Eureka, SD

The Eureka Community Beautification Company was officially organized in July 1999.  Their plan was to renovate as many areas as possible before the Y2K celebration scheduled for the following year.  About 40 properties were identified by their board and the work began.

The legwork included contacting property owners (many of whom lived across the United States) and letting them know that they could deed their property to ECBC and no longer have to worry about upkeep or taxes.  Legal documents and sleuthing for information became a part of daily life, especially for Milbert Schick, chairman of the group, who took on that huge part of the process.  After everything was legally in place, the group coordinated the cleanup efforts.

One by one, and sometimes 2 or 3 at a time, the properties had buildings and overgrown vegetation removed, the land was leveled, then resold to people with interest in it - often an adjacent neighbor looking for a bit more land.  Spruce Up South Dakota was a state program that was also active during one summer and they helped in the process.

When all the deteriorated properties that could be obtained were completed, the group took a break for awhile.  During the past year additional properties that needed redevelopment became available, and the projects were again tackled.  Several more are targeted and the recent ones have been done in cooperation with the City of Eureka.

ECBC functions under the auspices of the Eureka Community Development Company making the group eligible for the status that allows tax free donations, and all bookwork is donated by Eureka Development as a contribution to the beautification project.

Eureka Community Beautification Company is supported solely by donations of money and manpower.  No tax dollars are used by the group.

When Federal Home Loan Bank named Eureka as the 2008 South Dakota Capital Community and awarded them $15,000, the Eureka Community Development Company (ECDC) chose 5 active local youth groups to share in the excitement.  Each group was presented with a certificate for $1,000 in a Pay It Forward Award.  As the groups formulate their plans to use the money, they meet with ECDC to discuss their plans and request a portion or all of the money.

National Honor Society is the first group to unveil their plans and they have asked for $500 for their initial project. Their plan is to add youth activities to the annual Schmeckfest celebration.  Following the planning phase, they will now approach community organizations to match the $500, and make the money go twice as far.  They will also work with the Schmeckfest committee in scheduling their events during the September festival.

National Honor Society, whose members demonstrate the qualities of scholarship, service, leadership and character, are exploring avenues of entertainment for those who are wee little children all the way through young adults.  If plans work out as they hope, even family entertainment will be acomplished through their efforts.

The project will not stop there, but will go beyone a one-time celebration’s entertainment.  As nominal fees are paid for the activities, the money will go back into the fund and revolve for future entertainment.  They will truly continue to “pay it forward”.

Federal Home Loan Bank Des Moines honored Eureka with the “South Dakota 2008 Capital Community” designation. A banquet given by FHLB was attended by about 160 guests on October 1. Every person in attendance was invited and honored because of their involvement and volunteerism in the community. A program was highlighted by Curt Heidt and Bob Perez of Federal Home Loan Bank, and congratulatory letters read by staff assistants of Sen. Tim Johnson, Sen. John Thune and Rep. Herseth Sandlin. Steve Jorgensen from Great Plains Bank and Wanda Jundt of the Eureka Community Development Company spoke about community involvement.

A $15,000 award was presented to the Eureka Community Development Company. The group will use the money for updating their website, signage for the community and future community projects. ECDC honored five very active youth groups in the community by presenting them with Pay It Forward awards. Each of the five groups (FCCLA, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, National Honor Society, Eureka area 4-H and Eureka area scouting-Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts) were asked to stand in groups in the room with their advisors. Each group was then given a certificate for $1,000 and asked to use it in ways to help the community. As plans are made each group will meet with the Eureka Community Development Company, explain their plans, and receive the actual money at that time. Those future meetings between youth groups and the community development group will enable those involved to get to know each other better and work intergenerationally.