Here I am in lovely downtown Mitchell, S.D., during our vacation this past August.
Today I’m sharing my latest piece for The Daily Yonder, a Kentucky-based online magazine exploring rural issues and development in the United States. This time I’m talking about Mitchell, South Dakota, an I-90 stop-off we visited on the way to and from the Black Hills of South Dakota.
Probably best known for its iconic Corn Palace, Mitchell has made a name for itself as a regional hub for high speed rural internet and an increasing diverse information-based economy.
Here’s an excerpt:
Bryan Hisel, executive director of the Mitchell Area Development Corporation, said Mitchell’s success has been a combination of existing local talent and a collective focus on improving quality of life and infrastructure in Mitchell.
“Every community has this opportunity whether they know it or not,” said Hisel. “It comes down to whether the smart people who grew up and live in your community think it’s a good place to live or not.”
If they do, they’ll live here, start businesses, invest in the community and raise families. That’s what happened in Mitchell.
You can read “Mitchell, S.D. — Home of the Brain Gain” at The Daily Yonder. To read my previous pieces for the Daily Yonder visit my archive page. And goodness, follow The Daily Yonder. They do some wonderful reporting and analysis of rural issues and culture.
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