South Dakota

Nearly all grant money from state’s $200M housing fund is awarded; loan money remains • South Dakota Searchlight

Published

4 days ago

October 24, 2024

Nearly all grant money from state’s 0M housing fund is awarded; loan money remains • South Dakota Searchlight

A state board has awarded nearly all of the grant funding for the state’s Housing Infrastructure Financing Program, while much of the program’s loan money remains available.

The program uses a mix of state and federal money to ease the burden of high inflation for homebuilders and address a need for workforce housing. Lawmakers created the program in 2023, after legal wrangling held up the funds the previous year. It covers up to one-third of the cost of a development’s roads, sewer lines, street lights and other costs associated with building new neighborhoods.

The funding pool included $50 million in federal COVID relief funding for grants, $50 million in state funding for grants, and $100 million in state funding for loans.

There are just over $1 million in remaining grant funds designated for Sioux Falls and Rapid City projects, but that’s due to interest income rather than the original allotted amount of funding, said Chas Olson, executive director of the state Housing Development Authority. Two applications for projects in those cities are on the waiting list for the remaining funds, one of which will be considered at the next board meeting.

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The authority’s board awarded other returned and remaining grant funds to three projects at its Oct. 17 meeting.

“We’ve had a couple projects on the waiting list in the event that additional funds become available,” Amy Eldridge, director of rental housing development, told board members.

The board approved additional grant funding for Alpha Omega Subdivision in Box Elder, which was approved in September 2023 for over $3 million in grant funding. Due to an increase of $3.5 million in construction project costs, the project was awarded an additional $520,873 in grant funding.

Another $107,340 in grant funds were awarded to a housing project planned by the Pierre Economic Development Corporation, since its original project increased in costs by $322,000.

The remainder of the grant funding was awarded to a new project: River Park in Brandon, to develop infrastructure for 174 units of multi-family housing and 265 single-family homes. The board approved grant funding of $3 million, and $3.6 million in loan funding for the project.

If any other grant funding is returned from other projects, River Park could receive that funding for its $19 million project.

That’s because the authority has to spend all of its federal funds, allocated from the American Rescue Plan Act, by the end of 2026 or return them to the federal government, Eldridge told board members.

The board also approved $96,613 in loan funding for the Huron Cul-De-Sac, which was approved for $269,667 in grant funding in November 2023. Project costs increased by $289,836 since then.

About $87 million in loan funds remains available, with around $29.3 million earmarked for Sioux Falls and Rapid City and the remaining balance flagged for the rest of the state. The board has awarded about $18 million in loans to 12 projects so far. The loan funds have grown with interest earned since they were established.

With 70 infrastructure projects in motion due to program funding – an estimated 12,000 new housing units statewide – developers and contractors are less interested in loan funds right now, Olson said. There is also anticipation that lower interest rates will come along from banks.

“As a result, contractors are occupied, and developers without ongoing projects might be waiting to see how quickly these new units are absorbed,” Olson said.

Projects that returned funding to the board

Seven projects that were awarded grant and loan funds returned some amount of funding to the board, totaling $1.65 million in grants and $2.17 million in loans. All of the returned grant funding was re-allocated at the Oct. 17 meeting.

Projects stalled and not proceeding:

City Springs – Vanocker Heights (Sturgis): $2,140,000 loan funds returned
Stanley Township (Fort Pierre): $705,000 ARPA grant funds returned
Rustler Lot (Miller): $178,790 general grant funds returned
Stardust Subdivision (Mitchell): $567,568 ARPA grant funds returned

Projects that came in under budget:

Freedom Estates (Box Elder): $184,799 general grant funds returned
Kangas West Addition (Lake Norden): $14,513 general grant funds returned
Liberty Park Phase 4 (Box Elder): $29,124 loan funds returned

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South Dakota

Even more budget-friendly, last-minute South Dakota Halloween costumes

Published

4 hours ago

October 28, 2024

Press Room

Even more budget-friendly, last-minute South Dakota Halloween costumes

Trevor’s Costumes

The weather’s finally starting to cool down, right? I think we’re safe to acknowledge that it’s almost Halloween?

Oh shoot, it’s almost Halloween.

As ever a thing that’s become an annual tradition for the Argus Leader, if you’re in need of a last-minute South Dakota-themed costume that will generate whispers at the party of “What are they wearing?” and “I didn’t invite them, did you invite them?” then by all means, read on.

Ghostwriter

What you’ll need: A white sheet, a notebook, a pencil, some Wite-Out

Notes: Put on the sheet and start reporting out the facts about stuff like Gov. Kristi Noem’s meeting with Kim Jong-Un. Oh, sorry, what? That didn’t actually happen? Whoops. Good thing you brought the Wite-Out. Can you imagine how embarrassing it would have been if that made it into print?

Disappointed swimmer

What you’ll need: Swim trunks, goggles, maybe a pool noodle.

Notes: Dress up for a day at the pool — but just walk around the party looking extremely sad. Your reason? Votes on pricey renovations for pools at Frank Olson Park and Kuehn Park have been delayed twice already this year, to the chagrin of several Sioux Falls councilors.

Someone trying to enjoy a summer day in southeastern South Dakota

What you’ll need: A big coat, some bug spray. Maybe a hazmat suit if you own one of those for some reason.

Notes: Remember how much of a nightmare it was to go outside when mosquitos were rampant in July across the parts of South Dakota? Wrap yourself up and bring along some bug spray to remind everyone of that two weeks where venturing out to get the mail could lose you about a pint of blood.

Lallycooler

What you’ll need: Nothing. Or anything?

