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2001 Projects & Activities
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MCCR
Signs Partnership Agreement with NWAF
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Community Education Program Receives
Funding
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FAST Program Organized To fund the program, a committee of volunteers successfully wrote a proposal and received grant money from the State of South Dakota, which was matched by MCCR. Numerous local businesses and organizations agreed to provide operational funds as well.
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Housing
Study
Copies of the Housing Study may be obtained at the MCCR Office.
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Revolving Loan Fund Created Under the direction of the MCCR Economic Development Committee, MCCR created a Revolving Loan Fund to assist businesses secure finances. To accomplish this task, MCCR partnered with the Northeast South Dakota Economic Corporation (NESDEC). NESDEC provides technical assistance to MCCR staff on loan administration and offers an additional financing option through their loan funds. MCCR secured additional monies for this fund in May 2001 when it was awarded $450,000 from the US Department of Agriculture's Intermediary Relending Program (IRP). Through this award, MCCR can borrow low interest money from USDA that are then relent to businesses.
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Greenleaf Assisted Living Opens In August 2001, the Greenleaf Assisted Living facility opened its doors. With the capacity to house 28 residents, Greenleaf provides an important housing option for seniors. Early in their work, MCCR's Senior Committee identified the development of an assisted living facility as a priority for the community. MCCR worked with Greenleaf to purchase land and build their facility. Howard Industries and the City of Howard also played vital roles in assisting 
Greenleaf. Howard Industries purchased ten acres of pasture adjoining the city limits, selling
three acres to Greenleaf and turning the
remaining acres into a housing development. The City of Howard
annexed this land into the city and put in curb, gutter, paved streets,
and utilities.
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Howard becomes 1st SD Municipality to own and
operate Wind Turbines In October 2001, the City of Howard became the first municipality in South Dakota to own and operate wind turbines. After studying the situation for two years, the City and MCCR partnered to purchase two 108 kW Micon Wind Turbines. Originally commissioned in California, these turbines were retrofitted and 
updated by Energy Maintenance Service. The electricity produced
from these turbines will be used by the city's utilities department,
offsetting electricity previously purchased. Located
on the southwest side of town, it has been estimated that the turbines
will provide up to 10% of the city's electricity needs.
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Fund for Rural America Grant Awarded to
MCCR In August 2001, the US Department of Agriculture announced approval of a grant from the Fund for Rural America entitled “Renewable Energy as a Collaborative Learning Model for Rural Sustainability.” This project helped fund wind turbine projects in Carthage and Canova, provided support for training for mechanics, provided research and analysis for the wind data collected and provided for training for local teachers to incorporate information related to renewable energy into their curriculum. This project is a working collaboration among Energy Maintenance System, MCCR, Dakota State University, South Dakota State University, and Howard Public Schools.
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Hometown Holidays Established as a
Community Event 
MCCR staff helped facilitate local shopping
through the 1st Annual Hometown Holidays event. MCCR worked with local
retailers to organize a parade and
other activities to raise awareness of local shopping. The retailers and
community residents
expressed interest in having this become an annual event. |
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Spruce Up South Dakota Miner County was the first county to benefit from the Spruce Up South Dakota in large part because of its previous success with local beautification efforts. In two days in June 2001, over 60 buildings in the county were removed to beautify areas along Hwy 34. MCCR, Miner County commissioners and staff, emergency personnel and Howard and Fedora Fire Departments collaborated to set an example in the state for this program. Because of Miner County’s experience the SD One Call system was improved to help with the identification of properties in unincorporated towns. Discussions have continued on how the community can continue this beautification effort.
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Lake Carthage & Redstone Park
Campgrounds Recognizing the opportunity to help develop tourism in the community, the MCCR Economic Development committee and Board of Directors approved funding for development of the park and improvements to the lakeside use camping area on Lake Carthage. The State Game Fish and Parks Department has entered into a contract with the City of Carthage for upkeep and improvements to include camping pads, electricity, updated picnic shelter, pedestal grills and new picnic tables. More facilities for hunting and tourists as well as county residents will enhance the economic stability of area businesses. The lake and city park improvements have resulted in many weekends where each site has been at full capacity with campers and boaters enjoying Miner County.
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Howard Industrial Park Developments From the Fall of 1999 through 2001, the Howard Industrial Park has undergone numerous developments. Through the collaborative efforts of the Miner County Economic Development Corporation, Howard Industries, MCCR, the City of Howard, thirty-three acres of the industrial park has been rezoned and the park has received numerous improvements to its infrastructure. Since this development, several businesses have located in the park including Energy Maintenance Service (EMS), Farm Service Agency (FSA), and a new 12,000 square foot spec building. The industrial park also features two 108kW wind turbines owned by the City of Howard. Howard Industries is working to construct a sign featuring the new business developments in the Industrial Park.
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RITE Link Training Miner County was selected as a training site for the Rural Information Technology Employment Link program The primary goals of this program are to provide information technology training to residents in rural areas and help secure employment for the participants in their rural communities. The Howard School District provided computer labs for training the workforce and MCCR Education and Youth Committee worked with DSU to coordinate public meetings, aptitude tests and survey information. MCCR serves as the community contact for people in the training. Fall 2001 Fourteen county residents completed the training and are working to market themselves as a workforce to businesses.
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MCCR Outreach Committee
Work 
The MCCR Outreach Committee facilitated the establishment of the
Miner County Christian Alliance. The mission of the Christian Alliance is to
help the community's congregations collaborate and identify common
issues and concerns. The Christian Alliance has also hosted events such as pre-harvest celebrations and a spring volunteer
appreciation supper.
The Committee also worked to expand welcome services to reach all areas of Miner County. This expansion has enabled rural residents to receive welcome packages as well as those in the towns.
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(605)
772-5153 • 109 North Main Street • Howard, SD 57349 •
mccr@alliancecom.net |
The process for creating CORELLL began
with the Education and Youth Committee performing research into how
other communities operate and fund community education. A plan
calling for the creation of a new board to oversee the program and the
hiring of a part-time director to organize the activities and programs
emerged. The Miner County Commission, the City of Howard, the
Howard Public Schools, and MCCR provide monies and in-kind assistance
for the program. Among its many programs, CORELLL sponsors
computer, golf, dance, and art classes. It also maintains a 
In order to have a better understanding of its housing situation,
the MCCR Housing Committee commissioned Hanna:Keelan & Associates to
complete a housing market study. Completed in October 2001, the
study involved three main parts: