How donors in De Smet are bringing big projects to little town on the prairie
Summary
Donors in De Smet, South Dakota, helped raise over $15 million in private funds for local projects over 15 years, including a community and event center completed in 2015. The projects were mostly paid for by donations, with little city or federal money used, showing strong local support for town development.Key Facts
- De Smet has about 1,100 residents.
- A community and event center was built in 2015 with $5 million raised mostly from private donations.
- The initial project budget was $3.8 million but bids came in $1 million higher than expected.
- Local donors gave over 1,400 individual contributions, many matched by the company Lyle Signs.
- The city contributed about $400,000 and received a $100,000 federal grant for the event center.
- The city covers up to $90,000 per year in the center’s running costs; the rest comes from fees.
- The council initially hesitated to approve the project because of cost concerns and social media questions.
- At the last moment, local supporters donated the final funds needed, allowing the project to move forward.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.
