February 2015 Chamber NEws magazine

Chamber News February 2015

Vol. 50, No. 5

A PUBLICATION OF THE SIOUX FALLS AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

DOWNTOWN prepares for

FURTHER DEVELOPMENT

IN THIS ISSUE COVER STORY

Downtown prepares for further development ...................................................... 22-27

Chamber News PUBLISHER

FEATURES

Chamber President/CEO to be honored by SME. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Development Foundation invests in growing firm . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 IN EVERY ISSUE: Message from the Chair. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Events Calendars. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-11 Economic Indicators. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Noteworthy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Faces & Places. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16-21 Business Advocacy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Headlines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29-32 Community Appeals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Convention & Visitors Bureau. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Chamber Partner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Using Your Membership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Member’s Voice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Business News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39-42 Ribbon Cuttings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45-49 Membership Anniversaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50-51 New Members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Five Questions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 From the Archives. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce CHAMBER NEWS AD SALES

ARGUS LEADER MEDIA For advertising information, call: (605) 331-2348

CHAMBER NEWS LAYOUT/DESIGN JILL BLOM

CHAMBER NEWS EDITOR

AMY SMOLIK For editorial information, call: (605) 336-1620 Chamber News is published monthly by the Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce, PO Box 1425, 200 N. Phillips Ave., Suite 200 Sioux Falls, SD 57104 Advertising and editorial deadlines can be found at siouxfallschamber.com under News & Publications.

Postmaster please send address changes to: Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce, PO Box 1425, 200 N. Phillips Ave., Suite 200, Sioux Falls, SD 57101-1425 Phone: (605) 336-1620 • Email: sfacc@siouxfalls.com

CHAMBER MISSION As the leading Sioux Falls area business advocate, the Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce represents its members by advancing and promoting the economic health and quality of life of the region.

Communicate WITH THE

CHAMBER .com/siouxfallschamber @SFAreaChamber @SFAreaAdvocate

ON THE COVER The Downtown Sioux Falls 2025 plan sets up more continued growth and improvements to the city’s core.

The Phillips to the Falls project happened during the Downtown 2015 plan.

Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce

chambernews.com | Chamber News 3

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR

Progress has long-lasting impacts Many people who are newer to our community may not remember a time when Phillips to the Falls didn’t link a vibrant downtown to the site of our city’s namesake, Falls Park. Many may not remember a time when that park wasn’t so beautiful or when a pedestrian mall covered most of Phillips Avenue.

Through the efforts and vision of many, however, today our city’s core is a great place to work, live and play. You can read more about progress downtown in this issue, including future plans for downtown as laid out in the recently-released 2025 plan.

DANA DYKHOUSE 2014-15 Chair of the Board

Progress doesn’t happen without collaboration and consensus building — at all levels.

The success of Sioux Falls’ downtown is a microcosm of the growth and progress taking place throughout the city. Last year was a record-setting year for construction in the city — we exceeded previously-set records in building permits, dwelling units and overall construction value.

Progress doesn’t happen without collaboration and consensus building — at all levels of leadership. Last month the legislative session kicked off in full force. This month provides a number of opportunities to connect with area legislators, including our annual trek to Pierre as part of Sioux Falls Day at the Legislature. I encourage you to take advantage of the events we sponsor to interact with your local legislators and discuss issues that are important to you. Look at the calendar on page 7 of this issue for more details about upcoming Chamber events.

You don’t have to be involved to be informed, however. Your Chamber regularly communicates activities at the state level in our weekly email The Chamber Advocate. During the legislative session, we also monitor a number of bills that affect the business community and tie into our legislative platform. The Legislative Bill Tracker is updated weekly and can be found at siouxfallschamber. com under the Advocacy tab, along with our platform and policy statements. You can also follow issues on social media as they happen from the Chamber’s advocacy-specific Twitter handle, @SFAreaAdvocate.

Looking beyond the legislative session, your Chamber is also actively involved and at the table on a number of hot button issues — from updates to interstate interchanges to proposed pipelines in our region. We discuss these issues at the committee and board leadership levels. Our role is to provide input and to serve as a resource for our members. Later this spring voters within the Sioux Falls School District will have an election for two seats on the School Board and the school start date. We will provide opportunities for you to learn more about the candidates and this issue in order to be informed voters.

