Lemmon Area Charitable and Economic Development Corporation

                   Office Location and mailing address:
                                 100 3rd St. West
                              Lemmon, SD 57638   

                    BOARD OF DIRECTORS
                         Karen Knutson  -    President
                         Travis Ellison     -    Vice President
                         Brad Wheeler    -    Treasurer
                         Shane Penfield     - Secretary
                         Ron Bierwagen   -   Director

                      Jo Hetzel, Executive Director  
                              Phone:  (605) 374-5699
                              Fax:      (605) 374-5789 
                          E-mail:   laced@sdplains.com 

About Us
The Lemmon Area Charitable and Economic Development Corporation, otherwise known as LACED, was incorporated in 1994 and is considered a 501(c)(3) according to the IRS.

The primary purposes of LACED are:

(1) To raise the economic welfare, educational and social levels of underprivileged or low-income residents and groups of Perkins County, to foster and promote community-wide interests and concerns for the problems of said residents and groups to the end that discrimination, economic and otherwise, may be eliminated; sickness, poverty and crime may be lessened; and educational and economic opportunities may be expanded in Perkins County.
(2) To encourage, promote and assist the growth, development and location of business concerns including small businesses, the creation of new and improved job opportunities, the reduction of unemployment and the betterment of individual and community prosperity within the County of Perkins, SD and City of Lemmon, SD.
(3) To preserve the historic and architectural character of Perkins County, to combat deterioration of communities and surrounding areas being threatened because of economic hardship in Perkins County.

Simply stated:  To establish, fund and direct a program designed to increase the educational, social, and financial capabilities of the residents of the City of Lemmon and Perkins County, South Dakota, via community development efforts, and assisting both new and existing businesses.
DOING BUSINESS
DEMOGRAPHICS

Lemmon's Population:   1,398 (2000 Census)
Perkins County's Population:  3,363 (2000 Census)

Lemmon Taxes:

"South Dakota has No Personal or Corporate Income Tax"

Real Property Tax Mill Levy:       $38.86/$1,000  
Local Sales Tax Rate:  2%
State Sales Tax Rate:  4%


Median Household Income:  $28,109 (2000 Census)
Median Age:  42.5 years (2000 Census)
November, 2006 Unemployment Rate: 2.6% Perkins County, 3% South Dakota
   Perkins County Labor Force--1,700 (November, 2006)

Historical and current employment/unemployment rates can be seen on the SD Labor Market Information Web Page

Average Annual Temperature  45 degrees
Average Annual Precipitation   17 inches
Average Annual Wind Speed    10mph
UTILITIES

Water, sewer and garbage service is provided through the City of Lemmon.

Water Source for the City of Lemmon is the Perkins County Rural Water System.
Minimum water charges are $43.15 per month for 2,000 gallons of water. Usage over 2,000 gallons is $0.0340 per gallon.

Sewer charges are $7.25 per month.

Garbage rates are $15.00 per month, plus sales tax.

Wastewater Treatment System:  Lagoon

Electric Service is provided through Montana Dakota Utilities

Telephone Service is available through West River Cooperative Telephone Company.

Internet service is provided via SD Plains Internet, (DSL High Speed Internet is available.)

Liquid Propane and Fuel Oil are available. Natural gas is not available.
TRANSPORTATION
                           
Lemmon is ideally located along US Highway 12 and SD Highway 73.
 
Nearest Interstate Highways:
  * I-94, approximately 93 miles going northwest or 85 miles going northeast
  * I-90, approximately 160 miles to the southwest

Railroad Service:  Burlington Northern

Airport Service:  Lemmon Municipal Airport, 4,500 feet paved and lighted runway.

Commercial Air Passenger Service
 * Dickinson, ND - approximately 90 miles
 * Bismark, ND- approximately 120 miles                              
 * Rapid City Regional, Rapid City, SD - approximately 145 miles  
Distances to Major Cities
Place
Miles
Aberdeen, South Dakota198
Sioux Falls, South Dakota425
Rapid City, South Dakota191
Bismark, North Dakota130
Dickinson, North Dakota  93
Fargo, North Dakota328
Minneapolis, Minnesota559
Denver, Colorado575
Kansas City, Kansas780
Chicago, Illinois966
Omaha, Nebraska601
Billings, Montana334
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada545
Major Employers in Lemmon

Wheeler Manufacturing--133 FTE
Lemmon School District--50 FTE, 8 PTE
Five Counties Hospital & Nursing Home--80 FTE & PTE
Southwest Grain and Petroleum--15 FTE
LIVE Center--30 FTE, 20 PTE
Northwest Farm & Home Supply--18 FTE
Dacotah Bank & Insurance--16 FTE
Super Value --11 FTE, 14 PTE
Lemmon Livestock -- 6 FTE, 40 PTE

New Businesses Since August, 2005

American Insurance Center
Huffman Car Wash & Sales
Prickly Pear Salon
Powderhorn Restaurant
Dakota Farm Equipment
Current Connections
Jeannie Ericsson, CPA
Tennent Auto Center
Dreiske Storage
Casey's Cozy Campground
Back In Balance-Massage Center
Alaska Cafe (new facility)
NAPA Dakota Auto Parts & Lube Center
Hamand Tire & Service Center
Chinese Garden Restaurant
Lemmon Eye Clinic

Business Counseling Available

Marcella Hurley of the Small Business Development Center, SBDC, in Pierre provides professional, confidential, no-cost business consulting services at Lemmon City Hall the last Monday and Tuesday of each month.

