Skip to main content

Community and Economic Development

All Community and Economic Development Content

Aberdeen Healthy Landscapes, Healthy Communities Initiative team.

Pilot Communities Selected for Healthy Landscapes, Healthy Communities Initiative

The Healthy Landscapes, Healthy Communities Initiative will provide communities across South Dakota an opportunity to envision vibrant public spaces through an engaged planning and design effort.

Agritourism proprietor and a local official meeting at a pumpkin patch.

Agritourism Provides Economic Benefits

Not only can agritourism support communities by generating income, agritourism has the potential to create jobs and support local economies.

Sign posted alongside a rural walking and biking path with a family walking in the distance.

Using Assets to Build Communities

A community asset is anything that a community already has that can be used to improve its quality of life. Learn some expert tips for identifying and leveraging your community's unique assets.

Multi-ethnic family unloading a moving truck.

The Vital Role of Newcomers in Rural Communities: Making Places Feel Like Home

In small towns and rural areas, new folks bring big changes that matter a lot. And when they feel welcomed and understood, they stick around and help make things better for everyone.

A green road sign that says South Dakota with the sunset in the background

Newcomers Survey

SDSU Extension has launched a newcomer survey to gain a better understanding of the reason that people are moving to South Dakota and will use the results to develop programming efforts to help communities welcome and retain newcomers. 

Volunteers working on a community construction project.

Our Community Will Never Change

Change is inevitable in all small towns, but communities have a choice to either let change happen passively or work together to direct it in a way that moves their shared vision into the future.

Young couple with moving truck.

Understanding the New Folks in Town

In rural communities, making an effort to understand newcomers better may result in them staying in your community longer, while also attracting more people like them.

Diverse group of townspeople meeting in a small group.

Marketing Your Hometown

Is your small town ready to grow? Learn how Marketing Hometown America, an Extension-based program, can help your community develop a plan to attract new residents!

High school graduate watching a rural sunset.

Congratulations Graduates! And Who Says You Can’t Go Home?

Congratulations to all the young people celebrating graduations this spring! You've dedicated years to learning and developing your career, but don't count out your hometown as a great place to start your next chapter!

A group of young workers sitting at a table putting their hands together.

Workforce Development

SDSU Extension's Workforce Development course is designed to provide a suite of workforce development resources for employees to complete at their own convenience.