Boxelder Job Corp Students Build Wheel Chair Ramp For Box Elder Resident

NeighborWorks® Dakota Home Resources Revive 5 event overflowed into Box Elder, positively impacting disabled veteran and long time Box Elder resident Jerry Felts. Boxelder Job Corp carpentry students partnered with NeighborWorks® Dakota Home Resources to build Jerry and his wife a wheel chair ramp.

Felts has struggled with his health since 1995.  With daily medical visits it makes it very difficult to get up and down the outside stairs.  “Sometimes it would take me twenty minutes to get up those stairs” Felts stated. With a new wheel chair ramp Felts will have easier access in out of his home, making his daily medical trips a little less stressful.  Felts stated that the students are making a big difference in his life, "I'll remember this for the rest of my life, and they'll never know how much I appreciate it."

“Projects like this not only provide our students with hands on experience but it gives them an opportunity to give back to the community” stated lead carpentry instructor, Lance Steinberg.  

Boxelder student Richard Comeron explained how the Job Corp Program is a great way to gain experience in a professional trade and have a good start on life. “I have been in the program for about 6 months and I have already learned a lot,” explained Comeron..     

NeighborWorks Dakota Home Resources would like to thank all of the Boxelder Job Corp volunteers and Rapid City Knechts. Knechts provided a discount to purchase supplies and delivered the materials at no cost.   It is our many strong partnerships and volunteers that continue to support and enrich our communities.

Boxelder Job Corp lead carpentry instructor, Lance Steinberg; Brandon Olson, David Caravetta, Richard Cameron, Dan Sheffer, and Boxelder Job Corp Business and Community Liaison Jeff Hayward

About Box Elder Job Corp: The U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service operates the Boxelder Job Corps. It is part of the nationally funded department of labor scholarship for underprivileged youth ages 16 – 24.  The Center’s goal is to teach eligible young people job skills and help place them in related jobs and/or help further their education. Career training offered at the center includes business technology, carpentry, culinary arts, certified nurse assistant, electrician, facility maintenance, painting, networking and computer technology, union bricklaying, and welding. The center relies on scholarships making it so there is no cost for students or families who are interested. To enroll at Boxelder Job Corps, contact an admissions counselor at (800) 733-5627.

About Revive Five: Revive Five was the result of five Western South Dakota residents attending the NeighborWorks® America Community Leadership Institute (CLI). The Community Leadership Institute is an invitation-only, three-day training event that aims to strengthen the voices and skills of community, resident and volunteer leaders. The CLI is a vehicle for learning, and a forum for discussing, community issues and sharing best practices and solutions to the problems faced by low- to moderate-income residents. Each CLI has a general theme determined by a team of resident coordinators. At the end of every CLI, each participating team creates an action plan so they can effectively bring the knowledge they gained at the CLI back to their communities and use it to affect positive change.  Revive Five was the challenge that the attendees created to implement in their communities. The Challenge of Revive Five is to impact five homes within visible sight of each another, utilizing intergenerational partnerships, to make a positive visible impact on the neighborhood and community.   The end result will improve the appearance of five homes, increase neighborhood pride and bring the community together. 

For more information on NeighborWorks® Dakota Home Resources or Revive Five, contact Stephany at 605-578-1401 or visit us on the web at www.NeighborWorks®dhr.org

REVIVE FIVE IS REVIVING RAPID CITY COMMUNITY

The first week of June kicked off NeighborWorks® Week.   Volunteers throughout the Northern Hills communities scraped and painted homes, cleaned up neighborhoods, swapped plants, and engaged in multiple community activities.  This year also included Revive Five. 

Revive Five was the result of five Western South Dakota residents attending the NeighborWorks® America Community Leadership Institute (CLI). The Community Leadership Institute is an invitation-only, three-day training event that aims to strengthen the voices and skills of community, resident and volunteer leaders. The CLI is a vehicle for learning and a forum for discussing community issues and sharing best practices and solutions to the problems faced by low- to moderate-income residents. Each CLI has a general theme determined by a team of resident coordinators. At the end of every CLI, each participating team creates an action plan so they can effectively bring the knowledge they gained at the CLI back to their communities and use it to affect positive change.  Revive Five was the challenge that the attendees created to implement in their communities. 

