SD’s first first gentleman announces initiative to promote small towns

Oct. 27--There are more than 300 municipalities in South Dakota -- the majority of which have 3,000 residents or fewer.

It's those small towns -- the Brittons and the Faulktons and the Eurekas -- that first gentleman Bryon Noem wants to highlight in his new initiative, launched Monday, "This is South Dakota."

"I want to remind people of the hidden gems of our small towns -- the places off the beaten path," Noem said in a news release. "Our hometowns are the heartbeat of our state, and I want to highlight them. I want to remind people that South Dakota's rural communities are some of the best places to raise a family or to start a business."

Noem will be traveling throughout the state, highlighting well-known delights and hidden gems alike on his social media channels:

@fgbryonnoem

* on Instagram.

* "

First Gentleman Bryon Noem

* " on Facebook.

* A

video explaining the project

can be found on Gov. Kristi Noem's

YouTube channel

* .

In his day job, Bryon Noem owns and operates Noem Insurance agency in Bryant -- population 453 by the latest U.S. Census Bureau estimates.

"I am proud to be from rural South Dakota," Noem said in a released audio statement. "It's where I learned the values of hard work and self-reliance, where Kristi and I chose to raise our kids, where we started an insurance business and hunting lodge, and where my family has farmed and ranched for over a century."

Small towns have their own struggles, he said in the audio statement. Dwindling populations mean smaller schools, fewer farmers and ranchers, and not as many customers at local businesses.

South Dakota's population as a whole has grown during the last 20 years. But most of that growth has been in larger cities -- Sioux Falls, Rapid City, Brookings -- Noem said in the audio statement.

"I want to make sure we don't lose South Dakota's rural culture either," he said.

So don't be surprised to see the state's first first gentleman out and about in your small town.

"I want to hit the road, I want to visit a lot of these small towns," Noem said in a video introducing the project. "My goal would be to hit all of them."

South Dakota has 288 municipalities with a population of fewer than 3,000, according to the most recent census estimates. There are 248 with a population of less than 1,000.

"In our world today, I think we've gotten away from just listening. I want to bring that back," Noem said in the news release. "Our hometowns have stories to tell, and I want everyone in South Dakota to hear them. That's my goal."

Follow @kgrandstrandAAN on Twitter.

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