GROW South Dakota News & Events

Tuesday, September 12, 2023

Homan Hardware located in Faulkton, SD has recently expanded its retail store to help bring more products and services to Faulkton and the surrounding communities. Chad and Diana Homan started the hardware store back in 2014 but had been already offering a small variety of hardware items in their other business, Homan Welding, since 2007. They saw that the Faulkton area was in need of a full-service hardware and farm store to help keep more dollars locally spent. Therefore, Homan Hardware was created.In addition to the hardware store, Chad operates the welding and repair business and raises cattle. Diana was...

GROW South Dakota Empowers Sioux Falls CO.STARTER Graduates, Fostering Small Business Success and Diversity

Tuesday, July 25, 2023

Earlier this month, in the heart of Sioux Falls, GROW South Dakota’s Business Loan Coach, Rachael Gilbertson, attended the graduation ceremony for the 3rd Multi-Lingual CO.STARTERS Sioux Falls group in collaboration with Lutheran Social Services. The graduation ceremony was a celebration of achievement, resilience, and diversity. Current and future small business owners proudly shared their business pitches and success stories while representing the rich cultural tapestry of Sioux Falls. The CO.STARTER graduates emerged as inspirational figures, showcasing the limitless potential within the community. GROW South Dakota partners with Startup Sioux Falls through the SBA Community Navigator Pilot Program...

Success Story

Tuesday, July 25, 2023

GROW South Dakota is a non-profit organization that has been providing housing, community, and economic development programs and services in the state of South Dakota for more than 50 years in an effort to preserve our rural way of life. A part of what GROW South Dakota does is facilitate small business loans in order to promote success locally and throughout the region. The goal is to provide funding to our clients in order to help them secure the required equipment, space, inventory, and working capital necessary to conduct a successful business. GROW works to provide services tailored to each...

GROW South Dakota Supports Women-Owned Businesses

Thursday, July 20, 2023

Let's take a moment to celebrate the remarkable journey of a local entrepreneur and the incredible support provided by GROW South Dakota! Meet Joanne Bogus, the passionate founder of Cooks and Bakers Kitchen, an amazing culinary haven in Sioux Falls. Her dedication to her craft and determination to create a thriving business has truly left us inspired. But the story doesn't end there! Thanks to the invaluable assistance from GROW South Dakota, Joanne's dreams have been nurtured and transformed into reality. GROW South Dakota’s commitment to empowering women entrepreneurs played a pivotal role in providing Joanne with the resources,...

Enterprising Woman Intrapreneur Award

Tuesday, June 06, 2023

More than 200 women gathered on May 23 to celebrate accomplished businesswomen at the Pivot Great & Small: Celebrating Women in Business Awards Luncheon at the Spearfish Holiday Inn Convention Center. Lori Finnesand, the co-CEO of GROW South Dakota in Sisseton, was named the Enterprising Woman Intrapreneur Award. For the last 32 years, Finnesand has served rural communities through her work at GROW South Dakota. GROW South Dakota is comprised of three separate non-profit organizations. Finnesand has been the co-CEO of GROW South Dakota for 19 years, and she oversees all Economic Development programming. Under her leadership,...

Seven valuable tips for first-time homebuyers in South Dakota

Thursday, April 20, 2023

Buying a home for the first time can be overwhelming, as it can be a significant financial decision. But, with the right kind of guidance, research, and planning, it can be quite a fulfilling journey. If you are a first-time homebuyer in South Dakota, here are some tips to help you make the right decisions: Set up your budget: Before you start house hunting, it is crucial to have a budget in place. You should have a figure in mind for how much you can afford to spend on a house. Try to stick to this number...

The importance of Business and Housing Education in South Dakota

Tuesday, April 18, 2023

Business and housing education are crucial for individuals and communities in South Dakota, USA. With the proper education and resources, individuals can make informed decisions regarding homeownership and financial management, leading to long-term stability and growth. Here, we shall explore the importance of business and housing education in South Dakota and the services offered by GROW South Dakota. Education is key for prospective homeowners For individuals looking to become homeowners, education is key. Homeownership is a significant investment, and home purchasing should not be taken lightly. By receiving pre-purchase counseling, individuals can better understand the home-buying process and...

Deutsch named Young Entrepreneur of the Year

Monday, April 17, 2023

Each year, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) honors small businesses and entrepreneurs across the country for their community leadership and achievements. In conjunction with that, the SBA South Dakota District Office has selected Fallon Deutsch of Langford as the Young Entrepreneur of the Year. Fallon is the owner of Distinctly Drey, an online boutique that offers a variety of different clothing, tops, bottoms, outerwear, loungewear, clothing for toddlers, and so much more. Fallon stays on top of fashion trends and changes her clothing with the seasons. She frequently runs sales, and one of these sales includes the "Cyber Monday Mystery Bags"...

Duenwald named Minority-Owned Small Business of the Year

Monday, April 17, 2023

Each year, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) honors small businesses and entrepreneurs across the country for their community leadership and achievements. In conjunction with that, the SBA South Dakota District Office has selected Dan Duenwald of Clark as the Minority-Owned Small Business of the Year. Duenwald was raised in Hoven, South Dakota by Bob and Olivia Duenwald. He married Clarice Bollinger in 1974 and has four children, two girls, and two boys. Dan started driving a bus in August of 1985 with the Conde School, he drove with them for ten years. In August of 1996, Dan made the...

