Recently, GLAD has been part of the hosting organizations who brought in many visitors to our area. The national Economic Gardening Conference had 12 states and 3 foreign countries represented and attendees were treated to great hospitality, food and entertainment, and some great sharing of economic development ideas and success stories. We are so thankful for our strong local support of our programs and it showed once again with many local entrepreneurs and community leaders in attendance. We were very proud to showcase our corner of the state and people left with a new understanding of South Dakota. Just prior to that, we held our 2nd Front Line customer service training hosting 250 from our region. What a great program to maintain a high level of service provided by our area businesses and providers. GLAD has developed some very strong and integral partners to make things like this work including Darah Darrington of SDSU Cooperative Extension Innovation and Leadership, Jeff Grobe of Day County Champion Community, Sandy Jaspers of Sisseton Economic Development Corporation and the entire NESDCAP/NESDEC staff.
With that, many people still come up to me and don’t really know what GLAD is or what we do. So, I thought I would use this opportunity to provide some clarity.
Glacial Lakes Area Development (GLAD) is a 501©3, non-profit organization that was established in 2006 as a regional effort to collaborate efforts, ideas, and resources for the six communities we serve. By expanding our scope to include the above mentioned partners, we can collectively work on many projects together to benefit us all rather than compete with each other. It has so far, been an amazing synergy and successful partnership.
Our Mission:
to be the catalyst for the preservation and enhancement of our area through the open exchange of resources and ideas.
Our Vision:
to provide a catalyst who will encourage our entrepreneurs young and old, assist the existing and the new business owners, and work with the residents and leaders of our communities to provide opportunities for all of us to collaborate with each other to share our visions, integrate ideas, formulate plans, implement them and seek financial assistance which long term will improve our economic status and will inevitably market our area for new residents to relocate and enjoy our strong family values and our quality of life.
GLAD VALUES STATEMENT:
Glacial Lakes Area Development is committed to promoting the growth of our people, our individual communities, and our greater Glacial Lakes area. Through leadership, open communication, and action we can foster goal-oriented communities where education and dedication can create a stronger place to live.
The six immediate communities we serve our Britton, Langford, Veblen, Eden, Pierpont and Lake City. The main areas of focus and the many hats that GLAD wears include Economic Development, Community Development activities, tourism and customer service promotions, education and leadership trainings, and youth engagement programs. We have an extremely strong and active Board of Directors including a States Attorney, a CPA, an educator, a grant writing expert, a tourism leader, a county commissioner, and successful business owners and entrepreneurs. They are an active board with great vision, leadership, and are proactive to reach our goals and maintain the direction we wish to navigate.
GLAD does not replace/duplicate, or compete with any organization, program, or project, but rather facilitates coordination and collaboration amongst our partners to improve implementation of rural development that will better our quality of life in Northeast South Dakota.
GLAD strives to be a conduit for enterprise as a source for new or expanding businesses to get the necessary information they are looking for and aligned with the right people to succeed in our region. We are consistently marketing and promoting our towns and our assets, both human and physical. Housing is a constant issue and I also sit on the Homes Are Possible (HAPI) Board of Directors to help create additional affordable housing opportunities to our region.
GLAD has also been able to host other site visits from potential businesses looking to relocate or expand, provide personal customer service trainings to businesses, provide technical assistance to restaurant operators, and provided other resources to potential start up and expanding businesses. Our revolving loan fund has helped create a number of new jobs in Marshall County including a manufacturer, and a trucking company where we partner with local banks, government agencies or other lending entities and take a subordinate position to make their business plan a reality. And we were part of a great team to recruit an expanding business to our area with significant new job creation.
We are grateful for the many statewide and local partnerships that are solid and so valuable in providing many of the programs and activities we are able to do. Some of those include the Small Business Development Center, NESDCAP and NESDEC, NECOG, the Rural Learning Center, South Dakota Community Foundation, USDA Rural Development, SD Office of Tourism, Absolutely Aberdeen, the Governors Office of Economic Development, South Dakota Rural Enterprise Inc., and many others.
Local partnerships with the Marshall County officials, all six town boards and city councils, local and regional economic development corporations, the Britton Area Foundation, the BED Board, and Tom Farber in particular has been huge in allowing us to function in our daily activities.
How are we funded? We were awarded an RCDI Federal Grant which requires matching funds over a 3 year timeframe. We have received great financial support from Marshall County, the city of Britton, the towns of Langford, Veblen, Eden, Pierpont and Lake City, the BED Board and the Britton Area Foundation. Also providing funding for our operation is First Savings Bank, CorTrust Bank, Lake Region Electric, East River Electric, Petroleum Partners of Britton, and Venture Communications. And of course, NESDCAP has provided 20% of the labor and benefits cost while the director works under their umbrella once a week.
Our cash position/liquidity has tripled over the past 2 years and our net worth is 7 times or 700% stronger than in 2007. Although we are in a current positive financial position, we are always concerned about our future funding as this particular grant is in the final year. Our long term goal is to be self sufficient and grow from our Revolving Loan Fund that circulates back to us. Funding and revenue is always tough and we are blessed that so many of our regional partners see the value and benefits that GLAD provides and we are so thankful for their annual contribution.
GLAD Purpose and Framework
We facilitate, not dictate. Building our future is up to the people of our community. We will facilitate that process based on the vision the people have and on what we learn from other successful communities.
We collaborate. Alone, any one of our towns has few resources, but together as one united community, the Glacial Lakes Area can build its future. We must tackle growth in an all-for-one-and-one-for-all effort.
We innovate. We study and learn from other communities and organizations. We apply new theories and proven practices that work. We strive to remain on the leading edge of rural growth and development. We aren’t concerned with what everybody else is doing, but we watch closely what a few star communities are doing differently.
We build sustainable growth. We think for the next generations. We seek good growth, not just any growth. We support projects that we believe will make a positive long-term impact on the Glacial Lakes Area as a whole.
Growth means positive change. It’s not just about more businesses, more people, and more jobs. It’s about better jobs, better businesses, and stronger communities. The first step will require changing our mindset as a whole community. We must believe in our people and want to change.
The services of an Economic Development Director for Glacial Lakes Area Development (GLAD), is in tact due to GLAD’s affiliation with Northeast South Dakota Community Action Program (NESDCAP).
NESDCAP and North East South Dakota Economic Corporation (NESDEC) are excited to assist GLAD in its efforts to become regionalized and support economic development in a larger, collaborative effort, which will strengthen the ability to get economic and community development initiatives done. GLAD will use NESDCAP and NESDEC as an established resource in consulting and learning from a very successful, community and economic development nonprofit.
Conclusion
Building our future will take patience, a can-do attitude, open-minded thinking, and a willingness to try new things. Together, as one community, we can create a better future. We are just beginning—laying the foundation that will transform our community. We can serve as the architect, but the true building will be done by the people of the Glacial Lakes Area. We are one year wiser, and one step closer to that future.
GLAD exists to:
• facilitate communities’ access to resources;
• facilitate regional economic development collaborations;
• being a conduit for enterprise; and
• strengthening the ability to get economic and community development initiatives done.
Contact us: Scott Amundson, Executive Director 605.448.0005 gladsd@venturecomm.net
Marshall County Community Building at 909 S Main Street (P.O. Box 231), Britton, SD 57430.
