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
SDSU Extension co-hosting 2025 South Dakota Local Foods Conference
September 09, 2025
South Dakota State University Extension is pleased to partner with Dakota Rural Action, the South Dakota Soil Health Coalition, McCrory Gardens at SDSU and members of the South Dakota Local Foods Coalition to present the 2025 Local Foods Conference.
SDSU Extension experts to attend 2025 Dakotafest
August 06, 2025
South Dakota State University Extension experts will attend the 2025 Dakotafest trade show in Mitchell, providing educational resources and hands-on activities for a variety of topics.
Why Third Places Are Vital to Rural Communities
From community centers to small businesses, third places are social spaces outside of one’s home that support connection, economic growth, and civic engagement in rural communities.
Home Starts Here
SDSU Extension’s Home Starts Here podcast seeks out the individuals, businesses, and ideas that are sparking vibrant communities in South Dakota.
SDSU Extension welcomes new community vitality expert
July 01, 2025
South Dakota State University Extension is pleased to welcome Chase Moon as a new Community Vitality Field Specialist.
SDSU Extension hosts successful Energize conference in Platte
June 03, 2025
South Dakota State University Extension hosted a successful Energize conference in Platte with 150 attendees.
Rural Communities: Addressing Declining Population by Developing Entrepreneurial Communities
As the population decreases, schools close. Businesses close. Services become less and less. Research shows that people want to live in rural areas but don’t believe the opportunities are there. If communities develop a system to connect people to opportunities, rural communities can stabilize their population, keep their schools, businesses and services, and maybe even increase them.
The Value of Placemaking in Small Rural Communities in South Dakota
Placemaking offers a transformative approach for small rural communities in South Dakota, turning public spaces into cherished community assets. Learn about some success stories in the Freeman and Webster communities.
Creative Placemaking
Creative placemaking can use arts, culture, and design to stimulate dialogue, promote economic development, and catalyze systemic changes that are essential to the development of communities.
What is Placemaking?
Placemaking inspires people to collectively reimagine and reinvent public spaces as the heart of every community. By this definition, placemaking is possible for communities of all shapes and sizes in South Dakota.