Welcome from USDA Rural Development State Director Elsie M. Meeks

"Welcome to the USDA Rural Development Web Site for South Dakota. USDA Rural Development's mission is to improve the quality of life for rural Americans. To accomplish this, we provide Federal assistance in rural areas of our great state. It is our goal to ensure that rural citizens participate fully in the global economy. Working closely with profit and non-profit sectors, along with state, tribal and local governments, we are fundamentally changing the way in which the Federal government does business. With this new philosophy of public-private partnerships, many positive outcomes for rural Americans are occurring daily. South Dakota's small towns and rural areas face both challenges and new opportunities.  I am committed to working with rural communities and entrepreneurs in South Dakota to meet those challenges and seize opportunities.  Rural Development is committed to the future of rural communities and whatever your community needs are, from infrastructure to houses, to businesses, I want to assure you that my staff and I stand ready to help you. Please contact me at (605) 352-1100, or one of our 7 local offices." -- Elsie M. Meeks

Biography for Elsie M. Meeks

Elsie Meeks was named State Director of the USDA Rural Development in South Dakota by the Obama Administration on July 27, 2009.  In this capacity, she coordinates the efforts of 72 employees to work with others to ensure use of resources and 40 + programs are serving rural South Dakota residents.  Through her leadership, communities and rural residents will have the opportunity to develop and grow while also improving their quality of life. 

Meeks has several years of experience working to promote economic and community development.  In addition, she sits on the board of Northwest Area Foundation.  Prior to joining USDA, Meeks was the President/CEO of First Nations Oweesta Corporation and has over 20 years experience working for Native community economic development.

Before her leadership and work at Oweesta, Meeks was active for 20 years in the development and management of The Lakota Funds, a small business and microenterprise development loan fund CDFI on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota.  She served as chairperson of The Lakota Funds and was a board member of Corporation for Enterprise Development, Council on Foundations and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Partnership for Housing. She was also an International Advisory Council member of Native Nations Institute and on the Board of Governors for the Honoring Nations program of the Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development.  

Meeks completed a six-year term on the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights and was the first Native American to serve on the Commission.   She was the chairperson for the Native Financial Education Coalition, for which Oweesta served as the lead organization.

Meeks and her husband Jim make their home on their ranch near Kyle, SD on the Pine Ridge Reservation.

Rural Development is committed to helping improve the economy and quality of life in all of rural America by providing financial programs to support essential public facilities and services as water and sewer systems, housing, health clinics, emergency service facilities and electric and telephone service. Rural Development invested more than $353 million in Fiscal Year 2010 and $2.78 billion over the past 10 years in South Dakota economy.     

Download a copy of Elsie Meeks' biography here.