Last month Market Street Services was in Sioux Falls to conduct several interviews and focus groups as part of our process to create a workforce strategy. We’re seeking tactics that tackle both short-term and long-term workforce needs. Thank you to all who participated in the process. Your input will help shape this plan, which will be developed over the next few months.

2014-15 SIOUX FALLS AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE LEADERSHIP AND STAFF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE CHAIR DANA DYKHOUSE First PREMIER Bank CHAIR-ELECT PAUL BRUFLAT CNA Surety VICE CHAIR DAVE KAPASKA, D.O.

Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center TREASURER J. TYLER HAAHR Metabank IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR KEITH SEVERSON Eide Bailly LLP PRESIDENT/CEO EVAN NOLTE Chamber of Commerce BOARD OF DIRECTORS RANDY BURY Sanford Health RUTH CHRISTOPHERSON Citi JULIE DARRINGTON CenturyLink GARY GASPAR Interstate Office Products JOHN HENKHAUS The Everist Company JAY HUIZENGA KELO-TV DEAN KARSKY Farmers Insurance Group/Karsky Agency BETTY OLDENKAMP Lutheran Social Services of South Dakota DAN RYKHUS Raven Industries TIM STURDEVANT Sturdevant’s Auto Parts ROB TEKOLSTE Sammons Financial Group/ Midland National Life Insurance Co. BOBBI THURY Cutler Law Firm STEVE VANBUSKIRK VanBuskirk Companies ANITA WETSCH Don Dunham III Real Estate

EX-OFFICIO KENT ALBERTY Sioux Falls School Board DR. PAM HOMAN Superintendent, Sioux Falls Public School System CINDY HEIBERGER Minnehaha County Commission MAYOR MIKE HUETHER City of Sioux Falls JIM SCHMIDT Lincoln County Commission ROBERT WEHDE Sioux Falls Catholic Schools CHAMBER & CVB STAFF EVAN NOLTE President/CEO CLAY BAK CVB Sales Manager THANE BARNIER Web Development & IT Manager MATT BARTHEL CVB First Impressions/Project Manager JOAN BARTLING Finance & Accounting Director JILL BLOM Graphics & Communications Specialist MATTIE BURNHAM CVB Director of Sales SHIRLEY BUSEMAN Receptionist CINDY CHRISTENSEN Agri-Business Division Manager RACHEL CRANE CVB Host City Manager AMY M. FARR Membership Sales & Retention Manager JEFF FEJFAR Web Designer KATE FOLEY Small Business & Leadership Development Manager LAUREN FOSHEIM Young Professionals Network (YPN) Manager

MADDIE GUTIERREZ Public Affairs & Communications Assistant JAY KALTENBACH CVB Services/Resale Manager MARK LEE Public Affairs & Communications Director PAT LUND Membership Development Director MIKE LYNCH Public Affairs & Research Manager BETSY McCARTY CVB Creative & Communications Manager NICOLE NELSON CVB Sales Manager JILL NIEDRINGHAUS CVB Sales Assistant WENDY NEUHARTH Membership Services Administrative Assistant KRISTA ORSACK CVB Director of Marketing KATHIE PUTHOFF CVB Administrative Assistant TERI SCHMIDT CVB Executive Director SUSAN SEACHRIS Administrative/Accounting Assistant LUCAS SMITH CVB Sales Manager AMY SMOLIK Marketing & Communications Manager ALEXA STEINER CVB Sales Manager VALERIE WILLSON Membership Events Manager CAROLYN WINCHELL Forward Sioux Falls Director of Investor Relations ERIN ZIMMERMAN CVB Sales Manager

chambernews.com | Chamber News 5

CALENDARS

CHAMBER

Events Calendar Dates, times and locations are subject to change.

For a current listing of all Chamber events, visit chambernews.com, read the weekly edition of Quickly, or call (605) 336-1620.

You can register and pay for events online at siouxfallschamber.com.