The Challenge of Revive Five is to impact five homes within visible sight of each another, utilizing intergenerational partnerships, to make a positive visible impact on the neighborhood and community.   The end result will improve the appearance of five homes, increase neighborhood pride and bring the community together. 

NeighborWorks® long-term goal is to implement Revive Five in five communities within in the next five years, but for now the project has begun with five homes in Rapid City. Volunteers from the Rapid City Police Department assisted in the selection process of determining what homes could utilize this service.  Five homes throughout the College Park neighborhood were selected. 

Wedsenday, June 20^th, Sargent Chris DeGroote, Senior Officer Ron Terviel, Lemmon Avenue Block Club President John Hagg, and 16-year-old Fernando Suliveres gathered at Rose Suliveres home on Lemmon Avenue.  The team of volunteers began replacing and building new steps for her home.  Rose stated that she was very thankful for Revive Five and NeighborWorks®. “ Without this program I would not have been able to do these repairs.” Rose stated.   Rose’s home is greatly in need of new stucco, a fresh coat of paint, and new steps. “ I have fallen down those steps multiple times, one time I had to crawl inside before I could pull myself back up. Having new steps will make my home much more safe.” Rose stated.

Volunteers from Bank West, Rapid City Police Department, Ketel Thorstensen, Ellsworth Pol Kats  & College Park Block  finished one Revive Five home on Blain Avenue, by painting the home and removing a fence.  Professional contractors will complete rehab on the three of the five homes throughout the College Park Neighborhood, and a professional tree trimmer will improve the landscaped one of the five homes.  NeighborWorks America, NeighborWorks Dakota Home Resources, and South Dakota Housing Development Authority provide funding for Revive Five.

Although Revive Five was designed to improve five homes in one neighborhood, NeighborWorks® offers home rehab assistance for homeowners throughout Western South Dakota. NeighborWorks® Dakota Home Resources is a private, non-profit organization that works to assist families with their dream of homeownership and revitalize communities to improve the quality of life. Through partnerships with NeighborWorks America, South Dakota Housing Development Authority and USDA Rural Development, NeighborWorks® Dakota Home Resources receives funding to provide rehab assistance to low to moderate-income families. The rehab program offers assistance and a variety of programs for homeowners.

For more information on the Home Rehab Assistance, Revive Five or any other programs that NeighborWorks Dakota Resources, offers please contact Stephany at 605-578-1401 or visit us on the web at www.neighborworksdhr.org

Partnerships and Positive Attitudes

Thanks to the Box Elder office, NeighborWorks Dakota Home Resources has been building solid partners and reaching out to more families and individuals in Western South Dakota.  On February 23rd, the Community Development office contacted NeighborWorks seeking assistance for a client that was in need of an "Emergency" water heater.  

Homeowner, Judy McKeon, is on a fixed income that limited her ability to replace her non-working hot water heater.   Thanks to the partnership between Community Development and NeighborWorks Dakota Home Resources, NeighborWorks was able to provide a loan which allowed Judy to replace the water heater quickly. 

Together both organizations helped improve the quality of her home and life.   

Although Judy has had a difficult year, she was still very positive and thankful.  Several times she stated, "What a lucky person I am."  

Judy's Loan Counselor, Doris Nelson, stated "I  thought,  "Wow",  I could sure learn something from this lady on Positive Attitudes". 

"Homeownership Offers New Beginnings"

Sherry Bald Eagle Bear and her two nieces will now have a safe, affordable, and spacious place to call home.  Sherry purchased a South Dakota Housing Development Authority (SDHDA) Governor’s home at McGuigan Ranch in Spearfish. Sherry utilized a 502 direct loan from USDA Rural Development, NeighborWorks® Dakota Home Resources down payment and closing cost assistance, and homebuyer education. Together these partnerships helped create an affordable home for Sherry and her family. 

