This is the third article in a series of articles on gas and oil development and the effects on community development. Energy development in the Williston Basin is dramatically transforming parts of Montana and North Dakota and the effect of this gas and oil development is being felt in western South Dakota, as well as, across the region.
South Dakota oil development lives in the shadow of the oil development in North Dakota. However, there is oil development in South Dakota and these facts help tell the story.
This is the second of a series of articles on oil and gas development and the effects it has on community development. The first article explained the history and shared some data about the Williston Basin and the Bakken Formation. This article lists the impacts of energy development.
In response to seasonal flooding, iGrow has put together a collection of the latest news updates, articles, and flood relief information to help get your farm and community on the path to recovery. Learn more inside!
This will be the first of a series of articles on oil and gas development and the effects it has on community development. This first article will explain the history and share some data bout the Williston Basin and the Bakken Formation.
Population decline of rural communities is a challenge that may appear to be beyond the control of community members. Last fall at the SD MarketPlace Conference, I had the opportunity to attend a session presented by Craig Schroeder of RUPRI Center for Rural Entrepreneurship titled “How Entrepreneurs and Young People Can Transform Rural Communities and What to do About It”. Part of his session addressed the significant potential for addressing youth out-migration and population decline through a straight forward approach to youth engagement and alumni recruitment.
Communities can take control of their future. There are strategies the can reverse long-term trends of a declining population. In this article, I will share just a few with you from the Heartland Center for Leadership Development. This effort will mean reaching out to young people in an individual and meaningful way.
It’s no secret that young people are leaving our rural communities in South Dakota. If you read the newspapers or watch the news on television, you also know this isn’t a challenge that only South Dakota communities are facing; it is happening across the nation. Many rural communities are showing a population decline as well as a decrease in the number of young people.
At a Stronger Economies Together session held in Midland, SD in March, I asked the question “how many of you live here because of the quality of life?” Nearly everyone in the room raised a hand. So what is it about the quality of life that we so enjoy? Is it that we don’t have to deal with the hustle and bustle of traffic in the city? Is it the peace and quiet?
What do Hand, Jerauld, Beadle, Kingsbury, Clark, and Spink counties have in common? They don’t know but they are seeking the answer by participating in the USDA Stronger Economies Together (SET). They have named themselves the James River Valley region. Haakon, Jackson and eastern Pennington counties compose a SET region called Badlands/Bad River region.
Deborah Shane is a Career Author and Business Branding Strategist who guides people through their current professional advancement at DeborahShane.com. I thought her ideas for building a good online reputation as a business person on LinkedIn Today were excellent.
South Dakota is home to many entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship is promoted as a means of economic development. It is important to understand the terms as South Dakotans seek opportunities.
Creating Rural Wealth is an important topic for communities in South Dakota. This article will focus on how cultural capital (capital is the part of wealth devoted to making more wealth in the future) can create wealth in rural communities.
Thinking about starting a business? Here are a few things you might want to know. There are many online resources to help with the start-up of small businesses within the state of South Dakota. This website will assist you with your business planning needs and will provide you with general information on how to start a small business in South Dakota.
Creating Rural Wealth is an important topic for communities in South Dakota. This article will focus on how political capital (capital is the part of wealth devoted to making more wealth in the future) can create wealth in rural communities. Political Capital is defined by Flora and Flora (2004) as “the ability of a group to influence the distribution of resources within a social unit.”
Small businesses significantly impact South Dakota’s economy. They represent 96.5 percent of all employers and employ 61.9 percent of the private-sector labor force. Small businesses are crucial to the fiscal condition of the state and numbered 81,098 in 2010.
As noted last week, stress has taken over as the leading cause of absenteeism, surpassing back strain and disease. This makes it a costly issue for employers; however it is one that can be managed. According to the Stress Education Center, you start managing workplace stress during the hiring process. Be sure to hire the right person for the job so that their skills match the skills required to be successful.
How do you know when you (or others) are experiencing high levels of stress? Some signs might include increased nervousness, headaches, stomach aches and exhaustion. There may be changes in sleep patterns and changes in appetite.
I participate in an online forum called Rural Futures, an initiative that began at the University of Nebraska Lincoln last year. One of the discussions I have found most interesting so far has centered around entrepreneurial communities and what that term means. Community assets to support entrepreneurship can be classified into three categories: resources, costs and encouragement.
David Spiegel, Stanford Psychiatrist says that living a stress free life is not a reasonable goal; the goal is to deal with it actively and effectively. I have often heard that the only people who do not have stress are dead people so when I put it in those terms, I think I will choose the stress!
Communities making the decision to join the Horizons program are at a point where they feel ready to change some things to improve their town. Change is not for the faint-hearted, and as we’ve learned through evaluation of the program, many communities took paths they didn’t even imagine when they signed on.
Many “reality” television shows have been developed around the theme of personal survival. The Discovery Channel has Survivor Man, Man vs. Wild, and Dual Survivor; the History Channel has Mountain Men. The survivalists provide clues about surviving in the wilderness. Fortunately, many people never use the clues demonstrated on these television shows.
Pain at the pump is greater for rural residents. In South Dakota there is a lot of wide open space and large distances between towns. It takes gas to go places and high gas prices means more money. A study done in Minnesota reflects some of the consequences of high gas prices on rural places. Here is a summary of the 2009 report.
Great project ideas for community improvement projects are not in short supply. The means to fund the projects becomes the challenge that often stops a great idea from being implemented. How can communities fund their projects?
Community change takes time. That’s no great revelation, but it’s been brought home recently as Community Development staff travel back to South Dakota communities involved in the Horizons program for a final grant evaluation. The first communities to go through Horizons did so in 2004, while the majority began about 2006.
