Four entrepreneurs in rural South Dakota each get $10,000 to develop and expand their businesses. The money comes through grants from the Governor’s Office of Economic Development. The money comes with other opportunities to foster their work in the community.
Leaders of the Dakota Rising program say their goal is to cultivate economic growth in rural South Dakota by supporting and encouraging local businesspeople. The organization is designating $10,000 each to four people to expand their businesses.
Kristi Wagner is the coordinator of the Dakota Rising Entrepreneur Fellow program. She says the money helps elevate local businesses to a level of high growth potential.
"Now high growth potential might be the creation of jobs or growing a product or a service within their business, but it stimulates the growth of their company," Wagner says.
Wagner says the entrepreneur must spend $2,000 on him- or herself and can put $8,000 back into the business. The fellows also participate in a network of peer advising that establishes support and accountability in their economic endeavors.
2014 Dakota Rising Entrepreneur Fellows include the following:
Cristin Stewart, the Hot Springs Vault, is the Entrepreneur Fellow from Southern Hills On The Rise, serving Fall River and Custer Counties.
Lawrence County’s Dakota Rising Fellow for 2014 is Sarina Jensen, Black Hills Equestrian Center.
Jordan Breeding, JB’s Country Store, LLC, is this year’s Fellow from Faulkton Area Economic Development Initiative, serving Faulk County.
Mark Bower, Aberdeen Parts Store, LLC, is the newest Entrepreneur Fellow from Aberdeen Dakota Rising, covering all of Brown County.