News & Events
This page highlights the most recent news about GROW South Dakota and our surrounding communities!
Results
Wednesday, October 15, 2025
Lauren, Owner of Oldies Grill and Lounge in Bowdle, SD, took on the challenge of completing and passing 10 digital literacy classes through GROW South Dakota’s Learn to Earn a Device Program. Through this initiative, Lauren not only gained valuable digital skills but also received a Chromebook—a tool that isalready making a meaningful impact on Oldies Grill and Lounge."I really appreciate the opportunity to participate and gain new skills," Lauren shared, reflecting on the value found in the digital literacy courses. "This device will be incredibly helpful for running my business," Lauren added, noting how essential it will be in...
Wednesday, October 15, 2025
With the challenge of safe and affordable housing affecting many communities, William was determined to make a difference in the town where he grew up. He reached out to GROW South Dakota to inquire about a business loan to purchase and renovate rental homes throughout the community of Sisseton, South Dakota.Thanks to funding received through GROW South Dakota’s business lending program, William successfully acquired and renovated multiple rental properties within the community. The financing not only supported the purchase and improvements of these homes, but also enabled him to generate additional income. This extra income has allowed William to expand...
Wednesday, October 15, 2025
When Hannah applied for a mortgage loan through traditional financing, she was denied. Despite having an established credit line, her fiancé had no credit history, and the property they hoped to purchase—a farm site—made securing a loan even more difficult.Thankfully, the loan officer referred Hannah to the housing lending team at GROW South Dakota. They were able to receive homebuyer education and mortgage assistance tailored to their situation. With this support, Hannah and her fiancé were able to overcome the barriers standing in their way and successfully purchase their dream home.Not only did they achieve homeownership, but they also gained...
Thursday, April 10, 2025
In South Dakota, winters can be brutal, especially for older homes that struggle to keep the cold at bay. For Mary and Roger, living in a house built in 1941, the challenge of keeping warm and managing high electricity bills was a constant struggle. Drafty walls, doors, and windows, with a lack of proper insulation, made every winter a battle.Seeking relief, Mary contacted GROW South Dakota, hoping to find a solution. The weatherization crew conducted a thorough assessment of the home and implemented energy-efficient upgrades. From installing insulation to addressing repairs and even providing a brand-new refrigerator, their efforts transformed...
Tuesday, August 20, 2024
Starting a business can be overwhelming, and financing is just one piece of the puzzle. Fortunately, GROW South Dakota has knowledgeable staff who are ready to help you get started. When Derek Diedrich, owner of Fun Time Rentals, was planning his venture, he sought advice from a local banker who recommended the GROW South Dakota business loan program. Reflecting on their journey, Derek shared, "We had never owned our own business. Now, we own two: Fun Time Rentals and Fun Time Adventures." He added, "We started as a seasonal rental company offering just boats, campers, and jet skis. Now, we've...
Tuesday, November 21, 2023
It was a journey filled with ups and downs, but Alexis's dream of purchasing her first home became a reality with the help of GROW South Dakota. Her story is a testament to the organization's commitment to supporting individuals on their path to homeownership.Alexis had always dreamed of having a place to call her own, a space where she could build memories, and a house she could truly make into a home. However, it was a challenge to save for a down payment and navigate the complex home-buying process.That is when she discovered GROW South Dakota and its down payment...
Tuesday, October 17, 2023
October not only paints the world in hues of autumn but also serves as a celebration of resilience, innovation, and passion. It's National Women's Small Business Month, a time to recognize the remarkable achievements of women entrepreneurs who shape economies and communities. In the heart of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, two extraordinary women, Sarah Roe and Erin Vande Lune, stand out as beacons of inspiration through their thriving venture, Flourish Wellness & Birth Co. Their journey to success not only showcases their dedication but also highlights the crucial role played by Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) like GROW South Dakota...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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
Wednesday, April 06, 2022
Being a business owner can be an exciting, yet stressful venture, which can come with its own set of risks and rewards. Having already been in business for 15 years, Ashley Cleveland, owner of Simple Pleasures Massage Therapy in Sisseton, SD, knows this firsthand. Once Ashley got word that the salon she rented space from would be closing, she knew she had a decision to make.
Ultimately, Ashley chose to relocate her business to her home, which also meant that she would need more space. Ashley contacted GROW South Dakota to discuss financing options.
She was able to...
Wednesday, April 06, 2022
Dakota Grain & Salvage specializes in fast and effective grain salvage and clean up services. Their pneumatic systems are able to clean up the toughest jobs. Services include anything from cleaning up grain, fertilizer or any commodity left in bins or storage. Helping with fire, floods, spills, mold, sour grain, and even infestation. In addition, their service area is quite vast from being able to travel all over the Midwest and West Coast. No job is too much for this determined, experienced, and trained team of professionals.
