Embracing the Power of Connectivity in Rural Communities
Highmore, South Dakota (pop. 653) is our featured rural community this week! We'll be sharing success stories throughout the week from local leaders and business owners who are making an impact here.
Today's guest blog post is from Mary Knox, Marketing Supervisor at Venture Communications.
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Venture Communications, formerly known as Suly Buttes Telephone Cooperative, has been serving central South Dakota since 1952. From the beginning, our founders had a vision to provide essential telephone services to the farms and ranches in our region. Telephone service was a luxury that rural communities could only dream of. Farms and ranches were scattered across the landscape, and their only connection to the outside world was when they were able to come to town for supplies or if a passerby stopped for a visit. The severe winter of 1951-52 hastened the founders to “get the ball rolling” to provide telephone service in the area. The many blizzards and deep snow left many people no way of communicating with anyone for long periods of time. In times of emergency, rural residents would build a large fire to attract the attention of airplanes that were kept in the air for that purpose.
Fast forward to today! Our company has experienced tremendous growth and evolution. We are proud to offer a comprehensive suite of services including fiber internet, cable TV, home phones, and mobile phone services.
Our headquarters are located in Highmore, a small town nestled in the heart of central South Dakota. Despite our humble beginnings, we have become a reliable provider of essential services to rural communities in both central and northeastern South Dakota. Our main mission is to bring reliable services via fiber to the rural communities that we serve. We are proud to be a part of the Highmore community serving as a lifeline for households and businesses in our service areas. Our cooperative is dedicated to making a difference, and we employ over 40 amazing individuals who are committed to delivering outstanding service both locally and in the other communities we serve.
We understand the importance of staying connected, especially in areas where access to technology may be limited. By offering fiber internet, we can bridge the digital gap and provide our customers with the fastest and most reliable internet connection available.
With the convenience of reliable internet at our customers fingertips, we are witnessing a transformative shift in the way people can work and connect with the world. Thanks to this technological advancement, many of our customers residing in rural communities have been able to effortlessly work from the comfort of their own homes, accessing job opportunities that were once only available in larger cities.
At Venture Communications, we are thrilled to play a vital role in empowering our customers by enabling them to break the geographical barriers that once restricted their choices. Now, they can reap the benefits of the digital era and explore new horizons without leaving their close-knit communities in rural South Dakota.
Being a part of this digital revolution has brought immense convenience and endless possibilities to our customers’ lives. By embracing the power of connectivity in rural communities we can make sure no one feels left behind.
Find out more about the rural revival happening in Highmore, South Dakota here:
EPISODE 149 // BETH SIMONSON OF HYDEOUT BED & BREAKFAST
Several times throughout the year, we’ll bring in experts to interview on a particular topics that are relevant to small town business and leadership.
You’ll hear first-hand knowledge and info from people who are experiencing success as entrepreneurs and leaders in small towns across rural America.