• On August 20, 1964 in Washington, DC, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Economic Opportunity Act (EOA).  The EOA created a variety of programs, including Community Action Agencies, as part of his War on Poverty.  GROW South Dakota, located in Sisseton, SD, was one of those agencies established to address local poverty problems in rural, urban and suburban communities across the country.
• In 1966, GROW South Dakota, operating at that time as the Northeast South Dakota Community Action Program (NESDCAP), was created to serve rural communities in South Dakota. Twelve years later, the Northeast South Dakota Economic Development Corporation (NESDEC) was created.  Each organization was geared towards community and economic development.  In June 2012, both organizations underwent a rebranding to be known as GROW South Dakota.  GROW South Dakota's purpose is to promote and foster economic growth, housing development and educational opportunities in distressed communities and underserved markets in South Dakota. This is done by providing services to individuals and communities through loan products and development services, attracting new businesses and job creation, and promoting the establishment of a positive business, educational and housing environment.  Types of services include apartment management, weatherization assistance, housing loans, the Governor's House program, financial and homebuyer education, business loans and loan counseling.  In addition to these programs, GROW South Dakota is a host to the Small Business Development Corporation (SBDC) out of Aberdeen, SD.
• If you would like to learn more about GROW South Dakota, or how community action can benefit you, please contact our agency at 605-698-7654.  GROW South Dakota is an EOO.