FEATURED EVENTS FEBRUARY MEMBERSHIP

MIXER TUESDAY, FEB. 10 2015

SIOUX FALLS AREA LEGISLATIVE COFFEES SATURDAY, FEB. 7 9-10:15 a.m.: Districts 6, 9 & 10 10:45 a.m.-Noon: Districts 11 & 12 Hilton Garden Inn Downtown, 201 E. 8th St.

SATURDAY, FEB. 21

9-10:15 a.m.: Districts 13 & 14 10:45 a.m.-Noon: Districts 15 & 25 Hilton Garden Inn Downtown, 201 E. 8th St. DETAILS: Ask questions about issues being discussed at the legislature

through a moderator. Co-sponsored by: AARP; American Association of University Women (AAUW); Democratic Forum; League of Women Voters; Minnehaha County Democratic Party; Minnehaha County Republican Party; Sioux Falls Education Association (SFEA) and Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce. Argus Leader Media will also live-stream the coffees at argusleadermedia.com. You can also follow along on Twitter using #legcoffee or following @SFAreaAdvocate COST: Free

SIOUX FALLS DAY AT THE LEGISLATURE WEDNESDAY, FEB. 18

Sponsored by

4:30-6:30 p.m.

The Inn on Westport 4000 S. Westport Ave.

COMPLIMENTARY HORS D’OEUVRES & BEVERAGES $5 ADMISSION OR USE YOUR MIXER PASS

RSVP to vwillson@siouxfalls.com or at siouxfallschamber.com

Pierre, SD Luncheon: Noon, Ramkota River Centre DETAILS: Join other Chamber members for an all-day trip to Pierre to

learn more about the legislative process. Attend committee meetings, sit in on session and host an ice cream social — plus lunch with Gov. Dennis Daugaard and Pat Costello, Commissioner of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development.

COST: $50 to ride the bus and attend lunch; $20 to attend lunch only RSVP: mgutierrez@siouxfalls.com or (605) 373-2015

MARCH MEMBERSHIP MIXER TUESDAY, MARCH 10

TUESDAYS IN JANUARY, FEBRUARY & MARCH

Betty J. Ordal Conference Center, Chamber of Commerce, 200 N. Phillips Ave. Suite 200 The Business Sense Workshops are sponsored by the Chamber’s Small Business Council. The workshops deliver ongoing business and management training led by talented and engaging Chamber member presenters.

TUESDAY, FEB. 10 Six Persuasion Techniques to Boost Sales and Grow Business Business owners, operators and employees need to have a working knowledge of interpersonal persuasion techniques because they are critical elements when marketing a product, service, idea or event.

TUESDAY, FEB. 24 Five Hot Business Law Issues for 2015 The local business community faces a host of new legal issues in 2015. Here are five legal issues that a Sioux Falls business needs to know as they head into 2015.

Don’t be left unaware — register today!

TUESDAY, FEB. 17 Workplace Bullying & Mobbing Bullying and mobbing are terms used to describe a variety of behaviors in the workplace that amount to emotional abuse by workers of a fellow employee or employees.

Watch for more details for Business Sense Workshops on the following dates in March: TUESDAY, MARCH 3 TUESDAY, MARCH 10 TUESDAY, MARCH 17 TUESDAY, MARCH 24

4:30-6:30 p.m.

El Riad Shrine, 510 S. Phillips Ave. DETAILS: Sponsored by the El Riad Shrine COST: $5 (or use your Mixer Pass) RSVP: vwillson@siouxfalls.com or (605) 373-2010

SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATE FORUM WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1

Time TBD IPC, 201 E. 38th St. DETAILS: If there are enough candidates running for the two seats open

on the Sioux Falls Public School Board, the Chamber will co-host a candidate forum to help members learn more about the candidates. The filing deadline is Feb. 27.

COST: Free MORE INFORMATION: mlynch@siouxfalls.com or (605) 373-2006

APRIL MEMBERSHIP MIXER TUESDAY, APRIL 14

4:30-6:30 p.m.

