monday, October 24, 2016

by Kelly Weaver, Small Business Development Center Regional Director As we embark on the busiest retail season of the year, a focus on customer service is...

GROW South Dakota Pays-It-Forward to the Groton Baseball/Softball Program

Monday, October 24, 2016

Providing recreational opportunities helps build communities in many ways. It develops personal fitness as well as team-building, competition, and cooperation skills. The Groton Youth Baseball/Softball...

Britton Baseball and Softball Program Receives Pay-It-Forward Donation

Friday, October 07, 2016

Community development builds the strengths and resources of a community in many ways. A key resource to build in any community is its youth. The...

Local Entrepreneur Celebrates Women's Small Business Month

Tuesday, October 04, 2016

Janelle Swanson is an entrepreneur and has always found a way to get paid for something she is passionate about. This time, it was animals....

GROW South Dakota Pays-It-Forward to the Eden Fire Department

Thursday, September 22, 2016

All communities do their best to maintain safety and security and to prepare for the possibility of something going wrong. Fire departments can seem to...

Beautification Projects Take Shape in Sisseton

Monday, September 19, 2016

A soaring bald eagle will soon grace the north wall of the former Boys and Girls Club on Oak Street. GROW South Dakota, which owns...

Mark Nelson Awarded the Heart of Dakota

Friday, September 16, 2016

Congratulations to Mark Nelson, GROW South Dakota Loan Officer, on being name a Heart of Dakota recipient by the Britton Journal. Mark was one of...

GROW South Dakota Pays-It-Forward to Fort Pierre Economic Development

Tuesday, September 13, 2016

For decades, South Dakota’s rural communities have seen the need to be proactive about sustaining growth. Since 1986, the Fort Pierre Economic Development Corporation has...

Regional Roundtable Serves Northeastern South Dakota

Thursday, September 08, 2016

Yesterday, the Regional Roundtable welcomed the Governor’s Office of Economic Development Commissioner Scott Stern. The recently appointed Commissioner addressed the group and took time to answer...

GROW South Dakota Participates in Media Relations Program

Wednesday, September 07, 2016

Early this summer, NeigborWorks America notified GROW SD that it had been selected to participate in its regional media relations program. In the program, the...

GROW South Dakota Enhances Board Governance with $10,000 Grant from NeighborWorks America

Tuesday, September 06, 2016

GROW South Dakota has received a $10,000 grant from NeighborWorks America to recognize its work building a stronger and more effective board of directors. Effective boards...

Heartland Region Backpack Program Receives $50 Pay-It-Forward Donation

Monday, August 22, 2016

Strong communities cannot be built without supporting their most vulnerable citizens, especially the youngest. With that mission in mind, the Heartland Region Backpack Program provides...

Preparing for the New Overtime Rule Change

Monday, August 15, 2016

by Kelly Weaver, Small Business Development Center Regional Director So you’ve heard about the new overtime rules going into place, right? If not, the key change...

Sisseton Swimming Pool Association Received Pay-It-Forward Donation

Thursday, August 04, 2016

Recreation and fitness are key parts of any community, and the people who provide opportunities for residents to play and get in shape make important...

South Dakota Community Needs

Wednesday, August 03, 2016

Every few years, GROW South Dakota conducts a survey of South Dakota residents to help it understand how citizens view their state and how GROW...

Ensuring Community Success through Housing

Tuesday, August 02, 2016

Quality housing is scarce in rural South Dakota and the solution to create more housing is challenging to solve. One small town in northeast South...

“Picturing South Dakota” Facebook Photo Contest Winners Named

Monday, August 01, 2016

GROW South Dakota, the statewide community development nonprofit, has announced the winners of its “Picturing South Dakota” photo contest, which invited South Dakotans to submit...

GROW South Dakota Pays-It-Forward to the Aberdeen Area Humane Society

Wednesday, July 13, 2016

Most think of community development as being about building the strengths and creating opportunities for the people of a community. While that’s usually the case,...

New Overtime Rules to Affect 9,000 South Dakotans and Their Employers This Year

Tuesday, July 12, 2016

by Kelly Weaver, Small Business Development Center Regional Director In one of the more significant changes of labor laws in recent history, small businesses could be...

Sisseton Area Partners for Progress Receive Pay-It-Forward Donation

Thursday, July 07, 2016

Successful communities depend on volunteers who care about their hometowns and make things happen. Sisseton Area Partners for Progress (SAPP) is made up of those...

GROW SD Earns FHA Designation

Wednesday, July 06, 2016

GROW South Dakota has received approval from the Federal Housing Administration to provide down payment closing cost assistance to FHA-qualified homebuyers. The US Department of...

GROW South Dakota Launches “Picturing South Dakota” Facebook Photo Contest

Tuesday, July 05, 2016

GROW South Dakota, a statewide community development nonprofit, is launching “Picturing South Dakota,” a photo contest on its Facebook page. Beginning July 15, the agency...

