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June 25, 2019

Reader's Digest Selects Rapid City As Finalist For 'Nicest Places In America'; Nationwide Vote Through July 21

Rapid City is one of 50 finalists in Reader's Digest 'Nicest Places in America' with Americans voting now until July 21. The top 10 cities will be featured in a November edition. Rapid City is one of 50 finalists in Reader's Digest 'Nicest Places in America' with Americans voting now until July 21. The top 10 cities will be featured in a November edition. (City File Photo/Darrell Shoemaker)

National magazine seeks to feature top 10 cities;

Online polling of Americans goes until July 21

RAPID CITY, SD--Rapid City has been selected as a 2019 finalist in the Reader's Digest 'Nicest Places In America'.  The publication has named 50 finalists for its third annual search for the 'Nicest Place in America,' a national crowd-sourced effort to uncover places where people are kind and treat each other with respect.

            Over a submission period of 31 days, Reader's Digest collected nearly 1,100 stories of places across America where people are kind and civility is winning, according to the publication's June 21 release.  From the submissions, Reader's Digest editors and a panel of judges selected 50 places - one for every state. 

            Reader's Digest is now turning to America to vote on the 10 finalists for a cover story in the November issue of the magazine.  Public voting ends July 21 and the public can read up on the finalists and vote at rd.com/nicest .

            Some of the nominees include communities like Rapid City, Anaheim, CA, Texarkana, TX, and Watford City, ND; while others are nominated select areas within a community in a particular state, such as Sehnert's Bakery in McCook, NE; the Lingonberry Llama Coffee Shop in Belleville, WI; and S. Chestnut Street in Casper, WY.

            “Never underestimate the power of being kind!  Rapid City treats it’s visitors like family!  We are proud of our City and by helping with directions, recommending places to eat and places to tour, we show that pride!  Not every City embraces visitors like Rapid City!”  said Julie Schmitz Jensen, President/CEO of Visit Rapid City.  “Keep it up, Rapid City!!!  Your kindness matters!” 

            Reader's Digest selected Rapid City as the South Dakota finalist based on a nomination by Shelly Holsworth-Jackson.  Holsworth-Jackson characterized Rapid City as "beautiful, friendly, clean and the 50-mile surrounding history is unmatched.  Not to mention Mt. Rushmore, Deadwood and the Sturgis Rally."  She referenced Main Street Square "that has events scheduled almost every day during the summer", the presidential statues on street corners in downtown Rapid City and the efforts of local citizens to adorn the statues with warm clothing to assist the homeless.

            The friendly attitude of local citizens towards visitors and residents is also echoed in sentiments by city officials in the Reader's Digest nomination profile of Rapid City.  Reader's Digest indicates the 50 finalists represent the best cities in the country.

            "This year we sifted through over 1,000 stories of places where people stick together because of kindness, and these are the best from each state," said Reader's Digest Editor-in-Chief Bruce Kelley. "In doing so, we learned something amazing, which is that no matter what's going on in the news or social media, the truth is that there's goodness all around us.  We hope these stories lift spirits and inspire all of us to be better neighbors, friends and family."

            Reader's Digest indicates this year's search brought in a record number of submissions with a final tally of 1,077 stories, nearly three times that of 2018.

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Thank you,

Darrell W. Shoemaker | Communications Coordinator

T: 605.721.6686 | M: 605.939.8551

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W: www.rcgov.org

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