A&B Business Solutions, 1600 N. A Ave. DETAILS: Sponsored by the A&B Business Solutions COST: $5 (or use your Mixer Pass) RSVP: vwillson@siouxfalls.com or (605) 373-2010

COST: $10 PER WORKSHOP; NEW MEMBERS CAN USE THE VIP PASS AND ATTEND FOR FREE.

RSVP to kfoley@siouxfalls.com or (605) 373-2002 chambernews.com | Chamber News 7

Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce

Young Professionals Network

UPCOMING EVENTS

To RSVP to any of these events, email lfosheim@siouxfalls.com or call (605) 373-2009.

Visit siouxfallsypn.com for a full list of events.

YPN MORNING BUZZ WEDNESDAY, FEB 4

7:30-8:30 a.m.

Panera Bread, 5117 S. Louise Ave. DETAILS: Network with other YPN members

over a cup of coffee! Feel free to bring a friend or co-worker, and don’t forget your business cards. Come for the coffee, stay for the conversation!

COST: Free to attend, coffee/breakfast on your

YPN POWER LUNCH THURSDAY, FEB. 19

Noon-1 p.m.

W. 12th Pourhouse, 5213 W. 12th St. DETAILS: YPN Power Lunches are a great way

to network and expand your professional contacts. There’s no program or agenda, just good conversation among YPN members over lunch.

Bring a friend or co-worker and don’t forget your business cards!

own

COST: Free to attend, drinks/food are on your

YPN COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS TOUR: STATE THEATRE THURSDAY, FEB. 5

YPN OFF THE CLOCK/ NEW MEMBER EVENT THURSDAY, FEB. 26

own

Noon-1 p.m.

State Theatre, 316 S. Phillips Ave. DETAILS: Check out the renovations in the

historic State Theatre. Limited to the first 25 RSVPs.

COST: Free to attend, YPN members only

4-7 p.m.

The District, 4521 W. Empire Pl. DETAILS: Food will be sponsored by Swier Law Firm and drinks can be purchased separately.

Gift cards to The District will be given away at 5:45 p.m. and you must be present to win.

COST: Free to attend and free food, drinks are

YPN OUR SIOUX FALLS WITH MAYOR MIKE HUETHER TUESDAY, FEB. 10

on your own

JAN. 26 - MARCH 6 WEEKLY PRIZES FOR

THOSE WHO RECRUIT

THE MOST MEMBERS!

Noon-1 p.m.

Main Library, 200 N. Dakota Ave., Meeting Room A DETAILS: Join us for Our Sioux Falls, where

$100 CASH

COST: Free to attend, feel free to bring your

TO TOP THREE

PRIZES

Mayor Mike Huether will be on hand for a Q&A on all things Sioux Falls (challenges facing the city, future goals, current and future projects, etc.). Space is limited.

RECRUITERS

lunch

FIND THE MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION ONLINE AT

SIOUXFALLSYPN.COM

Connect WITH THE

YPN

.com/siouxfallsypn

Find us on social media or visit siouxfallsypn.com @siouxfallsypn

Sioux Falls Young Professionals Network chambernews.com | Chamber News 9

FEBRUARY Events listed are compiled from SiouxFallsEvents.com and VisitSiouxFallsEvents.com.

SiouxFallsEvents.com is the community’s FREE comprehensive community events calendar. Anyone can post an event happening in the Sioux Falls area. It’s free and it’s a great way to promote your event.

The Sioux Falls Convention & Visitors Bureau developed the visitor-related calendar to provide visitors a calendar of events they may be interested in attending.

By combining the two calendars, you can see when there’s going to be a large number of visitors in the community and plan your weekend.

For more information about visitor-related activities, contact the Sioux Falls Convention & Visitors Bureau at (605) 275-6060. Learn more details about any of the following events by logging on or contact the Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce at (605) 336-1620.

