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January 1, 2019 • Page 3
USDA Highlights Key Accomplishments In 2018
That Are Building Rural Prosperity In South Dakota
HURON, S.D., Dec. 21, 2018 – Julie
Gross, U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA) Rural Development State Director in South Dakota announced year-end
accomplishments achieved in 2018 for
South Dakota totaling more than $440
million. This announcement coincides
with Assistant to the Secretary for Rural
Development Anne Hazlett’s national announcement of accomplishments that the
USDA achieved in 2018 to build prosperity in rural communities.
“Our agency has worked hard to create
innovative ways to collaborate and implement best practices impacting rural prosperity,” said Gross. “By collaborating with
partners and stakeholders, we have built
upon the mission of creating economic
opportunities and improving the quality
of life of rural South Dakotans.”
Here are a few highlights of South Dakota USDA Rural Development’s accomplishments for the 2018 fiscal year:
Infrastructure
• Helped finance 2 distance learning
and telemedicine projects to use e-Connectivity at 51 hub and end-user sites to
serve 412,426 rural residents and workers
in more than 36 counties.
• Supported the construction or improvement of 944 miles of electric trans-
mission and distribution lines for rural
electric infrastructure. These investments
will benefit more than 25,372 business
and residential consumers.
• Provided new or improved broadband service to 6,300 rural households
and businesses.
• Helped finance 25 projects to provide
new or improved water and wastewater
services for 82,160 rural residents.
• Worked with rural communities by
providing financing for 17 essential community facilities projects such as schools,
libraries, first responders, and municipal
centers. These investments will serve
57,393 people.
• Helped support the construction of
4 community infrastructure projects for
streets, transportation, solar arrays, and
water and storm water resources. These
investments will serve 29,164 people who
live and work in rural areas.
• Provided financing to 76 rural businesses that created or saved nearly 573
jobs.
Partnerships
• Developed a pilot program to help
Native American families on tribal lands
buy homes. Two CDFIs, Mazaska Owecaso
Otipi Financial in Pine Ridge and Four
Bands Community Fund in Eagle Butte,
are institutions in good standing with
USDA. Each received $800,000 in Section 502 direct loan funding from USDA
and will be responsible for contributing
$200,000 in additional funds to pilot the
project. These funds will be used to relend to Native American Families in tribal
communities in South Dakota and North
Dakota that meet the program’s requirements.
Innovation
• USDA Rural Development held a
webinar through the South Dakota Governor’s Office of Economic Development
and presented an overview of agency
programs to economic developers, community leaders, and planning districts
across the state.
Housing programs have provided
1,196 families with a place to call home.
In addition, 3,901 rental assistance and
vouchers for low-income families totaled
$19,272,221. The rental assistance and
voucher program are offered to qualified
low-income seniors and families living in
USDA Rural Development financed apartment complexes throughout the state.
In April 2017, President Donald J.
Trump established the Interagency Task
Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity to identify legislative, regulatory and
Thank You And Goodbye
By Gov. Dennis Daugaard
tans can be proud of the public
we were old enough, my sisters
This is the last column I will
servants who work for state
and I worked hard too. When Dad
write as Governor of South Dakogovernment. Their advice and
had financial troubles and had to
ta, and I want to say “thank you.”
hard work helped me make better sell the livestock and equipment,
Thank you to the people of
decisions.
he didn’t use his deafness as an
South Dakota. It was a great
In particular, I thank Lt. Govexcuse. He and my mother drove
honor when you placed your con- ernor Matt Michels. He has been
fifty miles, every day, to work
fidence in me. Over these past
a great lieutenant governor, in
as janitors in the dormitories at
eight years, I have always tried to so many ways. He has helped
Augustana. It was work that some
work hard to make our state betwith disaster response. He has
people would not accept. But my
ter. Whenever times were tough,
led low-profile efforts to improve
parents taught me an important
your strength encouraged me.
state risk management, insurance, lesson – that all work has dignity.
I first saw that strength during
bonding, and internal controls.
Most people wouldn’t call my
the Missouri River floods of 2011.
