Terms of Service | Settle the West

1. Introduction

Welcome to Settle the West ("Settle the West," "we," "us," or "our"), a remote worker relocation program operated by Seed Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, as part of the Black Hills Consortium ecosystem. Settle the West recruits remote workers, entrepreneurs, and families to relocate to 9 partner towns across the Black Hills region of South Dakota and Wyoming. Our program offers relocation incentives, housing assistance, community integration support, and workforce development resources. These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of our website and your participation in the Settle the West program. By using our website or applying to the program, you agree to be bound by these Terms.

2. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing this website, submitting a relocation application, accepting relocation incentives, or participating in any Settle the West programs or events, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms and all applicable laws and regulations. If you are applying on behalf of a household or family, you represent that you have the authority to bind all members of your household to these Terms. We may update these Terms at any time, and your continued use of our services or participation in the program after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

3. Program Description

Settle the West is a remote worker relocation program modeled on the Tulsa Remote program, adapted for distributed impact across 9 Black Hills partner towns: Custer, Hill City, Hot Springs, Keystone, Edgemont, Lead, Deadwood (South Dakota), Newcastle, and Sundance (Wyoming). The program offers financial incentives ranging from $10,000 to $15,000 depending on participant type, along with priority access to housing through Pass Creek Holdings, free coworking memberships at Grow Campus, community integration support during the first 90 days, educational discounts through Seed Academy, and connections to the broader Black Hills Consortium ecosystem. Program offerings, incentive amounts, partner towns, and eligibility requirements are subject to change at our discretion.

4. Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for the Settle the West relocation program, applicants must meet the following general requirements: you must be at least 18 years of age, have verifiable remote employment or self-employment income (or be an entrepreneur with a viable business plan), not currently reside in the eligible partner town regions, commit to relocating full-time to one of the 9 partner towns, and agree to the program's residency and community participation requirements. Additional eligibility criteria may apply to specific incentive tiers (individual, couple, family, founder). Settle the West reserves the right to accept or reject applications at its sole discretion. Meeting the eligibility requirements does not guarantee acceptance into the program.

5. Relocation Incentives and Conditions

Relocation incentives are paid over a 12-month period following your verified relocation to an eligible partner town. Incentive payments are contingent upon maintaining full-time residency in the partner town, participating in required community integration activities during the first 90 days, completing program check-ins and surveys as scheduled, and complying with all program requirements and these Terms. A portion of each incentive ($500) is allocated as a tax-deductible donation to Seed Foundation, and an additional portion ($250) supports Black Hills Consortium operations. These allocations are deducted from the gross incentive amount. Incentive payments may be subject to federal and state income tax reporting requirements. You are responsible for your own tax obligations. Settle the West may require repayment of incentives (in whole or in part) if you leave the partner town before completing the minimum 12-month residency period or if you provide materially false information in your application.

6. Housing and Services

Settle the West provides priority access to housing through Pass Creek Holdings and other partner housing providers. Housing availability, pricing, and terms are determined by the housing provider and are subject to change. Settle the West does not guarantee specific housing units, pricing, or availability. Coworking memberships at Grow Campus are provided for a limited introductory period (typically 6 months) and are subject to Grow Campus terms of use. Educational discounts through Seed Academy are subject to program availability and Seed Academy enrollment requirements. All partner services are provided by their respective entities and are governed by their own terms and conditions. Settle the West is not responsible for the quality, availability, or performance of partner services.

7. Community Guidelines

Settle the West participants are expected to be positive, engaged members of their new communities. Participants agree to participate in community integration activities during the onboarding period, treat fellow participants, community members, and program staff with respect and courtesy, comply with all applicable local, state, and federal laws, attend program check-ins and provide feedback as requested, refrain from any behavior that could damage the reputation of Settle the West, Seed Foundation, or the partner towns, and respect the cultural heritage and traditions of the Black Hills communities. Violations of community guidelines may result in removal from the program and potential repayment of incentives.

8. Intellectual Property

All content on this website, including text, graphics, logos, images, photography, and software, is the property of Settle the West, Seed Foundation, or their content suppliers and is protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws. The Settle the West name, logo, and tagline ("Your Future Starts Out West") are trademarks of Seed Foundation. You may not use our trademarks, logos, or branding materials without prior written permission. Participants may share their personal relocation experiences on social media, but may not imply official endorsement by Settle the West without authorization.

9. Disclaimer of Warranties

Our website and services are provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis without any warranties of any kind, whether express or implied. Settle the West, Seed Foundation, and Black Hills Consortium disclaim all warranties, including but not limited to implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement. We do not warrant that the relocation experience will meet your expectations, that partner town services will be available as described, that housing will be available at specific prices, or that the program will result in any particular quality of life outcomes. Relocation involves inherent risks and uncertainties. You are responsible for conducting your own due diligence before making relocation decisions.

10. Limitation of Liability

In no event shall Settle the West, Seed Foundation, Black Hills Consortium, or their respective directors, officers, employees, volunteers, or agents be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising from your participation in the program, use of our website, or reliance on any information provided through our services. This includes but is not limited to damages for loss of income, moving expenses, housing costs, emotional distress, or any other losses associated with relocation. Our total liability shall not exceed the amount of relocation incentive payments actually disbursed to you under the program.

11. Program Modifications and Termination

Settle the West reserves the right to modify, suspend, or terminate the relocation program, any partner town participation, incentive amounts, eligibility requirements, or any other aspect of the program at any time. We will make reasonable efforts to notify current participants of material changes. If the program is terminated or materially modified after you have relocated, we will honor incentive payment obligations for the remainder of your 12-month commitment period, but are not obligated to provide additional benefits beyond those already committed in writing.

12. Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of South Dakota, without regard to its conflict of law provisions. Any legal action or proceeding arising under these Terms shall be brought exclusively in the state or federal courts located in Custer County, South Dakota, and you hereby consent to the personal jurisdiction of such courts. If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.

13. Contact Information

If you have any questions about these Terms of Service, please contact us at:

Settle the West

A Program of Seed Foundation (501c3)

Black Hills Consortium

Custer, South Dakota

Email: legal@blackhillsconsortium.org