Appointments are necessary and can be made by contacting the LACED office at 605-374-5699. All South Dakota residents or business owners in Perkins and Corson counties, as well as residents immediately surrounding Lemmon, are welcome to schedule an appointment. Marcella Hurley may be contacted directly at 605-773-2783.

Services provided by the SBDC include one-to-one counseling and training for individuals starting a business or looking for way to improvement an existing business. Consulting services are based on the needs of the individual client and can range from business planning to financial analysis to market research. The SD Small Business Development Center is funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration and the State of South Dakota, as well as, numerous organizations.
FINANCIAL INCENTIVES
Lemmon Area Charitable and Economic Development Corporation has the following:
Expansion/Start-up Grants - the Business Start-up or Expansion Program is a grant sponsored through the Lemmon Area Charitable and Economic Development Corporation (LACED) intended to assist new/start-up and existing for-profit commercial businesses with their business endeavors. The businesses must be located within city limits or within a two-mile radius of Lemmon, South Dakota. A business can only receive this grant once and a completed application filed with the LACED office. USE of Funds: The intent of LACED is to promote the economic development of Lemmon and the immediate area by providing a financial incentive of up to $500, not to exceed 5% of developmental costs, to new and or expanding for-profit businesses. The funds may be utilized for equipment, utility deposits, building rental fees, land purchase, building purchase and or construction, signage, professional consultant fees. The funds may not be utilized for landscaping and or other property improvements if the building or property is not owned by the business applying for the funds. Funds may not be utilized for the purchase of materials or inventory for its resale or for its use in the manufacturing or processing of a product for sale or. Further these funds may not be utilized for day-to-day operations, salaries, etc.
Business Pride Grant Program - this grant program sponsored through the Lemmon Area Charitable Economic Development Corporation (LACED) is intended to assist existing for-profit commercial businesses improve the outside appearance of their property.  The grant will be on a 50/50 matching basis, up to a maximum of $500, for any approved project completed by an existing business located within city limits or within a two-mile radius of Lemmon, South Dakota. Existing business shall mean any for-profit commercial business which has been in operation for six months. At this time home-based businesses are not eligible for the program due to limited financial resources. The business shall file a formal application with LACED before work begins. Businesses may only receive one grant under this program.
Technical Assistance Grant-This is Rural Development grant program provided through LACED intended to assist small businesses/individuals who may need  consultant/third party assistance in order to start and/or expand their business. Examples might be to a hire a consultant to complete an environmental review in order to access a financial funding source; to hire a professional website developer or marketing consultant; to hire a consultant to complete a feasibility study, etc. Application can be made by contacting the LACED Office, and must be approved by the LACED Board and Rural Development before project begins.
Revolving Loan—LACED has a small revolving Rural Development federally funded loan pool which can be made to small business/entrepreneurs in order to create and/or retain jobs. Applications can be made by contacting the LACED Office.
Other Financial Incentives:
Perkins County--Five-year Pro-rated Property Tax Schedule for New Commercial Property Construction

South Dakota REDI Fund—this state loan fund can provide up to 45% of a project’s total cost. Interest rates and terms are normally 3%, amortized over useful asset, with a 5 year balloon payment. Minimum 10% equity is required. This fund can be utilized for the purchase of land and associated site improvements, construction, acquisition and renovations of buildings, machinery and equipment costs, plus services and other costs associated with construction. For more information visit the GOED web site at www.SDreadytowork.com.
State of South Dakota MicroLOAN—this state loan program can provide up to $50,000 or 50% of a project. Remaining 50%, must be provided by a bank. As this program is intended for smaller projects, including main street and retail operations, the total project cannot exceed $200,000. Funds may be used for working capital, equipment, real estate or other fixed asset project costs. Interest rates and terms are normally 3%, amortized over useful life of asset being financed, with a 5-year balloon. For more information visit the GOED web site at www.state.sd.us.
SBA 504—this loan program offers long-termed, fixed rate financing and is available for fixed asset purchases including land, buildings, new construction and equipment with a useful life of 10 years or more. An equity injection of ten percent is required and may increase up to twenty percent depending on business.  For more information visit the SD GOED web site at www.state.sd.us  or the West River Business Service Center at www.bhfreebusinesshelp.org.
West River Revolving Loan Fund—this loan can finance up to $150,000 or 75% of a project, whichever is less. A minimum 10% equity is required. Loans are normally amortized over the useful life of the asset up to 20 years, with a five-year balloon payment. Interest rates are typically below the current bank rates. Funds cannot be used for refinancing, and job creation is required. For more information visit the West River Business Service Center at www.bhfreebusinesshelp.org.
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