South Dakota USDA Rural Development and South Dakota State University Extension announced today that a northwest South Dakota Region was selected as a Stronger Economies Together (SET) region. Consisting of Perkins, Corson, and northern Meade counties in South Dakota, the northwest South Dakota Region will now benefit from a focused initiative to explore regional economic advantages and to formulate an economic blueprint for their multi-county region that strategically builds on the current and emerging economic strengths of that region. The Region will be joining 21 other regions across thirteen states participating in SET during 2015.
“South Dakota has benefited greatly by this regional coaching opportunity across the state, this is our third year engaging with regions to increase regional economic competitiveness and collaboration of resources through the SET process,” said USDA Rural Development Acting State Director Bruce Jones.
USDA Rural Development and South Dakota State University (SDSU) Extension are collaborating for this initiative once again to strengthen the capacity of rural communities and counties to work together in developing and implementing economic development plan. The SET Program is sponsored by USDA Rural Development and the nation’s four Regional Rural Development Centers.
The regional team will develop a vision and goals, examine regional demographics, opportunities, assets and barriers, and create a regional economic development plan. Training and technical assistance will be delivered by a core team of SDSU Extension and USDA Rural Development staff as well as state-wide and area resource providers and experts.
The region was part of an application process earlier this year and was self-designated. The region will be supported by representatives from SDSU Extension, USDA Rural Development, State of South Dakota Governor’s Office of Economic Development, Planning Districts, Small Business Development Center, Rural Electric Economic Development, Inc., and Grow South Dakota.
Launched in 2010 by USDA Rural Development and the nation’s four Regional Rural Development Centers, the Purdue Center for Regional Development and their land-grant university partners, SET is now in place in more than 70 regions in 31 states.
For more information on the SET initiative in South Dakota, contact Peggy Schlechter, SDSU Extension Community Development Field Specialist, (605) 394-1722 or Christine Sorensen, USDA Rural Development, (202) 568-9832. To view information about SET nationwide, visit http://srdc.msstate.edu/set/.