Foundation grants go to five good causes

The Hill City Area Community Foundation (HCACF) gave out five grants to support community projects March 2 at the Hill City Center.

HCACF has about $750,000 in an account. That dollar amount is not touched, but the interest it accrues goes to fund the grants. 

“That’s a pretty big milestone,” said HCACF board  president Stacia Peters. 

This was the fifth year of giving out grants, and the group has given out nearly $55,000 in grants since its inception. 

The Hill City Arts Council received a grant for $1,500 to help in its relaunch of Fine Arts in the Hills. 

Kristie Van Bogart, the arts council board president  said the arts council is “really excited” the event is making a return. 

“It’s gonna look very different than it has in the past. We’re gonna host it here at the Hill City Center,” Van Bogart said. 

The grant will help with pipe and drape and tent for an outdoor reception.

“We’re sad that we missed 2025, and we’re glad to be back in 2026,” said Van Bogart.

The South Dakota State Railroad Museum (SDSRM) got a $1,200 grant, which will be used to finish its 12-foot wide by 36-foot long model railroad exhibit. James Willmus has been a volunteer at the SDSRM for 15 years.

“I showed up. My mother said, ‘I’m gonna get you out of the house and give you something to do so we’re gonna go to this new place called a railroad museum since you like trains.’ I met a gentleman named Rick Mills,” Willmus said, explaining he and Mills, who passed away in 2025, became good friends over the last 15 years. 

“His passing hit us pretty hard, but we’re able to bounce back,” Willmus said. 

The model train exhibit depicts the Black Hills and Eastern South Dakota. Willmus explained that model trains are expensive to put together, and the SDSRM was relying on grants and donations to finish the exhibit. However, in May, the SDSRM is hosting the National Model Railroad Association for its regional convention.

“We’re on a compressed time schedule,” Willmus said to finish the exhibit prior to hosting the convention.

“When you walk into the museum this summer, you’re gonna see a train layout that looks fantastic,” Willmus said.

The Supporters of the Hill City Ambulance received a $2,500 award  for 20 cots, pillows and blankets. 

“We realized when we had the big windstorm that we are one of two places in Hill City that has a generator,” said Lori Comer. “With all the people that were without power, if we’d had had cots and things, we could have opened up the ambulance bays and had people in there.

The Hill City Friends of the Library was awarded $1,238 for a bench and concrete pad so people have a place to sit while enjoying the free library WiFi.

“It’s open all the time and people use it a lot on the weekends or in the evenings,” said Sis Sanders. “This gives them a little bit better comfort to sit outside and enjoy the wifi.”

The Boys and Girls Club of the Black Hills received a grant as well for $2,000.

Nicole Burdick, the CEO of the Boys and Girls Club said the awarded funds will be used for a brand new computer workstation. Children sign in via a computer upon entering the club.

“Since I’ve started in July, we’ve had computers dropping like flies,” Burdick said, adding the money will replace a computer over eight years old. 

Peters said the HCACF board is “always excited to put money back into the community.”

Grant applications usually begin in January and are due at the end of February. 

Melissa Rupert, who also sits on the HCACF board, said there were great applications, but the board tries to award grants to organizations that impact the most people in Hill City. 

“We’re trying to raise funds all the time,” Rupert said. “The principal is never spent. Only the interest. When you make a contribution to the fund, it’s forever.”

DeMaris Nesheim, along with her husband Erv, was one of the key people who helped originate the fund. 

DeMaris said, “I couldn’t be more proud of this community,” adding Hill City is one of the “pride and joys” of the South Dakota Community Foundation.

The HCACF will have a Casino Night in October. Rupert said it’s an opportunity not just to support the HCACF but to get the community together. 

“It’s just supposed to be a social, Hill City time, to hang out with your friends. Come and have fun. That’s what this organization is about too, bringing our community together so that we’re strong. It’s awesome,” said Rupert.