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MEDCO plays expanded role in unusual year


The board and staff of Mobridge Economic Development Corporation (MEDCO) were busy in 2020, with helping area residents and business owners stay on their feet during this trying time among other projects.
With the economic situation that developed during the coronavirus pandemic, executive director Michele Harrison said she was able to assist people with applying for loans, CARES Act funding and working with other groups to assist local business owners.
“There were a lot of things that MEDCO could help with this year,” Harrison said. “We had the opportunity to help whoever needed help with applying for the CARES funding and several other projects this year.”
She said she was able to help 15 entities apply for S.D. State COVID-19 grant program.
Harrison has worked closely with other entities this year, including working with the staff of Mobridge Regional Hospital and Clinics with the funding and direction of the Mobridge Care Center building study. MEDCO also had a hand in helping area businesses through the tough period of closure during the first weeks of the pandemic.
“We have been working in collaboration with other funding agencies,” she said. “We have been working locally with the Chamber and the City of Mobridge, and federal agencies like the United States Department of Agriculture in funding projects.”
According to the annual report, in 2020 MEDCO closed $739,500 in loans to 43 businesses affecting 124 total jobs.
Harrison said some form of MEDCO has been assisting the Mobridge business community for several decades and has $2.3 million in loans to entities since 2006.
MEDCO recently invested $10,000 toward the Small Act-Big Impact program Shop local holiday campaign.
The group also worked closely with the North East Council of Governments, Northeast South Dakota Economic Corporation and Dakota Resources to pool monies for lending purposes.
Harrison has also expanded the community’s interest further as she serves as board member of NESDCAP (housing division of GrowSD) and attends the State of S.D. Governor’s Economic Development Convention. She is a Mobridge Rotarian and acts as treasurer of both Mobridge Rodeo, Inc, and the Mobridge Rodeo Foundation.
The board of directors of MEDCO includes president Bruce Brekke, of Montana Dakota Utilities; vice-president Tom Zerr, S.D. Department of Game, Fish & Parks; secretary/treasurer Harrison; and members Travis Vetch of Great Western Bank; Dawn Konold, of the Dakota Radio Group; John Ayoub, CEO of Mobridge Regional Hospital and Clinics; Adam Hayes, of Mobridge Ace Hardware; Jesse Konold of Key Insurance; Tim Frederick, superintendent of Mobridge-Pollock School District; Darrell Schlepp, retired banker, and Chad Jager of Dacotah Bank.

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