Entrepreneurship & Innovation Archives - Brookings Economic Development Corporation

SDSU mechanical engineering student receives SMART Scholarship

BROOKINGS – When Ryan Fouts stepped onto the South Dakota State University campus four years ago, he knew he was in the right place. “It felt like everyone here had my best interests in mind. Their goal was to help me achieve my goals,” recalled the senior mechanical engineering major from Moville, Iowa. What he…

One business becomes three

Hitch Studio grows, sells and expands BROOKINGS – In 2014, Renee Bauman and Carrie Kuhl founded Hitch Studio as business partners in a design studio for wedding invitations. Over time, it grew to include three divisions: web and graphic design, wedding planning, and a downtown retail store full of cards and gifts. This month, the…

‘Geography is taste’

Brookings man roasting, selling small batches of coffee BROOKINGS – You wouldn’t ordinarily imagine an entire world, culture and geography in a single cup of coffee. That’s precisely the notion that barista, manager, coffee roaster and businessman Andrew Litz aims to achieve with every cup of coffee brewed from his company: Westbound Coffee Company. “It…

Lebruce owner producing wine near hometown

BRUCE – After four decades in education, Myron Eighmy is turning his family’s farm into what he hopes will become a destination for his hometown of Bruce. Lebruce Vineyard and Winery is a new South Dakota-based winery located just a mile south of Bruce on 466th Avenue. The vineyard is run and owned by vintner…

Illusionist Reza to bring show back to hometown

BROOKINGS – Reza has taken the art of illusion to a new level, delivering his rock concert style magic show to audiences around the globe. Now he’s bringing his new show, “Edge of Illusion,” to the Oscar Larson Performing Arts Center on Sept. 6-7. Performances times are 7:30 p.m. nightly, and tickets are available now…

Van Den Top first SDSU student to receive international research award

BROOKINGS – It’s a first for South Dakota State University – and for doctoral student Trevor Van Den Top. Van Den Top is the first SDSU student to receive a research award at the 13th Workshop on Cyanobacteria in Boulder, Colorado. The international event, begun 40 years ago, is held every three years in North…

Spotlight on Spotlight

New theatre studio training, encouraging young actors BROOKINGS – Spotlight Theatre Studio is a new and growing troupe of inspired young actors training and performing in the theater located within the center of the 1921 Building. Spotlight Theatre Studio is designed to cultivate middle school and elementary school-aged children in theater performance using acting, singing,…

BEDC awarded $35,000 grant for Innovation Summit

Brookings Economic Development Corporation has received a USDA Rural Business Development Grant to hold a day-long event that will help existing businesses and entrepreneurs remain competitive in the next generation economy. The Brookings Innovation Summit on Oct. 17 will feature keynote speaker Mitch Ditkoff. Ditkoff is an award-winning author and co-founder of “Idea Champions,”…

Post overcomes obstacles

Business owner Alex Post back on mower after help from friends, strangers BROOKINGS – Lake Preston resident Alex Post, 18, and a high school junior, is not your typical capitalist and entrepreneur. Born in Russia with severe disabilities affecting both his arms and legs, he was raised in orphanages until being adopted by a California…

High-definition Daktronics display installed at Arrowhead Stadium

BROOKINGS – The Kansas City Chiefs have returned to Daktronics of Brookings, for an upgrade to the west end zone video display at Arrowhead Stadium in Missouri. The installation brings the first High Dynamic Range (HDR) video display to professional football. It replaces the 16HD technology installed in 2009 with 10-millimeter Surface-Mount Device (SMD) technology…