10 Chamber News | FEBRUARY 2015

6

Downtown First Friday: Fashion Show

7

Decadence in Chocolate

7

LifeScape Mall Walk

7

Sioux Empire on Tap

7-8

Benson’s Flea Market

7-8

Music of Lloyd Webber, Stephan Sandheim & More

13-15

SECT Presents “Arsenic and Old Lace”

17

Alton Brown Live! The Edible Inevitable Tour

20-22

SECT Presents “Arsenic and Old Lace”

22

Church Basement Ladies: The Last Potluck Supper

24-25

Sister Act

28-March 3

NSIC/Sanford Health Men’s & Women’s Conference Basketball Tournament

28

Wagner’s The Flying Dutchman

MARCH 1

Wagner’s The Flying Dutchman

3 Nickelback 4

Let It Be: Celebration of the Music of The Beatles

6

Downtown First Friday

APRIL 6-8

Sioux Empire Home Show

3

Downtown First Friday

7

Jeans’n Classics: Shower the People, The Music of James Tayor

3-11

Restaurant Week

7-8

Benson’s Flea Market

8-9

Million Dollar Quartet

7-10

Summit League Basketball Championship

10

Kathy Kosins

10-11

Mamma Mia!

11-12

Benson’s Flea Market

12-15

Sioux Empire Sportsmen’s Show

18

Party for the Planet

13

Nikki Hill

19

Brian Regan Live Comedy Tour

13

The Keystone Light Friends of The Bob & Tom Show Comedy Tour

21

Harlem Globetrotters

13-14

Professional Bull Riders: Built Ford Tough Series

24-25

South Dakota Symphony Orchestra presents Mendelssohn’s “Elijah”

14

St. Patrick’s Day Parade

25

Downtown Sioux Falls Jazz Crawl

17

Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band

27

Arlo Guthrie: Alice’s Restaurant

19-21

State “A” Boys Basketball Tournament

19-22

SECT presents “Treasure Island”

1

Downtown First Friday

21

Ag Day at the Washington Pavilion

1-3

SECT Presents Monty Python’s “Spamalot”

24-25

Peter and the Star Catcher

2

Arts Night Benefit Auction

24-26

Central Plains Dairy Expo

2-3

Benson’s Flea Market

26-29

SECT presents “Treasure Island”

3

Ladies’ Ultimate Sample Tour

28

South Dakota Symphony presents Holst’s “The Planets”

8-10

SECT Presents Monty Python’s “Spamalot”

29

Chris Tomlin

9

Loft Tour

MAY

chambernews.com | Chamber News 11

ECONOMIC INDICATORS Tracking trends in business is just one way that the Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce is looking out for our members. Sioux Falls is a great place to do business, in part because of its diverse economy. Check here for economic indicators that help show growth and development.

City of Sioux Falls Building Permit Data

Regional Unemployment Rates

JANUARY-DECEMBER 2014 2012

7,633 PERMITS

2013

7,953 PERMITS

2014

14,945 PERMITS

DECEMBER 2014

Source: City of Sioux Falls

Fargo 2.2%

City of Sioux Falls Total Construction Value JANUARY-DECEMBER 2014 $625

Total Construction Value

$600

Non-Residential Construction Value

Rapid City 3.4%

Minneapolis/ St. Paul 3.0% Rochester 2.6%

Sioux Falls 2.7%

Des Moines 3.8%

Omaha 3.0%

$575 $550 $525 $500

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

$450

Note: figures represent Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA), not just city; rates are not seasonally-adjusted

$425 $400

Agriculture Trends

$375

DECEMBER 2014

$350

$16

$300

$15

$250

$150 $100

$490.5 million $165.5 million

(IN MILLIONS)

$200

$14

$588.2 million $157.6 million

2013

(PER BUSHEL) U.S.

$14.30

SOUTH DAKOTA

$14.20

$13.00

$13 $619.5 million $86.5 million

2012

SOYBEANS

2014

Source: City of Sioux Falls

$12

$12.70

$11

$10.20

$10 $9.66

$9 $8

Sioux Falls Region Housing Overview DECEMBER 2014

CORN

$7

$6.87

$6

$6.74

$5

New Listings: 222 Days on the Market Until Sale: 94 Median Sales Price: $165,000 Inventory of Homes for Sale: 1,204 Source: RASE (Realtor Association of the Sioux Empire)

(PER BUSHEL) U.S. SOUTH DAKOTA $4.41

$4

$4.20 $3.96

$3

$3.77

$2 2012

2013

2014

Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture

chambernews.com | Chamber News 13

NOTEWORTHY Headlines, accolades and rankings — Sioux Falls is often in the news for our community’s excellent business climate and high quality of life. Look for that information to be shared again here along with other topical quick hits.