More than anything else, Matt
father a particularly successful
Releases from the Oahe Dam
Michels cares about people – all
man. He died with very little. But
were nearly triple the previous
people. Matt is a great South
he worked hard, he took care of
record. Large portions of Pierre,
Dakotan and our state has been
himself, and he paid his bills. He
and nearly all of Fort Pierre and
fortunate to have him serving us.
was self-reliant, persistent, and
Dakota Dunes, were threatened by
My wife, Linda, has been an
frugal. He was successful to me.
the flooding. In a matter of days,
outstanding First Lady. She led
South Dakota is a special place
we filled hundreds of thousands
state efforts to reduce infant
because there are many, many
of sandbags and we built emermortality. She encouraged more
people who carry those same valgency levies that saved most of
people to become foster parents.
ues with them and set that same
Pierre, Fort Pierre and Dakota
She read to thousands of stuexample in their lives, every day.
Dunes. Thousands of South Dako- dents, visiting 3rd, 4th, and 5th
That is why I love South Datans stepped up – National Guard, grade classes in 285 schools. But
kota. That is why it has been my
law enforcement, first responders, as much as she’s been a terrific
great honor to be your governor.
busloads of volunteers, hundreds first lady, she’s been a loving and
And that is why I know that our
of truckers, and even prison
devoted wife. Along with our
best days are still yet to come.
inmates. As I said at the time –
three children, Laura, Sara, and
“As high as the floodwaters rose,
Chris, my famSouth Dakota rose even higher.”
ily have always
I saw that same spirit again
been loyal and
and again over the eight years I’ve supportive, and
Earn as much as $400+ this month
been governor – during Winter
I’m looking forStorm Atlas, tornadoes in Wessward to spend& $120 this week
ington Springs and Delmont, fires
ing more time
in the Black Hills. I’ll never forget with them.
that selflessness –South DakoI owe much
tans helping each other. Those
to my parents.
weren’t the easiest moments, but
My mom and
they were the times when I was
dad were both
most proud to be governor of
born deaf, but
South Dakota.
they didn’t
I also thank the many fine peoallow that to dend
ple who have worked so hard on & 3rd, 9them. th, 16th & 17th • 1-3:00PM
ter th & 10 They
December 2
my behalf – in my cabinet, on my
worked hard
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Noem Selects DSU Dean To
Lead Department Of Education
PIERRE, S.D. – Governor-elect Kristi Noem, a long-time advocate for education, has announced that Dr. Ben Jones will
join her administration as Interim Secretary of Education.
“There’s no better place to grow up than South Dakota,
but we must do better to equip the next generation with the
tools they need to thrive,” said Noem. “Ben Jones is an experienced voice and trusted leader in South Dakota education.
Together, we’ll look for innovative ways to strengthen our
systems, work to improve K-12 outcomes, and make our education programs more applicable to the modern workforce.”
“I appreciate Governor-elect Noem’s confidence in me as
we work to improve education for South Dakota families,”
said Ben Jones. “I’m a product of public education and know
from my experience growing up in De Smet that vibrant
schools send out well-prepared kids. I plan on working with
Governor-elect Noem to bring a new perspective to the Department of Education, developing a culture of performance,
supporting teachers in their vital work for our kids, and
improving civic knowledge.”
Jones holds a Ph.D. in History from the University of Kansas. Now serving as the Dean of Dakota State University’s College of Arts and Sciences, he oversees more than 50 full-time
and adjunct faculty members. In this role, he has revitalized
numerous programs to better equip students for modernized
careers, launched innovative programming, and improved
course content through interdepartmental collaboration.
Jones, a De Smet native, now lives in Sioux Falls with his
wife and three children.
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policy changes that could promote agriculture and prosperity in rural communities. In January 2018, Secretary Perdue
presented the Task Force’s findings to
the president. These findings included
31 recommendations to align the federal
government with state, local and tribal
governments to take advantage of opportunities that exist in rural America.
Increasing investments in rural infrastructure is a key recommendation of the task
force.
To view the report in its entirety,
please view the Report to the President of
the United States from the Task Force on
Agriculture and Rural Prosperity (PDF, 5.4
MB). In addition, to view the categories
of the recommendations, please view the
Rural Prosperity infographic (PDF, 190
KB).
USDA Rural Development provides
loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities and create jobs in
rural areas. This assistance supports
infrastructure improvements; business
development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and
health care; and high-speed internet access in rural areas. For more information,
visit www.rd.usda.gov.
1600 Whiting Dr., Yankton, SD
(605)857-1472
3211 East Hwy. 50 • Yankton, SD 57078
605-665-4540 • 800-526-8095
745 E. Hwy. 46 • Wagner, SD
605-384-3681 • 800-693-1990
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