Prior to the success of the company, Bridgette (Co-Owner) worked at a...
Wednesday, April 06, 2022
Tired of throwing her money away on rent for a small trailer, Dana Hansen was ready to become a homeowner. But, she needed some guidance. GROW South Dakota worked with her to make a plan to save money and improve her credit. They provided her with a homebuyer education class at no charge and assisted her through the whole process of purchasing a house.
She stated, “They are all-out amazing people and helped me every step of the way. I am so happy in my home.” Dana now is saving money because her monthly mortgage payment is cheaper than...
Wednesday, February 09, 2022
GROW South Dakota would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every lending partner that utilized the Down Payment /Closing Cost program through our agency.
Wednesday, November 24, 2021
Interposed between the furor of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Small Business Saturday is an opportunity for South Dakota shoppers to stand by the local business community and in turn, give a boost to the local economy.
Small Business Saturday is a day dedicated to celebrating small businesses and encouraging consumers to shop at local establishments. Now in its 12th year, Small Business Saturday falls on November 27. American Express started Small Business Saturday in 2010 in the midst of the recession to give small businesses a boost. The movement gained significant traction in 2011, when the Senate unanimously...
Monday, November 01, 2021
The month of October, that just went by, is celebrated as Women in Small Business Month - honoring women-owned businesses (11.6 million and counting) around the country. According to a 2020 report by the National Women’s Business Council, 42% of all US businesses are represented by women owners. With 9.4 million employees and $1.9 trillion in revenue, we observe that women-owned businesses are concentrated in industries such as child daycare, private households, beauty salons, fitness, and home healthcare services.
Celebrating Women Business Owners In South Dakota
For most women owners being successful in business means not subscribing to set expectations, but instead, defining their...
-1%20(1).jpg)
Wednesday, October 20, 2021
For a business to succeed, financing plays a huge role in the entrepreneurial landscape. GROW South Dakota was formed to provide housing, community, and economic development statewide. It has had a broad and lasting impact on the small business community. Through its business lending program, it continues to serve the communities of South Dakota by providing technical assistance and small business loans. Over the years, GROW South Dakota has deployed 2,298 business loans to 1,413 businesses, financing over $89.5 million.
Any new or existing business in the GROW South Dakota service area may qualify for a loan. With loan...
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 30 years. ...
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...
Monday, March 15, 2021
Marcia Erickson, GROW South Dakota CEO, recently became President of the Board of Directors for the National NeighborWorks Association (NNA). She will serve a two-year term. NNA is a national membership-based trade association for NeighborWorks America chartered organizations that are providing over $9.3 billion of affordable housing and community development across the nation. NNA provides national advocacy for policy and funding for these organizations as well as membership benefits that either reduce operating costs or increase revenues.
Marcia has been with GROW South Dakota for more than 30 years and became the CEO in 2005. Marcia has a broad...
Wednesday, January 20, 2021
I was living on fixed income, in an old home with very little insulation; even setting my thermostat to 78 degrees did not warm the house up. My daughter looked online and found GROW SD and helped me apply for their Weatherization Assistance Program.
GROW SD completed an energy audit on the home, which helped to determine what work was needed on the home. Insulation was added in the attic, basement and walls; light bulbs were replaced. The dryer vent and bathroom exhaust fan were fixed, plus much more. Because of GROW SD, my house is warmer and peaceful...
.jpg)
Monday, June 08, 2020
Helping Those Who Help Others
Moving to a new state to be closer to children and grandchildren, one Washington state pastor found out it takes a lot of money to purchase a house. He cashed out his 401K but that wasn’t enough for the down payment. His bank suggested he contact GROW South Dakota for assistance. Through the down payment assistance program, the pastor and his wife were able to purchase a home in a central location near their family. After years of renting, they now will be building equity in a home of their dreams.
Finding That...
Monday, June 08, 2020
During NeighborWorks Week, June 6-13, GROW South Dakota and other NeighborWorks organizations across the country will host several events that educate, train and inform. GROW South Dakota will provide a virtual platform this year to bring awareness about the programs we have to offer including home ownership options and economic development. Other activities this week include a Regional Economic Roundtable for economic development leaders to come together to provide development opportunities and solutions, and GROW SD will host a QuickBooks online tutorial. "NeighborWorks America provides a very impactful role in partnering with non-profits across the country. NWA, along with its many...