DOWNTOWN SIOUX FALLS ECONOMIC TRENDS DOWNTOWN SIOUX FALLS

RESIDENTS have an average age of

33

Retail Sales Since 2009, retail sales have steadily increased each year, with a total increase of $70 million between 2009-13.

2009: $151 million 2013: $221 million

DOWNTOWN EMPLOYEES:

15,000

Business Growth Between 2011-14, 90 new businesses opened and 11 businesses expanded downtown.

DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS

BETWEEN 2012-15 TOTALLED

$204.6 million Office Vacancy Rates Downtown office vacancy rates continue to decline.

Between 2004-13, the downtown area has seen overall office absorption of about 600,000 sq. ft.

2009: 16.8% vacancy 2013: 8.7% vacancy

Residential Vacancy Rates Downtown residential vacancy rates also continue to decline.

2010: 13.8% vacancy 2014: 2% vacancy

SIOUX FALLS

POPULATION:

SIOUX FALLS DOWNTOWN MSA POPULATION:

165,974 243,721

RESIDENT POPULATION:

2,219

Major Downtown Destinations

2014 DTSF Events

Falls Park

7,500+ attendees

Orpheum Theater

Riverfest:

Old Courthouse Museum SculptureWalk

Block Parties:

15,000+ attendees Parade of Lights:

16,000+ attendees

Washington Pavilion

Hot Summer Nites:

Two farmers markets

15,000+ attendees

(8th & RR and Falls Park)

First Fridays:

Additional traffic generators for downtown:

10,000+ attendees

St. Patrick’s Day Parade GermanFest Dakota Irish Fair Sidewalk Arts Festival

Source: 2014 Sioux Falls Downtown Market Study, City of Sioux Falls Market Data chambernews.com | Chamber News 15

FACES & PLACES

Faces & Places

COREY WEIDE Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC

JULIE NELSON Home Federal Bank

Our members do more than follow the news. They make the news. Job promotions and hirings. New projects. New partnerships.

Awards. Every day we hear about exciting accomplishments, historic milestones and other positive aspects of our member businesses that deserve to be shared.

DAVE STADHEIM

LYLE DABBERT

DAREN ANDERSON

KAREN NOONAN

RECOM, Inc.

Big D Technology Solutions, Inc.

Brown & Saenger

CarrierNet Group Financial, Inc.

NATHAN STALLINGA

ERIC ANDERSON

JACK DYVIG

SANDY CASE

DakotAbilities

Sioux Falls Morning Optimists Club

Home Federal Bank

U.S. Postal Service

Recognition of Chamber Volunteers The Ambassador Team of the Month for December was: Team Weide (Corey Weide, Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC; Dave Stadheim, RECOM, Inc.; and Lyle Dabbert, Brown & Saenger). Nathan Stallinga, DakotAbilities, was the Ribbon Cutting Attendance award winner and Eric Anderson, Home Federal Bank, won the Top Sales award.

Julie Nelson, Home Federal Bank, was awarded Diplomat of the Month honors for December. Second place honors went to Daren Anderson, Big D Technology Solutions, Inc., and third place honors went to Karen Noonan, CarrierNet Group Financial, Inc. Jack Dyvig, Sioux Falls Morning Optimists Club, was the recipient of the Ribbon

Cutting Attendance award, and Sandy Case, U.S. Postal Service, won the Reinvestment Award. The Diplomat Team of the Month for December was: Captain Sheila Hoff, Keller Williams Realty Sioux Falls; Julie Nelson, Home Federal Bank; Nancy VanOtterloo, First PREMIER Bank; Joey Rotert, Sioux Falls Federal Credit Union; and Sandy Case, U.S. Postal Service.

