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Community Innovation Prize

Innovations are something new. A new method, idea, or approach to solve an old problem or change an old pattern in your community.

This prize is open to any community that is partnering with Dakota Resources to make their community thrive. The Community Innovation Prize will be awarded on November 17, 2026 at the Using AI in your Economic Development Organization Thriverr Gathering Awards Banquet in Sioux Falls, SD. The purpose of this prize is to recognize one innovative approach to empowering a local community by focusing on one of the building blocks on the Thriving Community Blueprint. Innovations may be currently underway or implemented within the past 12 months.

The winning applicant will be awarded a $2,000 credit to go towards Dakota Resources services to be used however the organization chooses to empower their community over the next calendar year.

Be as creative as you want with your application! Keep it short, clear, and simple. Write to the Selection Team; help them clearly see how your innovation is changing an old problem in your community.

Optional: You may submit a 2-minute video link from YouTube or Vimeo with the application. It can be very homemade, or it can be polished—it’s about the innovation, not the production quality.

Steps to Apply & Timeline
Complete Application. Fill out this form before the deadline of Tuesday, October 27, 2026.
Interview. The Selection Team will interview two leaders from your community via Zoom around November 2.
Award Announcement. Semi-finalists will be asked to attend the Using AI in your Economic Development Organization Thriverr Gathering on November 17 and 18, 2026 in Sioux Falls, SD where one community will be awarded the Community Innovation Prize.

Tips for Submission
Tell Your Story. Focus on how you did it - what did people or organizations in your community do differently than other communities, or than they had done previously in your community?
Stand Out. Remember that one way to stand out to the Selection Team is to make reading or watching your story enjoyable and inspirational.
Proofread. Make sure your application is free from grammatical errors and typos.
Submit on Time. Complete this application form by the deadline of Tuesday, October 27.
Applicant Information
Organization Name(Required.)
Community Name(Required.)
Organization Contact Person(Required.)
Email(Required.)
Cell Phone(Required.)
Video Link (Optional)
Focus of the Innovation
Pick one innovation from the list below to focus your application on.(Required.)
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