School Projects

GROW South Dakota built and renovated two schools with two additional schools in progress to meet a critical education need for underserved populations in distressed areas of South Dakota. The project used an innovative financial structure by creating Limited Liability Companies (LLC) that utilized New Market Tax Credits (NMTC), a program designed to attract private investment in community and economic development efforts in distressed communities. The LLCs were able to build/renovate the Rockyford and Batesland elementary schools and are currently working on Wolf Creek elementary school and a high school career and technical education center. All schools are on the Lakota Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in Oglala Lakota County, South Dakota. Under the arrangement, the LLCs lease the facilities to the school district for a period of time. Both Rockyford and Batesland schools have been transferred back to the school district. Without the financial structure offered by GROW South Dakota, the school district would not otherwise be able to access the NMTC funds. The school projects increase educational resources for students and also create and retain hundreds of jobs in the Oglala Lakota County School District.