Across the prairie, small communities work to keep local businesses and young people at home. Beyond the granite and grassland, a quieter story is reshaping how South Dakota earns its living.

Many rural towns have lost population and storefronts for decades.

What sets it apart

Grant programs and local co-ops aim to revive shuttered main streets. For those who know the region well, it is a quiet point of pride.

Broadband expansion is opening remote work as a rural lifeline.

Why it matters

In the end, the story here is really a story about the northern plains and the people drawn to them. Whether the bet pays off or not, it is helping write South Dakota's next chapter.