Faces & Places is great way to use your membership to be seen. This column appears each month in Chamber News and features information about Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce members and volunteers. Submissions may include grand openings, changes in management, moves, expansions, major developments and award recognition. Submit news using the Faces & Places form at chambernews.com or email asmolik@siouxfalls.com.

16 Chamber News | FEBRUARY 2015

FACES & PLACES

New Faces & Promotions Jennifer Johnson was promoted to Branch Manager at Security National Bank of South Dakota. She has been with the bank for seven years and in the banking industry for 13 years.

Taylor Stueven joined Caliber Creative as an Account Coordinator. Stueven graduated from the University of South Dakota with a degree in advertising and public relations in 2014.

HenkinSchultz added several new staff members. Shane Speck is an interactive marketing manager and brings more than eight years of experience with interactive media.

Rebecca Julius is a media buyer, bringing three years of experience. Sioux Falls native

Andi Leonard is an account coordinator and digital strategist. Jeremy Wingler is an account coordinator.

Sioux Falls Specialty Hospital, L.L.P. named R. Blake Curd, M.D. as its new CEO. Specializing in congenital hand reconstruction, hand surgery, microvascular surgery and upper extremity surgery/tissue transfer, Curd has practiced medicine at Orthopedic Institute for 13 years. Curd is the current president of Physician Hospitals of America, a guest speaker and frequent lecturer and can also be found on the sidelines as the Associate Team Physician for the Sioux Falls Stampede and Sioux Falls Canaries. He also serves as a South Dakota

State Senator. Curd attended the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine, completed his orthopedic surgery residency at Wilford Hall Medical Center and did his fellowship at the Indiana Hand Center. He served in the U.S. Air Force for 10 years, including two years at Ellsworth as a B1 Squadron Flight Surgeon and on a tour of duty in Kuwait and Iraq as the flight surgeon for a combat search and rescue squadron before joining Orthopedic Institute.

Credit Collections Bureau added new collection associates: Chris McConnell, Beth Rodriguez and Rene Foss. Ron Lewis was promoted to collection representative.

Honors & Awards Franchiserankings.com ranked Coffee News the No. 7 Best Home-Based Franchise.

The Sioux Falls franchise is operated by Steve Herman.

Credit Collections Bureau named Megan Wehrkamp Client Service Representative of the Month for December.

Marco, Inc. was selected as a 2014 Elite Dealer by ENX magazine and The Week in Imaging, a print and online publication for dealers and resellers of office technology, solutions and services.

Leadership

Good Deeds

The Board of Directors of The Co-op Natural Foods in Sioux Falls recently reelected four officers. Officers for 2015 are: President Alex Halbach, Cutler Law Firm; Vice President Dan Doyle, Cutler Law Firm; Treasurer Jill McManus, CNA Surety; and Secretary Cory Myers, Argus Leader Media.

Xcel Energy awarded a $7,000 grant to Lutheran Social Services of South Dakota’s Center for New Americans. This grant supports pre-employment classes that help refugees learn English skills needed for entry-level jobs in several industries. Xcel Energy’s grant is part of the company’s corporate giving Economic Sustainability focus area, promoting workforce development, workforce readiness, specific job skills training, job placement and job creation.

Entrepreneur magazine ranked SERVPRO, a clean up and restoration company, No. 7 overall franchises in its 2015 Franchise 500 poll.

SERVPRO was ranked No. 1 in its industry, Restoration Services. The local franchise is owned by Adam Birger.

chambernews.com | Chamber News 17

Be Seen

1

2

4 The Chamber’s Annual Good Morning Sioux Falls Legislative Breakfast is held every year prior to the start of the legislative session. Legislators from districts 6, 9-16 and 25 are invited to attend and talk about issues that are expected to come up during the session. The questions are based on priorities they share with the Chamber and how those priorities dovetail with the Chamber’s legislative platform.

