This fall, the Tripp Development Corporation hit a milestone that changes what’s possible in their small-town. They secured access to capital as a borrower in the Dakota Resources loan fund. It’s a practical shift, putting flexible, mission-aligned financing in local hands to move housing and related projects forward in Tripp. But this step into borrowing didn’t happen overnight. It’s the product of years of steady capacity building within their organization and board and a community that keeps showing up to do the hard work.

Tripp Development Corporation’s progress began with connection and coaching through Dakota Resources. Over time, the organization deepened its engagement with Dakota Resources through connection to other economic development leaders on Thriverr, Community Coaching tailored to meet the organization and community’s most persistent leadership development needs, and participation in B.O.L.D., the deep-dive board development framework. Each of these helped the organization level up both as a group and as individual leaders.

Paula Jensen, Vice President of Program Development & Community Coach at Dakota Resources, saw the shift in the Tripp Development Corporation from the inside: “During B.O.L.D., they had nearly 100% participation from their board members at each of the six sessions. They were fully engaged in the conversations and seemed re-energized by what they were learning about themselves as leaders, their organization, their community, and their partners. They dove into creating solid mission and vision statements, communications plan, and funding model, for example.” She notes that after B.O.L.D., the volunteer-led Tripp Development Corporation launched committees, ran a community perception survey, hosted a strategy retreat, and began refreshing bylaws.

“These are big organizational moves for any nonprofit.” The result was leadership capacity: clearer roles, stronger habits, and a board equipped and eager to take action.

That increased organizational capacity started to take shape through housing in Tripp. Following a Thriverr Housing Gathering, new resource-partner connections, and connections on the Thriverr platform, Tripp Development Corporation helped deliver the first new home in Tripp in decades, cleared dilapidated structures, and got additional lots ready. The organization set a bold target of three houses in three years in their strategic planning, and then got practical about how to make it real. Stronger leadership made Tripp Development Corporation ready, and access to the loan fund lets them take action.

Caleb Finck, President of Tripp Development Corporation, describes the past two years as a deliberate ramp: 2024 was the planning year, 2025 is the action year. Now with access to Dakota Resources’ loan fund, Tripp Development Corporation can borrow to build homes, prepare lots, and finance enabling infrastructure. Then they can sell the home and pool proceeds back into even more housing projects in Tripp. That financing tool meets the organization’s readiness at exactly the right time. Right now, contractors and plumbers are preparing for a home arriving in early November, and a Governor’s Home is in the queue.

For residents, the impact is already tangible. Recently, a family that currently rents in town reached out after walking past a lot owned by Tripp Development Corporation. They expressed interest in wanting to purchase and build in Tripp, because they love the everyday warmth of the community.

They stated the postmaster hands them their mail when they go to the post office, and even the garbage man waves at them when they pass by. It’s a small story with a big message: Tripp Development Corporation is connecting people to their housing dreams in rural South Dakota, and their new access to capital is helping those dreams take shape faster.

From the lending side, Terri LaBrie, Director of Community Lending and Financial Coach at Dakota Resources, frames why borrowing matters now in a small-town organization like this: “Dakota Resources has been working with Tripp Development Corporation to build organizational capacity for several years. It’s monumental for the organization to have the capacity to now borrow funds to boost Tripp with housing development and improve the housing stock in a rural community.” She adds that borrowing from Dakota Resources leverages additional capital, such as South Dakota Housing resources. “Dakota Resources loans are another tool in their economic-development toolbox.” In other words, the loan fund doesn’t replace partners, it helps Tripp reach them and match them, closing gaps that otherwise stall progress.

Paula underscores what residents should feel because leadership strength is now paired with capital. Too often, communities say no to good projects because they don’t have the funds, or they’re wary of the risk or work. Tripp has chosen a different posture. “Tripp has a possibility mindset. They built leadership muscles, included community voice, strengthened their financial base, and are implementing projects the community needs. Residents should feel proud and feel renewed hope, because their local leaders are making things happen.” That mindset also shows up inside the boardroom: instead of one or two people carrying a project, committees keep many board members actively engaged across housing, economic development, and entrepreneurship.

Zoomed out, Tripp Development Corporation’s journey is Dakota Resources’ approach in motion. Rural places often face a three-part constraint: limited connections, limited capacity, and limited capital. Dakota Resources helps communities overcome all three together, not in isolation. In the Tripp Development Corporation’s experience, it happened through connection on Thriverr and at Thriverr Gatherings to surface ideas and partners, growing leadership capacity through Coaching and B.O.L.D., so their organization and board was able to prioritize and execute, and finally, growing their financial capacity through the loan fund, allowing them to take their newfound leadership capacity growth and apply it to actively making projects happen in the community. This trifecta is working wonders in the community of Tripp. Tripp Development Corporation’s milestone in becoming part of Dakota Resources’ loan fund isn’t a one-off; it’s the logical next step of a years-long capacity journey. By pairing stronger leadership with the right borrowing tool in Dakota Resources, Tripp Development Corporation is turning “we should” into “we did”, something any small-town organization can look up to and strive for.