Monday, May 18, 2020
“Because of this program, I no longer have to worry about C02 poisoning. I have adequate heat and no wind blowing through the windows and doors. For the first time, I don’t have to walk to the outhouse and worry about falling. I’m able to take a shower without going to someone else’s house. To say what I have received from the program has been life-changing would be a complete understatement.”
In 2018 GROW South Dakota’s weatherization team received a call from Ruth, a senior resident, in need of assistance with heating her house. When the weatherization team...
Monday, May 04, 2020
Seeing a business close their doors in a small town is always difficult. When the Clark meat shop closed in 2008, Randy Gruenwald decided he wasn’t going to stand by and watch it happen. His professional experience was an excellent fit to revive the business. He worked 15 years as a meat department manager for Nash Finch. Then Randy worked as a banker before he purchased the butcher shop. Karen, Randy’s wife and business partner, worked for the previous meat shop owners and brings exceptional customer service skills and experience to their ownership team. Able to capitalize on their professional...
Thursday, February 20, 2020
Veteran Delbert Maxfield doesn’t like to be cold, especially with his health issues. But when their furnace went on the blink, cold is exactly what he felt. He and his wife Carol wanted to continue living in their home, but since they only had Social Security income, they were not sure they could afford to replace or repair their old furnace. Hearing of their plight, Dustin from GROW South Dakota informed them of a Veteran’s program that could assist them. “Without this program and the help of Dustin, we would never have known of this grant,” explained Carol.
Through...
Monday, January 27, 2020
Kaitlain Meyerhofer moved to Sioux Falls in 2017. Single, with a full-time job, she was living in a one-bedroom apartment, but always dreamed of homeownership. She wanted a place she could paint the walls; a place she could make unique to her. She had assumed with one source of income that purchasing her first home would be difficult.
She contacted GROW SD to see if she could receive financial help to purchase a home. With the help of her First Mortgage Lender and GROW SD’s down payment assistance program, she was able to purchase her first home without hassle or...
Tuesday, November 05, 2019
Nicole Nelson has owned and operated the Cross Country Vet Clinic in Clark, SD since 2004. She is well established and has a great reputation in Clark and the surrounding area. Cross Country Vet Clinic does everything from grooming small animals to medical services and surgeries, all the way up to large animal services.
Over the past 15 years Nicole and GROW SD have had a great lender and borrower relationship. Nicole has used GROW SD and many of its funding program to help start, maintain, and expand her veterinary clinic. In 2004 she used GROW SD’s Intermediary Relending...
Wednesday, October 30, 2019
Virginia Maas is no stranger to hard work. As a single parent, she worked an average of seventy hours a week while raising her son. She built her own home and worked hard to keep it in good condition over the years. Virginia took great pride in her work and raising her family.
Then tragedy struck. Virginia was diagnosed with cancer. No longer being able to work, Virginia’s attitude toward life changed. Things she used to take for granted, like being able to fix just about anything when it broke, now became nearly impossible for her. She...
Monday, October 07, 2019
Buying a house for the first time can be intimidating. No one knows that better than Allison Daly of Sioux Falls.
Allison always planned to stay in her hometown but wasn’t sure if she was ready to make the leap to buying a home. Once she felt she was financially stable, Allison turned to GROW South Dakota to make her dream of owning a home a reality.
The first time homebuyer education classes that she took from GROW South Dakota helped her understand the homebuying process from start to finish. Allison also qualified for down payment assistance to...
Tuesday, June 04, 2019
While beginning her journey towards home ownership, Amber Peters was first introduced to GROW South Dakota’s housing loan programs, through her first mortgage lender. “We did not know about the down payment assistance programs that GROW South Dakota had to offer, until our mortgage loan officer told us. She was able to initiate the process, in order for us to receive down payment assistance”, said Amber.
Prior to purchasing her home, Amber had worked for several years to get her credit score where it needed to be, in order to secure financing for a home loan. “Money...
Monday, April 01, 2019
Samantha Miller, owner of the Farmer’s Wife Boutique in Aberdeen, recently received the Small Business Administration’s 2019 Woman-Owned Small Business of the Year Award for South Dakota. The SBA presented the Award during the recent Women’s Business Conference in Aberdeen.
Samantha started her career in healthcare, but when she was expecting her daughter, she became passionate about being a stay-at-home mother, so she looked at other options. With encouragement from family and friends, she started a women's lifestyle boutique offering clothing, shoes, purses, jewelry, accessories, and unique gifts. She launched The Farmer's Wife Boutique on Facebook in 2014 from...
Wednesday, January 16, 2019
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...
