How donors in De Smet are bringing big projects to little town on the prairie

In the small town of De Smet, located in South Dakota, a group of generous donors have been instrumental in bringing large-scale projects to fruition. Rita Anderson, the former director of the De Smet Economic Development Corp., vividly remembers the anxiety she experienced in 2013 when her hard work and fundraising efforts for a community center appeared to be falling short.

Despite securing most of the funding through private local donations, Anderson's project was ultimately $17,000 short of approval from the De Smet City Council. However, the project was saved when an owner from Warne's Appliance store and a local cattle rancher stepped in to cover the final $17,000.

Since the completion of the event center in 2015, the residents of De Smet have continued to demonstrate their commitment to the town's growth and improvement. Over the past 15 years, more than $15 million in private donations have been raised for various medical, cultural, and beautification projects in the town of 1,100 people. Anderson attributes this remarkable passion to the community's belief that if they are going to do anything, they will go above and beyond to make it better than any other community around them.

The success of the event center project has led city development officials to undertake another fundraising initiative aimed at transforming downtown De Smet into a cultural, dining, and historical hub for locals and tourists. The Beautiful De Smet Committee, formed based on community surveys within a long-range master plan developed in 2019, has been successful in raising funds for various projects aimed at revitalizing the downtown area.

The committee's efforts have included upgrading underground utilities and pavement on Main Street, creating a gathering space that encourages residents and tourists to spend money at local businesses.