GROW South Dakota Pays-It-Forward to Roncalli Junior Achievement

Wednesday, June 22, 2016

Youth are the future of any community; that’s a given. But the future won’t be bright if attention isn’t paid to youth today. By bringing...

GROW South Dakota Pays-It-Forward to Heartland 4-H Rodeo

Thursday, June 09, 2016

The purpose of community development is to build a community’s strengths and resources. One of the most important resources of any community is its youth,...

GROW South Dakota Pays-It-Forward to the Webster Diamond Club

Wednesday, June 08, 2016

When we think about our own recreation, we tend to think of something that’s enjoyable and relaxing and don’t consider the community development aspect. Providing...

GROW South Dakota Pays-It-Forward to Pheasants Forever Youth Hunt

Tuesday, June 07, 2016

Pheasant hunting is the national pastime of South Dakota, but it’s not just a recreational activity. The bird represents a major part of the state’s...

GROW South Dakota Pays-It-Forward to the Sisseton Tribal Elderly Program

Monday, June 06, 2016

Communities that are moving forward don’t forget where they’ve been or who got them there. While some might overlook their elderly citizens, the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate...

Business Loans Available from GROW SD Current 3.99% Special

Tuesday, May 31, 2016

GROW South Dakota, the statewide community and economic development nonprofit, has invested more than $64 million in small businesses in South Dakota over 50 years,...

Celebrating National Homeownership Month

Thursday, May 26, 2016

June is National Homeownership Month, a time to recognize how owning a home relates not just to achieving the American Dream, but also to providing...

GROW SD Pays-It-Forward and Gives Back for NeighborWorks Week

Thursday, May 26, 2016

Across the country, residents and volunteers are doing a variety of projects as part of a weeklong celebration of neighborhood revitalization activities nationally recognized as...

Langford Summer Rec Program Receives Pay-It-Forward Donation

Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Community development is fundamentally about building the strengths and resources of a community, and it can occur in a variety of ways. One of the...

Family Crisis Center Receives Pay-It-Forward Donation

Wednesday, May 18, 2016

GROW South Dakota has been helping communities for fifty years and to celebrate each staff and board member has been given $50 to donate to...

GROW South Dakota Pays-It-Forward to the Aberdeen Library Project

Wednesday, May 18, 2016

Forward-thinking communities need places to think. Information is more valuable than ever these days, and libraries still remain one of the best places for people...

Future Business Leaders of America Receives Pay-It-Forward Donation

Monday, May 02, 2016

GROW South Dakota has been helping communities for fifty years, and to celebrate each staff and board member has been given $50 to donate to...

May is Community Action Month-Observing 50 Years of Community Action Service to South Dakota

Monday, May 02, 2016

On August 20, 1964 President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Economic Opportunity Act which created a variety of programs, including Community Action Agencies, as part...

GROW Celebrates 50th Anniversary with Gala

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

On April 7, nearly 180 people attended the Gala for GROW South Dakota celebrating its 50th anniversary as a Community Action Agency. GROW SD invited...

GROW Celebrates Community Action Month

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

In May, community action agencies nationwide observe Community Action Month, a period set aside to recognize the contributions that nonprofits, volunteers, and other committed citizens...

Small Business Week Highlights GROW SD Economic Development

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

The U.S. Small Business Administration announced that May 1-7 is National Small Business Week featuring the theme “Dream Big, Start Small.” Supporting small business has been...

Staff Pay-It-Forward to Sisseton Youth Baseball Association

Thursday, April 21, 2016

GROW South Dakota has been helping communities for fifty years and to celebrate each staff and board member has been given $50 to donate to...

2015 BUSH PRIZE Winner Video

Monday, April 11, 2016

On November 10, 2015, GROW South Dakota was one of eight organizations in the Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota region to be awarded the...

GROW South Dakota Pays-It-Forward to the Britton Youth Wrestling Program

Friday, February 05, 2016

Community development aims to build strengths and resources, and it happens in many ways. Vital to any community is its youth, and building up youth...

Dakota Dream Savings Funds - A Dream Come True

Tuesday, February 02, 2016

The process of purchasing a home can be an exciting and rewarding time; but are you aware of the resources available to help you navigate...

Bariki International Market

Monday, October 26, 2015

Edwin Obara, Owner; Sioux Falls, South Dakota In April of 2015, after years of saving his own money, Edwin opened Bariki International Market in Sioux Falls,...

Family Crisis Center is Thriving

Friday, October 02, 2015

The Family Crisis Center (FCC) is a non-profit corporation that provides education, awareness, and temporary housing for domestic violence and assault victims in Spink, Faulk,...

Home Network

Friday, July 31, 2015

When Sarah Tharp decided to take over her family business, it was a big undertaking. Her dad invested a lot of time and effort into...

GROW South Dakota Launches “Picturing South Dakota” Facebook Photo Contest

Tuesday, July 05, 2016

GROW SD in the News

Success Story: Dakota Dream Savings Funds