Poverty Simulation to be held

Monday, April 17, 2023

Could you survive a month in poverty? 107,500 South Dakotans, 34,000 of whom are children under the age of 18, live in poverty every day. Many more have incomes above the poverty line, but their incomes are still low enough to qualify for programs like Food Stamps and Medicaid. The recent economic downturn has seen unemployment rates rise and the use of emergency food pantries increase. It is difficult for those of us who have enough to truly understand the situations that families living in poverty experience every day – the decisions they have to make, and the...

GROW South Dakota launches new Digital Literacy program

Friday, April 14, 2023

GROW South Dakota has released a new program called Digital Literacy. In this program, GROW South Dakota is offering FREE options to renew or expand your knowledge of the digital world. There are multiple courses to fit a variety of needs and we can also work with you on a one-on-one basis, if you prefer. Online education is provided through the NorthStar program, which offers classes on Basic Computer Skills, Internet Basics, Using Email, Windows, Mac OS, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, Google Docs, Social Media, Information Literacy, and Career Search Skills. These classes are self-paced and can be...

Homeless Count

Wednesday, December 21, 2022

This count provides a community with a unique snapshot of their unsheltered homeless population as this data is generally not provided for by other measures. On Tuesday, January 24, 2023, South Dakota Housing for the Homeless Consortium – SD-500 Statewide Continuum of Care will be conducting the Annual Point-In-Time Homeless (PIT) Count and Housing Inventory Chart (HIC) activities. These activities are required by US Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) nationwide as part of the Continuum of Care Program. The information is collected across the country and reported to the US Congress. The information is also used for measuring progress,...

Rural Champion Award

Wednesday, December 21, 2022

GROW South Dakota’s CEO, Marcia Erickson, was one of two individuals that received the 2022 Rural Champion Award at the Rural LISC Conference in Washington D.C. This award goes to individuals who have helped to elevate, amplify, and advocate for the unique needs of our rural communities. For over 30 years, Marcia has demonstrated outstanding leadership and a commitment to helping rural communities across the state of South Dakota.

Successful Digital Navigator Class

Wednesday, December 21, 2022

GROW SD along with the Sisseton Library, with funding from Rural LISC and Wells Fargo, hosted two video calling classes the week of December 5th at the Sisseton Library. Over the course of two days, a total of 12 participants successfully installed and navigated Zoom, FaceTime, Facebook, Messenger, and Snapchat. GROW SD is happy to help people connect for the Holidays! If you or anyone you know needs help with digital navigating please contact Olivia at (605)698-7654 x 122 or email olivia@growsd.org.

A Path to a Better Future

Thursday, June 09, 2022

They say when it rains, it pours. For one GROW South Dakota client, it was a torrential downpour! First, his car broke down, so he didn’t have enough money to fix it because he had to pay his monthly bills. Then he nearly lost his job because he didn’t have transportation to get to work. The last drop in the bucket was an emergency stent surgery. It was a dire situation. “I was very concerned about the cascading crisis of potentially becoming homeless, losing my car, and possibly losing my job,” he stated. “I really didn’t have anyone to...

NeighborWorks Week

Thursday, June 09, 2022

In honor of NeighborWorks Week, staff from NeighborWorks Amercia came to visit the staff of GROW SD. They received a tour around the town of Siseton to highlight the work done by GROW SD. GROW SD staff provided sidewalk chalk and treats to area daycares and after school programs. NeighborWorks staff and GROW SD staff attended the South Dakota Native Homeownership Coalition convening in Flandreau, where Lori Moen was elected to the first official board of directors. https://youtu.be/_x9INlqgdjE

Women in Leadership

Wednesday, March 31, 2021

Committed, inspired, dedicated, empowered. These are just a few words that describe the journey taken by the leadership within GROW South Dakota. More impressive, is the chief leadership positions are held by four women with a combined total of over 100 years of experience with GROW SD. This dedication to persevere through decades of challenges, growth, and change has allowed GROW SD to become one of the nation’s leading organizations in their industry. Marcia Erickson, Co-Chief Executive Officer, has been with GROW SD for over 32 years and Lori Finnesand, Co-Chief Executive Officer, has been with GROW SD for...

Celebrating Women’s History Month

Monday, March 15, 2021

In recognition of Women's History Month, GROW South Dakota is commemorating and celebrating the vital role of women in American history. One of the leaders we celebrate is JoAnn Schaefers, Faulkton, and previously from Polo. JoAnn Schaefers has served on the Board of Directors for GROW South Dakota for 47 years. Schaefers served on the Northeast South Dakota Community Action Program (NESDCAP also known as GROW South Dakota) Board of Directors for 10 years, including a number of terms on the State Community Action Board. Following her tenure on the NESDCAP Board she began serving on the Northeast South Dakota Economic Corporation (NESDEC also known...

News & Events

A Half-Century of Serving South Dakotans