Creating Rural Wealth is an important topic for communities in South Dakota. This article will focus on how intellectual capital (capital is the part of wealth devoted to making more wealth in the future) can create wealth in rural communities.
Every organization transitions at some point. Leadership and membership changes, happily or unhappily. The result is almost always the same - a time of perilous organizational uncertainty. But transition times can also lead to exciting rebirth, new growth, and increased accomplishment.
Ripple Effect Mapping is an engaging and participatory process to discover the impacts (intended and unattended) of a community development program or process. It allows community members to share what happened in their community, which often reenergizes the work as they reflect on all that was done. The process is called ripple effect because it uses the metaphor of dropping a pebble in a pond and watching the ripples radiate from the point of impact.
Why do the same people have to do all the work? I am burned out! We need younger members. Why don’t we ever seem to accomplish anything? Have you ever heard those words? A common theme from those comments is that there is a desire to have more community participation.
Arlington’s Got Talent and great plans for community projects! On January 20, 2013Arlington held its Action Forum, an important part of the Horizons process, along with a talent show. During the Action Forum the community members give support to the project ideas generated in the Study Circles.
Over the last few months, I have had the opportunity to work with groups and communities in developing a vision of how they want to be seen in the future. This involves as many people in the group or community as possible deciding that vision and then deciding what needs to be done in order to achieve it.
How do the new rural definitions issued by the Federal Government impact South Dakota rural communities? As part of the 2008 Farm Bill, new rural definitions were required and were due in June 2010. The report outlining the new definitions was released in February 2013.
The topic of ethics continues to get high publicity in today’s government and business world. Our leaders are scrutinized through tough standards of ethical behavior. As a leader, can you live up to the eight laws of leadership defined below?
In light of my work schedule over the next two weeks, I’ve decided I need to learn a lesson that could benefit many leaders today. Jeff Weiner, CEO of LinkedIn, talks about the importance of scheduling nothing in a recent blog article. Jeff claims we all need to start blocking out gray spaces on our calendars as buffers, or time periods kept free from meetings or programs.
I subscribe to a LinkedIn group on Community Engagement. One of the contributors I enjoy is Daniel Bevarly, he is the President of Public Communications Management Strategies from Fort Myers, Florida. He recently compared community engagement to getting your family together for dinner.
Civility is about more than merely being polite, although being polite is an excellent start. Civility fosters a deep self-awareness, even as it is characterized by true respect for others. Civility requires the extremely hard work of staying present even with those with whom we have deep-rooted and perhaps fierce disagreements.
Has it ever seemed to you like it is always the “same ten people” doing all the work? It probably does if you are one of the ten! Does it need to be that way? Probably not. Have you thought about inviting (not pleading) people to help you?
This article will focus on how social capital (capital is the part of wealth devoted to making more wealth in the future) can create wealth in rural communities. Social Capital is “defined by Putnam (1993) as “features of social organization, such as networks, norms, and trust, that facilitate coordination and cooperation for mutual benefit.” Examples include formal organizations and informal associations and networks, such as networks of migrant workers and the social relationships that bind them.”
A colleague and I were recently working on a presentation about the importance of succession planning for organizations. I came across many tips for preparing new people to take on leadership roles on boards and in companies, but one that really hit home for me was about inviting new people to the team.
The Millennials Civic Health Index, released recently by four of the top civic organizations in the country, paints a comprehensive picture of young Americans 18 to 29. The report highlights the diverse ways in which Millennials are taking action in their communities beyond the voting booth, online and offline, across different regions of the United States.
Twelve youth and school gardens received funding this spring to launch or enhance garden programs across the state. The Community and Family Extension Leaders provided funding for the $125 mini-grants.
In May I had the privilege of working with South Dakota’s first Local Foods Coop located in and around the Brookings area. These dedicated farmers grow a variety of food. The coop members also promote knowing where your food originates and choosing local products, as a good choice.
A movement called, the “slow food” movement began in the mid-1980s with protests against the opening of a McDonald’s near the Spanish Steps in Rome. Whether you agree with all of the philosophies presented on the Slow Foods website, or not, the concept offers some key points to consider in our busy lives.
I read a great story provided by Everyday Democracy this month. It reflects the changes brought about to an urban community by two women who started planting flowers. I believe rural communities can use the same principals.
It is often a question as to when your community garden should open for the season and close in the fall. The group should consider climate and crop preference as these dates are set. First consider the spring ‘frost-free’ date and fall ‘frost’ date for your location. Review the South Dakota Frost Dates publication to see specific dates for your location in the state.
Is a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) market right for you? There are several benefits for producers to consider when determining if you should utilize this marketing outlet. Instead of trying to obtain financing from a financial institution, the CSA model asks your customers to provide funding up front, before the growing season, which will provide you with cash for early season purchases such as seeds, plants, equipment, and packaging.
Resources for growing at your community garden should be shared with participants, especially those new to the process. Often new gardeners will become discouraged and quit during the season or will not renew the following season if they are unsuccessful.
Spring is a season of hope. It is appropriate that the first day of spring occurs during National Agriculture Week, March 17-23. It is a time to recognize the abundance provided by agriculture, and celebrate the opportunity it holds for South Dakota and humanity. As farmers once again move into the fields to plant crops, and also begin calving and lambing season, it's important to keep in mind the challenges ahead.
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs offer many benefits to consumers, but there are also challenges that a producer must face while trying to keep customers happy. In many CSA models, the customer is given a box of produce that has been selected by the grower. This is different than a grocery store or farmer’s market situation where the consumer can hand-select the produce to meet their quality preferences.
The community garden program will need to determine its approach to connecting with the garden participants over the season. Mailings such as fliers and newsletters will reach participants, however they will have the added expense of printing and postage.