605-394-1722
SDSU West River Research and Extension
711 N Creek Drive
Rapid City, SD 57703
Peggy supports the citizens of South Dakota in her role as the SDSU Extension Community Vitality Program Director based in Rapid City.
Peggy Schlechter
SDSU Extension Community Vitality Program Director
Also by Peggy Schlechter
SDSU Extension 2024 Impact Report
This brief report highlights how SDSU Extension strengthens people and places across South Dakota through every program, contact, volunteer hour and digital outreach effort.
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.
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.