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.
Beginner’s Guide to Grant Writing Workshops
Often, a community or organization needs capital to get a project off the ground. Our Beginner’s Guide to Grant Writing workshops can be the start of finding that initial investment.
Balancing economics with resources is theme of 2026 Eastern SD Water Conference
July 29, 2026
South Dakota State University Extension and the South Dakota Water Resources Institute at SDSU are excited to announce the theme of the 2026 Eastern South Dakota Water Conference: Balancing Economic Development with South Dakota Water Resources.
Community
Resources to support communities, organizations, leaders and businesses.
Sioux Falls Metro Economic Briefing
The SDSU Ness School of Management and Economics and SDSU Extension will host an economic briefing on September 24 from 8:00 to 9:15 a.m. at Startup Sioux Falls in the MarketBeat Theatre (100 E 6th Street, Sioux Falls, SD 57104).
Creating the Pathways for Young People to Return Home
Is your community ready to direct the investments in your youth to help them discover the career paths that lead home? Our young people are the future business owners and civic leaders of our rural communities. We need them.
Beginner’s Guide to Grant Writing Workshop
SDSU Extension will host workshops on October 7 and November 4 for the Beginner’s Guide to Grant Writing program at the Davison County Fairgrounds.
A Library of Things
Community libraries no longer carry just books. Guests can find all sorts of items to check out, including games, tools, and even camping and outdoor gear! These items are collectively called a Library of Things.
Considering Snapchat for your community? Potential benefits, challenges, and questions to ask.
Snapchat is a widely used social platform, particularly for teens through those in their 30s. For communities hoping to engage students, young families, visitors, or early-career workers, this audience reach may be attractive.
2026 Energize conference touts benefits of youth staying in SD
June 09, 2026
South Dakota State University Extension hosted a successful 2026 Energize conference in Wall with 144 attendees.
South Dakota Fairs and Festivals - Part One: Festival Deserts, Festival Revival, and Festival Impacts
In South Dakota, many fairs and festivals take place in late summer or fall to celebrate a successful harvest, and the ways of life that made it possible. Learn about the impacts of these festivals and why they are worth preserving, developing, and re-imagining.
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.