Notes: OK, sure. The official word on the odd name of Sioux Falls’ upcoming music festival is that it means “a real success.” But I’m going to bet that you can pretty much wander into any Halloween party wearing like, some tissue paper and pipe cleaners and tell people you’re dressed up as a Lallycooler and someone will believe you.

Ostrich

What you’ll need: Some feathers, or maybe just a nice turtleneck.

Notes: Okay, this one is pretty niche, and you might need to remind people that an ostrich was running around Louise Avenue for a bit earlier this year. This will probably play better if you’re friends with any of the people in that video who are way, way too comfortable approaching a 7-foot-tall bird that has knives on its feet.

Someone parking their way-too-big truck on Phillips Avenue

What you’ll need: A big piece of cardboard or something, some sunglasses and a baseball cap.

Notes: Just wander around the party, making sure that as often as possible you’re using the cardboard to prevent people from getting through hallways or entering doors. Get to work on this one, because it could land you a ticket any day now.

Literally anything about the election

What you’ll need: Your imagination.

Notes: It’s already been an absurd election year, so just decide what you think the latest scandal or big news story will be between now and Nov. 5 and just dress up as that − as long as you promise to also go vote.

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South Dakota

Brackets: South Dakota high school football state playoffs

Published

11 hours ago

October 28, 2024

Press Room

Brackets: South Dakota high school football state playoffs

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) – Halloween marks the first round of the state playoffs for 11-man teams, and the second round of games for 9-man schools and All-Nations teams. See below for a full schedule of games this Thursday and Friday. To learn more, click here.

CLASS 11A STATE

Quarterfinal games on Halloween at 6 p.m. MST

8 Rapid City Christian (6-3) at 1 Sioux Falls Christian (9-0)

5 Madison (6-3) at 4 West Central (6-3)

7 Dakota Valley (5-4) at 2 Dell Rapids (7-2)

6 Canton (4-5) at 3 Lennox (7-2)

CLASS 11AA STATE

Yankton and Brookings games start at 6 p.m. MST, Pierre at 5 p.m. MST, Watertown TBD on Halloween

8 Aberdeen Central (3-6) at 1 Yankton (7-2)

5 Spearfish (6-3) at 4 Pierre (5-4)

7 Huron (4-5) at 2 Watertown (7-2)

6 Tea Area (5-4) at 3 Brookings (7-2)

CLASS 11AAA STATE

Brandon Valley and Harrisburg games start at 5 p.m. MST, Jefferson at 6 p.m. MST, Central 3 p.m. MST on Halloween

8 Washington (2-7) at 1 Brandon Valley (9-0)

5 O’Gorman (5-4) at 4 Sioux Falls Jefferson (6-3)

7 Rapid City Central (2-7) at 2 Sioux Falls Lincoln (8-1)

6 Sioux Falls Roosevelt (3-6) at 3 Harrisburg (7-2)

CLASS 11B STATE

Sioux Valley and Elk Point-Jefferson games start at 5 p.m. MST, Winner and St. Thomas More TBD on Halloween

9 Mobridge-Pollock (7-2) at 1 Sioux Valley (9-0)

5 Clark/Willow Lake (7-2) at 4 Elk Point-Jefferson (7-2)

10 Woonsocket/Wessington Springs/Sanborn Central (7-2) at 2 Winner (9-0)

11 St. Thomas More (7-2) at 2 Mount Vernon/Plankinton (7-2)

CLASS 9A STATE

Wall game starts at 6 p.m. MST, Dupree TBD, Howard 5 p.m. MST, Philip 6 p.m. MST on Halloween

9 Castlewood (6-3) at 1 Wall (9-0)

12 Dupree (6-3) at 4 Wolsey-Wessington (8-1)

7 Ipswich (7-2) at 2 Howard (9-0)

6 Philip (7-2) at 3 Warner (9-0)

CLASS 9AA STATE

Parkston, Hamlin, Hill City games start at 6 p.m. MST, Hanson at 5 p.m. MST on Halloween

8 Leola/Frederick Area (7-2) at 1 Parkston (9-0)

5 Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy (7-2) at 4 Hill City (8-1)

7 Viborg-Hurley (7-2) at 2 Hamlin (9-0)

11 Hanson (5-4) at 3 Elkton-Lake Benton (8-1)

CLASS 9B STATE

Avon and Faulkton games start at 6 p.m. MST, Sully Buttes 5 p.m. MST, Kadoka 2 p.m. MST on Halloween

8 Canistota (6-3) at 1 Avon (8-1)

5 Sully Buttes (8-1) at 4 Corsica-Stickney (7-2)

10 Colman-Egan (5-4) at 2 Faulkton Area (7-2)

6 Kadoka Area (6-3) at 3 St. Mary’s (8-1)

ALL-NATIONS A STATE

Start times on Nov. 1 are TBD

4 Little Wound (6-3) at 1 Winnebago, NE (8-0)

6 Mahpiya Luta (3-6) at 2 Pine Ridge (7-1)

ALL-NATIONS B STATE

Start times on Nov. 1 are TBD

4 Crazy Horse (6-3) at 1 Lower Brule (8-0)

3 White River (7-2) at 2 Omaha Nation, NE (6-2)

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South Dakota

Obituary for Sharon Ruth Jenkins at Kirk Funeral Home & Cremation Services

Published

21 hours ago

October 27, 2024

Press Room

Obituary for Sharon Ruth Jenkins at Kirk Funeral Home & Cremation Services

Sharon Ruth Wilson Jenkins passed away peacefully on October 20, 2024, at her home in Summerset, South Dakota. Sharon loved her family deeply and without conditions. She had a beautiful spirit and was a wonderful friend who greeted you with open arms regardless of how long it had been since

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