The South Dakota State University Extension Service is working with small towns to help them come up with long term plans for survival.

Kenny Sherin is the Community Vitality Program Director for the Extension Service. He says there are people that would be interested in living in a small town…..

Sherin says they are using a program called “Hometown America” to help small towns focus on what would work for them….

Sherin says they help the program get started, but then it is up to local citizens to follow through…..

Sherin says they are currently working with a group in Mt Vernon who have decided that affordable housing would be a good start to stabilize their population.