When communities talk about growth, the conversation often turns to jobs, businesses, and new opportunities. But in Yankton, one of the clearest paths to long-term economic growth has started with something more foundational: housing. Since 2015, Yankton Thrive has borrowed a total of $5.4 million through Dakota Resources’ Capital Investment Fund, using flexible loan capital to help move major housing development projects forward. That support has played a role in Yankton Thrive’s ability to respond to community needs, leverage other funding partners and create new housing opportunities for individuals and families who want to live and work in the Yankton area.

Beth Davis helped shape Dakota Resources from nearly the beginning. Hired in 1998 as the first President of South Dakota Rural Enterprise, Inc. — the organization that would become Dakota Resources — Beth led the organization for 20 years before retiring in 2018. During her tenure, Dakota Resources grew from a capital-focused rural development organization into a statewide partner helping rural communities access flexible capital, strengthen local leadership, build capacity and move community-driven projects forward.

Linda Salmonson has witnessed Dakota Resources’ growth and evolution, from the formation of the organization to today. She first joined the Board of Directors in 1999 serving through 2011 before returning to the board in 2019. She continues to serve on the board today and has also been a major donor to the Dakota Resources’ 30th Anniversary fundraising campaign.

We want to celebrate you. Our annual Thriverr Awards will be presented at our Using AI in your Economic Development Organization Thriverr Gathering on November 17th in Sioux Falls, SD. Award applications are opened, and we look forward to reading your submissions! See the award descriptions below. All applications are due on October 27th, 2026.

For 30 years, Dakota Resources has worked alongside partners who believe rural communities are worth investing in, not only with financial resources, but with time, leadership, and a long-term commitment to local possibility. Dacotah Bank has been one of those partners from the beginning. As a longstanding investor, sponsor, and leadership partner, Dacotah Bank has played an important role in the growth of Dakota Resources and the rural communities it serves. Over the years, the bank has invested nearly $3 million into the Dakota Resources Capital Investment Fund, supported Dakota Resources programming through sponsorships, and contributed the time and talents of several leaders through board service.

We want to celebrate you. Our annual Thriverr Awards will be presented at our Using Public Policy for Local Development Thriverr Gathering on November 12th in Murdo, SD. Award applications are opened, and we look forward to reading your submissions! See the award descriptions below. All applications are due on October 24th, 2025.

Aberdeen is preparing before opportunity even arrives. That has taken shape as preparing industrial land for future business growth, reinvesting in downtown property, and preserving key assets that can support jobs and business activity over time. The Aberdeen Development Corporation (ADC) has spent decades doing the work, not only responding to what the community needs today, but helping position Aberdeen for what may come next. Since 2002, Dakota Resources has supported ADC through a long-standing lending relationship, providing over $5 million through the Capital Investment Fund to help make important projects happen. For Dakota Resources, that kind of lending is about giving local economic development organizations access to flexible capital when the trifecta of timing, momentum, and opportunity align.

As Dakota Resources reflects on 30 years of helping rural communities thrive, President Joe Bartmann sees the organization’s legacy not only in the programs it has created or the loans it has made, but in the trust, confidence, and shared belief it has helped build across rural South Dakota. Joe has served as President of Dakota Resources since 2018. His work is rooted in the belief that rural communities thrive when local leaders are connected, trusted, and equipped with the resources they need to shape solutions together. Through collaborative learning networks, strong nonprofits, and flexible capital, Joe and the Dakota Resources team continue to strengthen the conditions that help economic development organizations and rural communities invest in their own ideas.

In rural economic development, progress often depends on the right timing. A business is ready to expand. A property becomes available. A community need rises to the surface. A future opportunity starts to take shape before all the pieces are fully in place. For the Madison Area Development Corporation, formerly Lake Area Improvement Corporation, having access to flexible, long-term capital has helped make those moments possible.

Volunteering is a big part of life for many people living in rural areas. A recent community survey by Dakota Resources and eight rural communities found that about 80% of people believe they need to get involved to help their community succeed. Volunteering can mean different things: donating money, helping neighbors, taking on leadership roles, or working on community projects. Across the country, the number of people who volunteer formally has been dropping for about 20 years.

On January 15, Dakota Resources marked a major milestone: 30 years of connecting capital and capacity to empower rural communities. The day brought together community leaders, team and board members, partners, and supporters in Pierre for conversations at the Capitol and an evening reception celebrating the people and partnerships that make rural progress possible.

Dakota Resources will kick off its 30th anniversary celebration with a public reception on Thursday, January 15, 2026, inviting community members, partners, and supporters to join in recognizing three decades of investment in rural South Dakota communities. The 30th Anniversary Kickoff Reception will be held 4:30–6:00 p.m. CT at RedRossa Italian Grill – Hills Highland Ballroom in Pierre. A short program will begin at 5:00 p.m. and will include remarks and proclamation of January 15, 2026 as “Dakota Resources’ 30th Anniversary Day” from Governor Larry Rhoden and brief comments from Dakota Resources.

Hey there, Rural Thrivers! This past year reaffirmed something we’ve believed at Dakota Resources from the beginning: rural communities don’t need “saving.” They need support that helps local leaders build skills, connect to resources, and turn good ideas into real projects. When that support shows up consistently, local people can do extraordinary things. And that’s exactly what you did in 2025. We’re connecting an ecosystem where rural leaders level up their skills, confidence, and impact—together—and then bring that momentum back to their hometowns.  At the same time, the truth is 2025 also came with real challenges for CDFIs, like Dakota Resources, and for rural economic development in general. That’s why we stepped up our advocacy efforts significantly this year and helped local leaders to do the same. 

A stroll down Main Street in Lennox feels different today than it did just a few years ago. Freshly updated storefronts line the blocks, businesses are reinvesting in their spaces, and there’s a renewed energy downtown. What was once a corridor at risk of being overshadowed by growth along Highway 17 is now a hub of pride and possibility.