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Investors, Partners, Community Stakeholders: The Three Pillars of DKEDC Support

Writer: Jackie Hynes
Jackie Hynes
Jan 12
2 min read

A pillar is a fundamental and essential fixture in both classical and modern architecture. Made from durable and capable materials, its positioning and purpose demand that the pillar bear not only the structure it supports, but also the symbol that the structure represents and the community that gathers underneath. It provides stability and order. It inspires and upholds. It commemorates the past and reinforces the future.

As part of Driving Dickinson County Forward, the Dickinson County Economic Development Corporation (DKEDC) relies on three pillars: investors, partners, and community developers.  Together, these interconnected groups play a unique role in building momentum and opportunity, fueling the journey, driving the vehicle, and maintaining the road ahead.


Investors: Fueling the Vision

Investors are businesses or individuals who have made a multi-year financial investment in the DKEDC’s Driving Dickinson County Forward capital campaign. The campaign currently has 76 county-wide investors supporting a wide variety of initiatives, such as:

  • Workforce development

  • Business recruitment and retention

  • Infrastructure and housing

  • Community branding and marketing

  • Entrepreneurship

Investors provide the capital to launch these transformational initiatives. They support visionaries and dreamers, helping turn ideas into reality. Their investment lays the financial groundwork for countywide growth. Investors are the fuel behind countywide economic progress — they’re shaping the future of Dickinson County.


Partners: Driving Connection

Partners are local businesses, nonprofits, and individuals who pay an annual membership fee to join the DKEDC’s Partnership Program, a chamber-style community connection platform. Via this platform, partners support community connectivity, business promotion, and day-to-day engagement, rather than funding major development projects. This sort of community engagement might look like:

  • Business spotlights

  • Social media promotion

  • Directory listings and visibility opportunities

  • Networking events

  • Educational sessions and Lunch & Learns

  • Advocacy and referrals from the DKEDC

Partners create tangible business-building benefits in the present, broadcasting, connecting, and developing the makers and doers in Dickinson County. They keep local business life thriving day to day — creating connections, visibility, and momentum in Dickinson County’s business community.


Community Stakeholders: Laying the Foundation

Community development partners are local, regional, and state-level organizations that collaborate with the DKEDC on infrastructure, education, housing, planning, and policy. These organizations include:

Long-term economic success starts with their support. These organizations serve as contributors and collaborators in community infrastructure and planning, workforce pipelines and school-to-work programming, housing assessments, and public funding alignment, as well as policy development and grant partnerships. These partners help build the framework for success. Their collaboration ensures that public systems are aligned with the needs of the private sector — paving the way for innovation and investment.


Everyone Has a Role

Investors fuel the future. Business partners drive daily connection. Community development partners pave and maintain the path. Together, these pillars are Driving Dickinson County Forward — with vision, velocity, and shared purpose. Reach out to the DKEDC if you’d like to be a part of this journey.


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