Community and Economic Development
Recommended Content
Energize!
The Energize! Exploring Innovative Rural Communities Conference is designed to empower South Dakota’s rural communities by inviting them to network with community leaders from across the state to share success stories, get new ideas and take action to improve their own communities.
Marketing Hometown America
Marketing Hometown America empowers communities to create a vision to attract new residents. Designed as a tool to create dialogue that moves people toward action, the process can be the spark to help a rural community look at itself in a new way.
Writing Your Future: Grant Writing Training
Often community or organizational programs need capital to get them off the ground. Our Writing Your Future grant writing training can be the start to finding that initial investment.
All Community and Economic Development Content
Nebraska entrepreneur announced as 2026 Energize conference keynote
March 06, 2026
South Dakota State University Extension is pleased to announce Nebraska Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame member Craig Schroeder as the 2026 Energize conference keynote speaker.
Opportunities for Addressing Book Deserts in Rural Communities
By fostering a culture for reading, placing books into community spaces, and partnering with libraries to extend their reach, rural communities can transform book deserts into book-rich environments.
Community
Resources to support communities, organizations, leaders and businesses.
Are Chamber Bucks a Thing of the Past or Still a Viable Economic Development Tool?
For many communities, Chamber Bucks, sometimes called community gift certificates or local currency, have been a long-standing tradition. Today, they remain a simple, meaningful way to keep dollars working close to home while supporting businesses that invest in your community.
Rural Library Hotspot Lending Program
The SDSU Extension and AARP South Dakota Rural Library Hotspot Lending Program provides hotspot lending through rural public libraries, allowing community members to “check out the Internet” and bring connectivity to the comfort of their homes.
Energize Conference
SDSU Extension will host the next annual Energize conference on May 6–7, 2026, in Wall, South Dakota.
SDSU Extension helps agritourism producers promote their strengths
January 09, 2026
In 2019, Good Earth Farm owners Nancy and Jeff Kirstein had to make a decision. The barn on their Lennox-based property, originally constructed in 1897, needed attention.
SDSU Extension welcomes new Community Vitality Field Specialist
November 24, 2025
South Dakota State University Extension is pleased to welcome Dacia Hilkemeier as a new Community Vitality Field Specialist.
Healthy Landscapes Healthy Communities Pilot Program: Looking back and moving forward in year two
Now in its second year, Healthy Landscapes Healthy Communities provides communities across the state with an opportunity to envision vibrant public spaces through an engaged planning and design effort.
Creating a Virtuous Cycle of Grant Writing
Creating a virtuous cycle of grant writing can lead to a cycle of reinvestment and expansion within your community, allowing you to create new programs, reach new populations, and increase your capacity and impact, fueling your next cycle of success.