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Many communities tout the outdoor amenities and local events that drive summertime fun for residents and visitors alike. Brookings, SD, however, truly has the results to match those expectations.“Between the Brookings Summer Arts Festival, a youth baseball tournament and a local tennis tournament, we had about 50,000 people in town...
Transform Your Business and Maximize Profits by Focusing on This Customer Retention Factor
Jun 28 2024Whatever business you're in, repeat customers are your best and most profitable customers. That's true if you're a retailer or restaurant, or a franchisor looking to expand your locations. For restaurants and retailers, it means re-defining success. With so many options available to customers, year-over-year sales growth is too short-term...
USDA Publishes Request for Information on the Production of Biofuel Feedstocks Using Climate-Smart Practices
Jun 26 2024The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking information from the public on procedures for quantifying, reporting, and verifying the effect of climate-smart farming practices on the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with U.S.-grown biofuel feedstock crops. The input is being collected through a Request for Information to establish voluntary...
How Cutting-Edge Dairy Technologies Are Shaping Brookings' Economic and Environmental Future
Jun 26 2024As we celebrate National Dairy Month this June, it's essential to recognize the dairy industry's vital role in the economic landscape of Brookings, South Dakota. Dairies in this region are not just about producing milk; they are pivotal in driving economic growth and fostering sustainable development through innovative practices like...
Ethanol Blender Pump Grants Available
Jun 25 2024The Governor’s Office of Economic Development is accepting applications for the Blender Pump Grant program to encourage the use of ethanol blended fuels.“Ethanol is an important part of value-added agriculture in South Dakota with 1.4 billion gallons of ethanol produced annually,” said Deputy Commissioner Chris Schilken. “We are pleased that...
USDA Announces Enhanced Resources to Support Businesses Interested in Procurement Opportunities
Jun 24 2024The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced resource enhancements designed to simplify and streamline access to contracting information for businesses interested in selling their products and services to USDA. These substantial updates include the addition of new and targeted contracting information on USDA.gov, along with improved functionality that makes...
USDA and Reinvestment Fund Launch New Program to Increase Access to Healthy Foods in Underserved Communities
Jun 24 2024At the National Rural Grocer’s Summit today, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that USDA and Reinvestment Fund are launching a new program under the Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI) to increase access to healthy foods in communities underserved by grocery stores. Funding for the new Food Access and Retail...
ChatGPT: 5 Prompts To Analyze Business Metrics
Jun 21 2024Analysis is not a department, it’s everyone’s job. For best results, question every decision, every process and those regular tasks in your business that you’ve always done. Make sure every path you take is the best one to take at any given time. No one sleepwalks their way to success...
The Governor’s Office of Economic Development has been recognized by Area Development Magazine with the Silver Shovel Award in the category of small states with populations of less than 3 million people.“South Dakota is Open for Business, and I am so proud that we are being recognized for it,” said...
A healthy housing sector is critical to any community’s ability to prosper and thrive. With an adequate, well-functioning housing market, an economy can support labor mobility and adapt to changing trends and unexpected circumstances. Brookings, SD, is a community dedicated to ensuring persons of all income means can access an...
New telecom project discussed in Brookings
May 31 2024The old, empty water tower on Sixth Street in Brookings will be torn down at some point, but before that can happen a new home must be found for the communications equipment it still hosts.That new home, councilors learned at Tuesday night’s Brookings City Council meeting, is slated for 1461...
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA is funding 47 projects in 23 states to improve access to reliable electricity and clean drinking water for more than one million people and create good-paying jobs across the nation. The announcement was made during President Biden's Infrastructure...
How to reimagine success at work
May 10 2024In one study, researchers set out to understand how people think about success. First, they asked participants to agree or disagree with a series of statements about how they believe other people define success. In response, 92% of people agreed that others view success as accumulating riches, fame, and power...
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced approximately $22.3 million available to community-based and nonprofit organizations, institutions of higher education, and Tribal entities that help underserved and veteran farmers and ranchers own and operate successful farms. Funding is made through USDA’s 2501 Program. This program is administered by USDA’s...
Entering 2024, indications were that inflation might be easing, and borrowers became hopeful that interest rate cuts would be on the horizon. Now, four months into the year, inflation remains sticky, and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell has suppressed talk about rate cuts.“In recent months, inflation has shown a lack...
Getting through the maze of federal funding and incentives in the world of manufacturing site selection and facility planning is akin to a high-stakes chess game. It's not just about the allure of the funds; it's the intricate dance of aligning these opportunities with your project's timelines and strategic goals...
Hitch Studio is not just an event planning business; it's a hub of creativity and passion, driven by the vision of its founder, Renee Bauman. Specializing in wedding planning, event decorating, and custom invitation design, Hitch Studio offers a personalized touch to every event.Renee thoroughly enjoys her work, noting the...
BEDC 2024 Quarter 1 Report
Apr 18 2024Read our 2024 Quarter 1 Report below!
Millions to be Invested in Rural South Dakota with New Dairy and Small Business Expansion
Apr 9 2024The Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) Board of Economic Development and the Economic Development Finance Authority (EDFA) acted at this month’s meeting, approving an up to $55 million bond and a $155,000 loan. The financing for these two projects reflects a capital investment of nearly $191 million and will...
The Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) is celebrating National Community Development Month and the 50-year anniversary of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program.“My Office of Economic Development is always helping communities and businesses grow and achieve their goals,” said Governor Kristi Noem. “It’s so exciting to see communities...
When Savannah Thorne moved from Southern California to the Midwest, she realized there were very few options for higher-end esthetics services, so she decided to bring these services to the area with Lash Spa Brookings.After 5 years in operation, Savannah was approached by individuals interested in becoming licensed estheticians. Obtaining...
The best economic development strategy for any community centers on meaningful relationships and connections to foster consistent growth and success. In Brookings, SD, the Business Retention & Expansion (BR&E) Program of the Brookings Economic Development Corporation (BEDC) aims to promote business success and a healthy business climate in the community...
Barb Rounds, the founder and owner of Thriving Minds, has a deep-seated passion for helping people with dyslexia find the right learning path for them. Having worked as a reading interventionist and having personally experienced aiding her son through his struggles with reading and writing, she realized the need for...
Barb Rounds, the founder and owner of Thriving Minds, has a deep-seated passion for helping people with dyslexia find the right learning path for them. Having worked as a reading interventionist and having personally experienced aiding her son through his struggles with reading and writing, she realized the need for...