Two Dakota CU Professionals Earn SD Housing Awards

​Tawney Brunsch of Lakota Funds receives “Friend of Housing Award” and Tom Myers of Dakotaland FCU is recognized as Top Loan Originator. 

South Dakota Housing Recognizes Tawney Brunsch
South Dakota Housing recently presented its Friend of Housing Award to Tawney Brunsch (shown second from left in photo above) during the annual statewide housing conference. South Dakota Housing presents the award annually to one individual who has made a commitment to affordable housing in South Dakota through their contributions, achievements and vision.

As a community leader, Brunsch serves as the Executive Director of Lakota Funds, the first Native Community Development Financial Institution, serving the Pine Ridge and Rosebud Reservations with access to savings accounts, consumer loans and mortgage loans. She also led Lakota Funds to be the first Native financial institution to become a USDA FSA guaranteed lender. Under her leadership, as of December 2020, Lakota Funds had loaned more than $16.3 million through 1,225 loans, aiding 823 businesses and creating over 2,000 jobs.
 
Brunsch is a vital member of the South Dakota Native Homeownership Coalition since its creation in 2013, a group dedicated to increasing homeownership opportunities for Native families to build strong and healthy communities. She currently serves as the fiscal agent, on the Executive/Steering Committee, leads the Physical Issues Committee, and is active on the Policy and Veteran’s Committees.
 
At the national level, Brunsch was a founding board member for the Native CDFI Network, a national group that works to strengthen Native CDFIs. She is the Chair of the Credit Committee for the Council for Native American Farmers and Ranchers and just completed her term on the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines’ Advisory Council. This year, she ascends to chair the Consumer Advisory Council for the Federal Reserve Board of Governors.
 
The Friend of Housing Award was started 23 years ago to recognize individuals and/or companies who are instrumental in providing affordable housing in South Dakota. Annually, South Dakota Housing accepts nominations for the award and announces the recipient at their annual housing conference.

South Dakota Housing Recognizes Thomas Myers
South Dakota Housing also recognized the seven top loan originators of its homeownership loan programs. These programs provide affordable homeownership financing opportunities, which in turn provides security for families, stabilization for communities and the foundation from which dreams are built upon.

One of the Top South Dakota Housing Loan Originators of 2022 is Thomas Myers (shown left in photo) from Dakotaland Federal Credit Union in Huron. Honorees were chosen based on their total loan volume from over 500 loan originators from 40 Participating Lenders who were divided into seven geographic areas by county to determine the winners.
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Together these seven loan originators contributed more than $54 million in homeownership loans in twelve months. In a year when it was challenging to become a homebuyer, these lenders consistently promoted affordable homeownership products so that South Dakota Housing was able to assist more than 2,100 homebuyers purchase a home.
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South Dakota Housing Development Authority was created by the South Dakota Legislature in 1973 with a stated mission to provide opportunities for quality, affordable housing for South Dakotans. South Dakota Housing is a self-supporting, nonprofit entity known for our commitment for providing innovative financing solutions to create and preserve affordable housing. South Dakota Housing utilizes housing bonds, tax credits, and other federal and state resources to fund housing programs which provide mortgage and downpayment assistance, housing construction and rehabilitation, homelessness prevention, rental assistance, and educational opportunities.

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