any South Dakotans out there?

[TedH71]

Am learning more about the new community being built near Salem, South Dakota called Laurent. Www.laurentsd.com/ and they are trying to attract american sign language signers which I'm one due to my deafness. Are there job opporunties thereaboouts? I'm wanting to see if there are any farmers and ranchers out there. My Texas Lacy dogs (www.lacydog.com) currently work feral hogs a few times a month but could very easily be converted to cattle herding work because they're a breed that has been bred to herd and hunt. PM me if you know of any openings or companies hiring outta there or post here if you want. Any info on that part of the state would be much appreicated!

[TedH71]

Wow..no answers or questions here. I could've sworn I saw some South Dakotans here....I know that project is sort of considered conversational but am seeking info about avaerage rental prices and overall job prospects in that part of the state.

[Jenn]

I'm from near there. Sioux Falls is the big employer- medical center, Armour (meat) factory, Citibank, ? what else. Wages are quite low, lots of immigrants doing work we won't usually accept. My mom lived on our old farm closer to Mitchell and worked in a nursing home and made so little fulltime she qualified for food stamps. She left in disgust. But my extended family farms, is retired, does other ag work (my cousin has one of the best jobs- at grain elevators). I fear this fairly fancy community might be expensive to live in and unless you have a high pay white collar job local wages might not cover your costs. Still, investigate, maybe see if you'd move to the area anyway and perhaps do so in planning for this place. Afraid I wouldn't be willing to rent you the family farm- the nearby Hutterite colony are ideal tenants- and you couldn't really commute to it from Salem area.

Area is cold temperate minimal rainfall and minimal humidity. Lilacs and wheat and plenty of snow. Summers 100 degr but feels like 85 in the muggy east. Flat plains intersection every mile.

[cwgrl23]

I currently live in Sioux Falls, SD. Unless, you are self-employed, either Sioux Falls or Mitchel are your best bet for jobs. Unfortunatly, there are not very many high paying jobs :waa: Most farmers/ranchers I know either put their kids to work in the summer time or hire high school/college kids so they don't have to pay much and no benefits. I work as a office manager for a local companies -I am on the higher side of pay scale for my position and my family and I still qualify for food stamps - partially due to health insurance takes over a third of my paycheck. There are some good jobs around the area, but it all depends on your training and how far you are willing to drive to get to work.

I will be honest with you - there are some people who are not for the new town. The current feeling is if they want a town to go to one of the local small towns that are "dying" and buy the buisnesses and homes there. It would be more cost effective and would save a small town. There are also concerns for emergency services. Right now there is only the Highway Patrol and I think Salem might have it's own city cop but probably only one or two on duty at a time. All EMS and Fire are volunteer staffed. The concern is the lack of language barrier between Laurent and Salem. I am not saying that this is right or wrong, only that it is a concern. To my knowledge, Laurent has not addressed if they will be supplying their own emergency services or not. There are many good things that Laurent is trying to do. One other concern is right now SD is in the middle of a serious drought!! One of my concerns is that it doesn't look like Laurent has addressed the environment impact of all of the new construction/landscaping. Right now there are many areas of SD that have already enacted water restrictions/bans due to low water levels. Sorry to ramble on so, but wanted you to know some of the concerns that have been raised about Laurent.

Another concern you might have is - depending on where you are from - we tend to have two seasons in SD - winter and road construction. When you are factoring in a comute, bear in mind that from the first of October to the first of May is likely to have snow. Now the snow may melt when it hits the ground, but it still makes driving difficult.

I am not trying to talk you out of moving here. I am only trying to give you information to make an informed decision. If possible, I would come out here and visit Salem and the surronding area before you make a commitment.

Here is our local paper website: www.argusleader.com do a search on Laurent and it should pull up all the articles and editorials related to Laurent.

Also search www.keloland.com This is our major tv station and they have done serveral pieces on Laurent as well.

If you have any other questions, I will do my best to answer them or will try and point you in the right direction.

[bugstabber]

I hadn't heard of a new town, that's interesting! Here's our state web page, lots of links and information there:

http://www.state.sd.us/

This link will take you to the SD Career Center, AKA Job Service. Click on the quick search button, and you can search by town.

https://sdworks.state.sd.us/pls/works/works_ss.main

Good luck!

[busy homestead]

Hello!
I am also from South Eastern South Dakota but closer to Sioux City Iowa
than to Sioux FAlls. I say this because I am usually watching a SCity tv
station and therefore not farmiliar with Laurent. Sorry-

I will have to agree with what is being said- we have low paying jobs here
and lots of unemployment where I am located. If you arent from here all
you have to know is that Gateway Computers "used to be" based out of
our county. It has taken its high paying jobs to California and even the
low ones are now over sea's. There is very little of that company left
here and has made a huge huge economic impact on the community.
Sorry to rant..........have had too many family and friends move because
there is not work here to support a family.

Christina
athome in South Dakota

[TedH71]

Many thanks, folks! I had my suspicions but had heard from some people in this forum talking about drought problems in SD and low wages. I already am making low wages for the Austin area therefore am also on disability and food stamps. The disability check pays about 80 percent of my rent, in other words all of the check goes for rent! I would love to move to an area where I would be able to pay less for rent. Currently I pay $500 a month for a 744 sq foot apt and that's considered inexpensive for Austin! I will make some decisions before December bec that's when my lease expires. What's the average going rate for a house, apt, or duplex thereabouts? I'm presently glad my car is paid for but am wishing for a truck, lol. I will post my concerns on the Lauren forum and also will include the question of why they aren't trying to buy out a dying town, etc.

To be honest, I would rather move to a place that has feral hogs and allows hog dog hunting over a state that doesn't, lol.

[Cheryl in SD]

Here is a website that will give you an idea of apartment rent. There is a lot of other hunting in SD and you should be able to train your dog for that too.

http://www.apartments.com/search/oas...eo&partner=seo

Also, does this new town plan to try and attract some industry? If they don't, they will be doomed to go the way of the other small towns across the midwest. You have to have at least one, and more is better types of industry to support a town. I wonder what they are working to attract and if you could begin training to work in that field.

Cheryl in SD

[uyk7]

You might be able to buy a house cheap in SD also. We paid $9000 for our 3+ bedroom on 3 (Maybe 4) lots. We went contract-for-deed and had it paid off in less than 2 years. Property taxes about $260/year.

[sisterpine]

Wow! You mean folks really live in South Dakota! LOL from Montana.

[sulix]

I live about 25 miles S/W of this proposed community.. It has not been approved by the county board as yet that i know of. :You might contact the Sd. School for the Deaf in Sioux Falls if there are any employment opportunities.. As far as your dogs for cattle herding. Most farmers around here don't do that as everything is fenced..
Housing is available in almost every small town.At a reasonable price.However employment could be a problem.. There are some manufacturing places requiring welding experience or some hog operations which don't require much experience.
Unless: you have building or farming experience , I would give it a second thought.
Just thought i would give you some more input. The winters are and can be harsh, The summers are hot and the wind always blows.. However ,I love it and it isn't congested.. My garden grows and the lilacs bloom.The apple,pear,cherry trees are bountiful. The coyotes howl and the stars shine .. It is quiet .. I love it..