The Howard Rural Learning Center gathered partners and the community together in a ceremony signifying the beginning of a construction project that could eventually cost as much as $8.2 million. Ground was broken Wednesday on the next phase of the Maroney Rural Learning Center. It's a construction project estimated at $6.2 million and will include a hotel, restaurant, conference training center and wellness center. RLC President Randy Parry said bids will be opened in a couple of weeks and, if they are favorable, construction will begin in October.

The first phase for the RLC was construction of its office on Howard's Main Street in 2006, but a much bigger complex that included a hotel and conference area was always planned and fund-raising efforts have been pursued ever since.

As construction begins, Parry said, fund-raising will continue to raise another $2 million to complete the project with a community conference training center, plaza and additional offices east of the existing RLC offices.

When completed, the facility will encompass lots on either side of Farmer Avenue along Main Street. The facility is designed to extend across Farmer Avenue. City approval was required to vacate a portion of that road; the issue was brought to a public vote and approved in August.

During the ground-breaking ceremony, several partners came forward and thanked Parry for his time and dedication that has guided the RLC to where it is today. Parry, however, was quick to deflect that glory, instead giving recognition and credit to everyone involved.

"All the residents of Miner County put their time and effort in for so many years," he said.

Work started in 1995 when Miner County Community Revitalization formed to reverse the trend of population decline. The efforts began after a group of high school students conducted a research project that looked at solutions. One solution explored included the effect on local sales tax revenue with additional efforts to buy locally.

"Our vision started with students," Parry said. "Our work would not be possible without the people who put in the work they did. We believe opportunities can be created."

By 1998, MCCR had captured the attention of the Northwest Area Foundation, which initially provided funding for MCCR to work with the community on a 10-year strategic plan. The foundation then invested in the implementation of that plan.

"The support of the Northwest Area Foundation allowed us to provide a structured setting to implement our plan," Parry said.

As MCCR moved forward, its offices became the RLC as efforts within the office moved from not only revitalizing the Howard community but also providing information to other towns on effectively revitalize their own communities.

Kevin Walker, president and CEO of the Northwest Area Foundation, said their goal is to invest in people, communities and organizations in urban, rural and reservation communities in an effort to move them from poverty to prosperity.

"Northwest Area Foundation placed a bet on the work going on in Miner County, and it's paid off," Walker said.

While those bets are made in lots of communities, Walker said, results in Howard are the exception.

"I'm not sure any have derived the clear success that has been achieved in Miner County," he said. "We tapped into the energy already brewing."

Bob Sutton, president of the South Dakota Community Foundation, echoed that sentiment.

"The Rural Learning Center has set the standard for Re-imagining Rural America," Sutton said. "We celebrate the vision of a new generation of pioneers."

Ken Stork, president and CEO of Citibank South Dakota, said work at the RLC is critical.

"I've been following the Rural Learning Center for several years, but it wasn't until last month that I understood what the building was meant to do," Stork said. "It can provide better jobs that are green."

Stork came with Pam Flaherty, president and CEO of the Citi Foundation, who presented funding toward the project.

"This program fits with the vision of the Citi Foundation," Flaherty said in presenting a $250,000 grant. "It's not just about energy and energy independence, but about retraining and new jobs."

Businesses like Airstreams Renewables, Knight & Carver and Dakota Wind spoke to the benefits of the RLC. Airstreams Renewables, a California-based company, recently partnered to provide a training location in Howard for wind turbine maintenance. Knight & Carver has a home base in California and recently built a new facility in Howard that manufactures blades for wind turbines. Dakota Wind employs Howard residents to maintain wind turbines.

Jeff Duff, Airstreams Renewables president and CEO, said it has been exciting working with the RLC.

"They saw the future and knew it was coming," he said. "Training is the key, and that's what we do."

Duff said he is asked time and again why Airstreams decided to locate in Howard and jokingly said it was because of the wind. In reality, he said, it was the "down-home, you just have to figure it out because no on else is going to do it for you, mentality."

Gary Kanaby, vice president of sales for Knight & Carver, said he's excited to have a training center in the Midwest that his company can tap into for employees.

"Training of our employees is so important," Kanaby said. "This type of learning center could really help our employees."

The goal for the RLC is to be a learning facility that will showcase energy efficiency technology and opportunities. Its goal is to be a platinum-level LEED certified building, which is the highest certification possible in energy efficiency standards.

"It will be a learning facility for businesses, industries and individuals so they can find out what it means to be green," Parry said, indicating that he expects the RLC to draw from the surrounding area.

"Eighty percent of South Dakota's population is within 110 miles of Howard," he said. "We're looking forward to many conferences."

The RLC won't be the first LEED platinum facility in the region. Heartland Consumers Power District, a long-time partner in RLC efforts, is constructing its new headquarters in Madison, which is slated for completion in December. That facility is also seeking platinum-level certification.

"Today we begin in earnest how communities can move forward," Heartland General Manager Mike McDowell said. "We are especially proud of our partnership role. We will install and operate the best solar technology and work with smart grid technology. Nobody told us we had to do this. We set out to do this on our own. The Rural Learning Center and Heartland hope to create a model for South Dakota to show what determined leaders can do."

Pat Maroney, chairman for the RLC board and local contributor to the project, expressed his gratitude to all the partners who have helped Howard move forward.

"We've come back to life and we're thriving," Maroney said.

Success doesn't come without stumbling blocks and barriers, however, and Parry said that the RLC has had its share.

"There have been barriers and there will be more," he said. "We came together to get through those barriers."

Howard Mayor Don Arens said the RLC is a big stepping stone for Howard.

"It takes people working together to make a small town grow, and that's what's happening here," he said.

"It's not just about a building," Parry said. "It's about what's inside and what we do. Change can happen. It's important to do the work we do so people can come home."

When completed, the building will be a combination of new technology integrated with materials from an old building that will be razed.

Parry said tin siding, the maple wood flooring and other materials from the old gymnasium will be incorporated into this multimillion-dollar facility.