Sherry never thought that she would be able to own a home due to her fixed income.  It was not until she was referred to USDA Rural Development that she knew there was assistance and programs, like the Governor’s House and NeighborWorks® Dakota Home Resources, that could help her get in a home.

“Once I was qualified for the loan, I thought the process was finished. I was referred  to NeighborWorks® Dakota Home Resources. The NeighborWorks® staff, and their education program, helped me through the process.” Sherry stated. 

NeighborWorks® Dakota Home Resources was the general contractor for this project.  NeighborWorks® made sure the project was moving along and that Sherry and her nieces would have a quality home in a timely manner.  NeighborWorks® construction manager, Dennis Rentz, played a big roll in helping the process run smoothly. “Dennis was so helpful throughout this process. He let me know that I could call him whenever I needed anything,” Bald Eagle Bear stated.

Sherry said that the only thing she would have changed about the process was she wished she had attended the homebuyer education class before she was pre-qualified. Sherry attended homebuyer education in Belle Fourche through NeighborWorks®, but this was after she was pre-qualified for a SDHDA Governor's Home. NeighborWorks® Dakota Home Resources offers monthly homebuyer education classes throughout the Black Hills which prepare future homeowners for homeownership and educate clients on all of their options.   “Homebuyer education taught me a great deal of information. I would have liked that to be my first step.” 

The family is excited to start their journey in their new home. “Homeownership has offered me a new life. One in which my nieces can be proud to have a home to love,” Bald Eagle Bear Stated.

NeighborWorks® Dakota Home Resources has assisted over 900 families with homeownership. For more information about NeighborWorks®, and their programs, call 605-578-1401.

Casino Royale-2011

Box Elder Warm and Safe-2011

$10,000 Donation From First Interstate Bank and First Interstate Bank Foundation

 DEADWOOD, SD (11/10/11) – First Interstate Bank Representatives presented a check in the amount of $10,000 on behalf of First Interstate Bank and The First Interstate Bank Foundation, to NeighborWorks Dakota Home Resources Executive Director Joy McCracken at NeighborWorks® Dakota Home Resources third annual Casino Royale Fundraising event on November 10^th at 6pm. 


NeighborWorks® is a non-profit organization with a mission to create decent, safe, and affordable housing in Black Hills Communities by offering free Homebuyer’s Education classes, credit counseling, and housing rehab services. The donation proceeds from First Interstate Bank will benefit NeighborWorks® Dakota Home Resources and support their campaign for homeownership.


 In 1998, NeighborWorks Dakota Home Resources became involved with NeighborWorks America’s “Campaign for Home Ownership.”  This campaign seeks to revitalize communities by offering homeownership opportunities.  Through the assistance of NeighborWorks Dakota Home Resources families in South Dakota are realizing their dream of homeownership.First Interstate Bank was the first to show their support and help kick off NeighborWorks® Annual “Campaign for Home Ownership”.  


First Interstate Bank President of the Deadwood Market and Board of Director's Member of the First Interstate Bank Foundation, Shawn Rost stated, “We are pleased to show our continued support for the mission of NeighborWorks, in these trying economic times, the support for the homeownership initiative in Western South Dakota is more important than ever.  First Interstate Bank and The First Interstate Bank Foundation are proud to support NeighborWorks Dakota Home Resources and their mission to the community.”


Joy McCracken Executive Director of NeighborWorks Dakota Home Resources stated “we appreciate the continued support from First Interstate Bank and their ability of having the foresight to understand the benefits of homeownership and the positive outcomes it has on our families and communities. Through these strong partnerships our programs and services will continue to flourish.” Since 1992, NeighborWorks® Dakota Home Resources has provided a variety of programs and services that has assisted 898 low-and moderate-income families with the purchase of their homes. 


In November, NeighborWorks® Dakota Home Resources will celebrate their 900^th homebuyer.  First Interstate’s on-going generosity provides financial support for the continuation of such programs and services to benefit the residents of our communities. For more information about NeighborWorks’ programs and services, call 578-1401 or visit its website at www.neigborworksdhr.org. 

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