Clark County Spring Highlights: April to Now

Choose Clark County Blog | May 2025

Spring has been busy—and really exciting—around here! Here’s a quick update on what we’ve been working on since April:

Main Street Beautification in Full Bloom

If you’ve driven down Main Street lately, you’ve probably seen some of the changes. With the help of the Conservation District and Rotary, we planted new trees, freshened up the flowerpots with Midwestern perennials, and got a lot of businesses involved in helping water and care for them. It’s been awesome to see how these small improvements are already making a big impact on how Main Street feels.

And we’re not stopping here—benches are coming, and we’re working on adding even more public art and beautification projects.

Welcome Packet Expansion

We’re excited to share that our Welcome Packet has grown from something just for the City of Clark to something for the whole county. And with all the new babies arriving (hello, baby boom!), we’re rolling out a Welcome Baby Packet too. Thanks to the County Nurse’s Office, Sanford, and the Chamber, new families will get an even warmer Clark County welcome with information, resources, and a few surprises.

Leadership Visits & Sharing Our Story

This spring, we had the honor of hosting Senator John Thune in Clark. He toured Westside Implement, stopped by Tony’s Collision, and even gave the Clark track team a pep talk before they headed off to state. It was a really good reminder that Clark is putting itself back on the map—and that people are noticing what’s happening here.

We also had the chance to share our story at the Energize Conference in Platte. It was a huge milestone to be asked to speak about the work we’re doing in Clark and share with other rural communities how local action can really drive change.

Grants & Growth Opportunities

We’re excited to report:

• We received a $4,000 grant from the Clark Area Community Foundation to support board development and membership in Advantage South Dakota.

• We’ve applied for the Bush Prize South Dakota and other grants (USDA Innovation Matters, POET Community Impact), with decisions expected soon.

• We’ve been actively sharing new grant and scholarship opportunities with local businesses and residents.

And—maybe most exciting—we’ve been invited to participate in a leadership opportunity through Grow South Dakota. It’s a great chance to keep learning and growing, and it could even open the door to another grant that would directly support projects right here in Clark County. It’s exciting to know others are seeing the momentum and want to invest in what’s happening here.

Coming Soon: Moms Meet-Up at the Farmers Market

Starting in July, we’ll be kicking off monthly Moms Meet-Ups during the Farmers Market. It’s a simple, casual way to bring families together, meet other parents, and just build a little more community around those busy years of raising kids.

It’s been a busy season, but an exciting one. Thanks to everyone who’s been a part of the conversations, the planting, the planning, and all the other small pieces that are making a big difference. There’s a lot more coming—stay tuned!

– Catie Noethlich

Choose Clark County