South Dakota Housing presented its “Friend of Housing” Award to Tawney Brunsch at the annual statewide housing conference. South Dakota Housing presents the award annually to an individual who has made a commitment to affordable housing in South Dakota through their contributions, achievements and vision. As a community leader, […]
Long-Time Friends Become Business Partners, Purchase Construction Franchise
This summer, Frankee York (Oglala Sioux) and Raymond Vigil became the new owners of ABC Seamless, a construction franchise that specializes in siding, roofing, gutters, and windows. Prior to becoming owner of the Rapid City location, Vigil worked for ABC Seamless in Pierre, South Dakota, for four years. York, who […]
Historic Water, Light and Power Building Under New Ownership
Jason (Oglala Lakota) and Resa Rutz recently purchased one of the Picture City’s historic sandstone structures, the Water, Light and Power Company building located on North River Street. Polished Salon & Spa, owned by Resa, relocated to the building’s newly remodeled ground floor suite this summer. The […]
A Decade-Old Dream Comes True, Thanks to Persistence and Partnership
Bill and Sandra Cummings start Whispering Pines Bed, Breakfast & Outfitters in South Dakota Badlands. Ten years ago, Bill Cummings (Oglala Lakota) had a dream to purchase a 186-acre site that had previously operated as a camping and cabin resort just outside of the Badlands National Park in South Dakota. […]
Native American Artist Gallery to Re-Emerge with Support from Collaborative Financing Model
After being closed to the public since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, Racing Magpie, an organization that provides creative workspace to Native American artists and is known for their contemporary art exhibits, plans to re-open in a new building on the southside of Rapid City, South […]
Paycheck Protection Program Funds Still Available for Farmers, Ranchers, and Small Business Owners
Lakota Funds and the Lakota Federal Credit Union are partnering to ensure farmers, ranchers, and small business owners located on the Pine Ridge Reservation and surrounding areas will receive all the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funds they are eligible for. Ag producers may be eligible for forgivable loans up to […]
Lakota Funds Receives $2M Wells Fargo Open for Business Award
Lakota Funds is pleased to announce a $2,000,000 grant award from Wells Fargo’s Open for Business Fund program, which was launched to provide relief to the nation’s small business sector in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Wells Fargo is donating roughly $420 million to help small businesses impacted […]
COVID-19 Resources
COVID-19 Resources We have compiled a list of resources we think might be helpful to our community members as they are dealing with the impacts of COVID-19. As we get new information, we’ll continue to update this page. Please check back regularly. For Small Businesses Coronavirus Food Assistance Program Are […]
Tawney Brunsch joins Community Advisory Council (CAC)
The Federal Reserve Board in late October 2019 announced four new members of its Community Advisory Council (CAC), one of them being our very own Tawney Brunsch, Executive Director of Lakota Funds. Tawney and the other new members will serve three-year terms beginning in 2020. The CAC is composed […]
From Chef to Restaurateur, Stacey Livermont Purchases Piesano’s Pacchia
As the 10th annual Small Business Saturday approaches, Stacey Livermont (Oglala Sioux) is celebrating her entry into restaurant ownership at Piesano’s Pacchia after 20 years as the pizzeria’s chef. She began working at Piesano’s in 1999, just three years after the restaurant opened, and has become an integral part of […]