Who We Are

The Mission Statement of the Grant County Development Corporation The Grant County Development Corporation drives economic growth, supports business success, and strengthens the long-term vitality of our communities.

What we do:

• Business Retention & Expansion

• Industrial & Infrastructure Development

• Workforce & Talent Initiatives

• Housing & Quality of Life Projects

• Community & Investor Partnerships

Our Story

The Grant County Development Corporation (GCDC) traces its origins to 1968, when a group of local business and civic leaders formed the Milbank-Grant County Development Corporation to attract business and industry to Milbank and Grant County, South Dakota. With no state or federal funding available at the time, the organization raised its initial capital through a community stock sale. Early achievements included acquiring land for Milbank’s first Industrial Park and assisting with the development of the Milbank Mall in the 1970s.

As development costs and local needs increased, a companion non-profit corporation was created in 1986—known as the Grant County Development Corporation—to secure additional funding and expand economic development efforts. In 1988, the City of Milbank dedicated a 0.1% sales tax to support economic development, directing over $315,000 to GCDC. By 1994, the for-profit corporation was dissolved and its assets transferred to the non-profit GCDC, which continues today as the primary economic development authority for Milbank and Grant County.

Throughout the 1990s, GCDC drove major local business expansions, job creation, and industrial park development. The organization secured an Intermediary Relending Program (IRP) loan in 1996, establishing a revolving loan fund that has since loaned more than $1 million to support local business growth. GCDC’s efforts helped Milbank earn recognition as South Dakota Community of the Year twice during that decade—in 1993 and 1997—reflecting the community’s growing economic strength and development momentum.

GCDC continued advancing business attraction and expansion efforts into the 2000s, supporting new and expanding employers, commercial investment, and community enhancement projects. Over the decades, these efforts led to sustained job growth and improved quality of life throughout the region.

Most recently, Milbank was again named South Dakota Community of the Year in 2023 by the Governor’s Office of Economic Development. The award recognized the community’s ongoing economic development success, including multi-million-dollar expansions by Valley Queen Cheese and Koch Senior Living, major housing development initiatives, and active planning for industrial park expansion—all efforts supported through the leadership and partnership of GCDC.

For more than 55 years, the Grant County Development Corporation has remained committed to business development, job creation, and community prosperity. Today, GCDC continues to coordinate strategic partnerships, support local employers, and lead initiatives that fuel economic opportunity and strengthen the future of Milbank and Grant County.

Traci Stein became the Executive Director of the Grant County Development Corporation (GCDC) in April 2024. She brings more than 16 years of experience in economic development, community growth strategy, and public-private partnership leadership.

Stein holds a Master of Science in Information Systems from Dakota State University and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Mount Marty College. She is also a Certified Economic Development Finance Professional (EDFP) through the National Development Council—providing her with specialized expertise in development finance, business lending, and complex funding structures for community and economic development projects.

Before joining GCDC, Stein served in key leadership roles with the Watertown Development Company for 16 years, where she played an instrumental role in advancing major initiatives in housing, childcare, retail, commercial development, and industrial expansion. Throughout her career, she has worked collaboratively with state, regional, and community leaders to drive economic vitality, attract investment, and strengthen local business ecosystems.

Traci brings a results-driven, community-focused approach to her work in Grant County. GCDC is excited to support her leadership as she continues to build partnerships, expand opportunities, and foster long-term economic growth for Milbank and the greater Grant County region.