The South Dakota Center for Enterprise Opportunity at Black Hills State University provides training and business assistance to current and aspiring entrepreneurs from start-up to expansion. SD CEO Director Helen Merriman said that while services are available to anyone interested in business, the Center has a special emphasis on women, Native Americans, socially disadvantaged, youth entrepreneurs and women veterans.
For 24 years, Merriman and her husband Roger operated a commercial printing and publishing business in Pierre. Merriman has been the director of the SD CEO since late 2009.