By: Andrea Schmidt

At the Learning Network Awards Event on November 5, Dakota Resources recognized outstanding leaders and organizations for their efforts in rural community and economic development. The winners for 2020 are:

• Travis Kuehl, Councilman for the City of Hartford – Elected Official Award

• Anita Holan, Kimball Economic Development – Mentor Award

• De Smet Economic Development Corporation, and Wessington Springs Area Chamber & Development Corporation – Community Innovation Prize

Dakota Resources is a community and economic development organization dedicated to helping rural communities thrive. We held our virtual annual Learning Network Awards Banquet as part of our Learning Network Gathering, which brought economic development professionals together to create a culture of entrepreneurship and support.

As Mike Knutson, Learning Network Orchestrator and Community Coach at Dakota Resources, says: “At Dakota Resources, our goal is not just to empower rural leaders and help rural communities thrive, but to celebrate the people and communities who are actively making a difference every single day.”

The Elected Official Award is new in 2020. It recognizes the ongoing support and leadership of an elected official who impacts their community every day. The inaugural winner, Travis Kuehl, is a business owner, board member and active member of the community. In 2020, he helped bring a measure to the Hartford City Council that resulted in a multi-year six-figure pledge from the city for economic development.

The Mentor Award celebrates an individual who goes above and beyond to mentor others to build connections, gain confidence and develop professional skills. This award went to Anita Holan, from Kimball Economic Development. The person who nominated her says Anita helps the community keep progressing, even if things move slowly. She helps people see the value of economic development and that positive change is possible.

The Community Innovation Prize recognizes innovative approaches to empowering a community while supporting local entrepreneurs, housing solutions, community engagement or leadership development. This year’s prize went to two recipients, and includes $2,500 each in Dakota Resources Community Coaching credit.

The De Smet Development Corporation stepped in when the pandemic forced their local newspaper, the Kingsbury County Journal, to close their doors after 141 years of reporting. The Development Corporation set up meetings and phone calls, conducted surveys and contacted professionals across the nation. The result is that they now own and operate an all-volunteer newspaper covering the entire county. The endeavor brought forward nearly 50 community members who had never before been involved in community projects, including new residents, college journalism students and young entrepreneurs.

The Wessington Springs Area Chamber & Development Corporation brought the Winter Park to life. They started by inviting conversations with community members, from students to adults. They created a vision for the park, recruited local volunteers, worked to find funding, and developed a place for all generations to enjoy. The Winter Park includes ice skating, sledding, and even a ski lift. It also incorporates a historic field house.

Dakota Resources invites you to join us in congratulating these and all people and organizations who work so hard to help their rural communities thrive.

To learn more about Dakota Resources visit futureofrural.org.