Success Stories

Creating a Better Business and Family Life

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 secure financing to ad...

Dakota Grain & Salvage

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 clinic locate...

Making the Leap to Homeownership

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 paying ren...

Lender Appreciation

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.

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 30 years. ...

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 as GRO...

Erickson Named President of National NeighborWorks Association Board

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 range o...

Warming Up an Old Home

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. I d...

Celebrating June as Home Ownership Month

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 First Home Many jobs requir...

GROW South Dakota Highlights NeighborWorks Week

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 man...

A Life Changing Event

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 went t...

Dakota Butcher - 2020 SBA Entrepreneur of the Year

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 professiona...

A Dream of Owning my Own Home

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 stress. Her hopes and dream...

Success Stories

A Half-Century of Serving South Dakotans