1 Chamber Chair of the Board Dana Dykhouse, First PREMIER Bank, kicked off

3

18 Chamber News | FEBRUARY 2015

the breakfast by introducing new managers and CEOs from Chamber member businesses. 2 District 13 Rep. Mark Mickelson answers a question about technical education while moderator Mark Lee, Chamber Public Affairs & Communications Director, listens. 3 District 16 Rep. David Anderson talked about funding options proposed by the Highway Needs & Financing Interim Committee. 4 Sen. Deb Soholt discussed the affect Medicaid expansion would have on South Dakota. Additional legislators who attended the breakfast included Sen. Ernie Otten and Rep. Herman Otten from District 6; Sen. Deb Peters and Rep. Steve Hickey from District 9; Rep. Steven Haugaard from District 10; Rep. Jim Stalzer and Rep. Mark Willadsen from District 11; Sen. Blake Curd and Rep. Alex Jensen from District 12; Sen. Phyllis Heineman and Rep. Mark Mickelson from District 13; Sen. Deb Soholt, Rep. Tom Holmes and Rep. Larry Zikmund from District 14; Rep. Karen Soli from District 15; and Rep. David Anderson and Rep. Jim Bolin from District 16. While the event was held on one of the coldest days of the year and all Sioux Falls area schools were closed, approximately 230 people attended.

FACES & PLACES

Be Seen

5 5, 6, 7 Montgomery’s hosted the January Membership Mixer with more than 350 people in attendance. The Mixer was held in their remodeled furniture gallery on W. 41st Street. 8 The Chamber’s Small Business Council’s popular Business Sense Workshop series kicked off in January.

These brown bag lunches are held every Tuesday in January-March from noon-1 p.m. at the Chamber office. Pictured is Kristin Omdahl-Sheriff, Argus Leader Media, who spoke about digital marketing strategies.

9 Kelly Redfearn, Argus Leader Media, also shared digital marketing insights with the crowd. 10 Several members of the Sioux Falls visitor industry paused for a photo at the annual South Dakota Governor’s Con-

6 20 Chamber News | FEBRUARY 2015

ference on Tourism in Pierre, with the theme of Celebrate the Journey.

One of the activities included an evening highlighting the upcoming 75th Annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally and attendees were dressed in biker gear. 11 DocuTap CEO Eric McDonald shares his story with YPN members at a recent “A Seat at the Table” luncheon. This event brings a small group of YPN members and a business leader to the same table. The business leader tells his or her story and shares lessons learned along the way. YPN members are able to ask questions of the leader.

7

FACES & PLACES

8

10

9

11 chambernews.com | Chamber News 21

In the 2025 Downtown Plan, Phillips Avenue (pictured above) was described as the “spine to a historic mixed use area graced by a wonderful streetscape, SculptureWalk, and a diverse range of dining, retail and entertainment options.”

22 Chamber News | FEBRUARY 2015

COVER STORY

DOWNTOWN prepares for

FURTHER DEVELOPMENT

BY AMY SMOLIK

Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce

Retailers, restaurants and residents and everything in between are helping to drive development in downtown Sioux Falls. The recentlyapproved 2025 Downtown Plan aims for continued progress over the next decade in the heart of the city.

The 2025 plan replaces the 2015 plan, which was created in 2002.

Since then, significant progress has been made in the city’s core. The 2015 Downtown Plan included a number of forward-thinking concepts like connecting to the Big Sioux River and Falls Park. Arts and culture and job growth were also key components.

Phillips to the Falls converted a contaminated brownfield into a connector from Falls Park to the central business district. This also helped stimulate private reinvestment and allowed Falls Park West to develop.

The annual SculptureWalk continues to expand and bring more artists and visitors to the community. Removal of the River Ramp, the former parking structure that spanned the Big Sioux River, allowed for more river-oriented development. Implementing the first two phases of the River Greenway Master Plan have created recreation opportunities and connected downtown to the greenway trail system.

“Our No. 1 goal was to take advantage of our greenway. I think that’s created the most excitement,” said former City Planner Steve Metli.

“Improvements at Falls Park and the extension of Phillips to the Falls to bring people back to downtown have had an impact.”

DOWNTOWN SIOUX FALLS 2025 GOALS SHORT-TERM: 18 MONTHS Main Avenue Road Diet Parking

NEAR-TERM: 18 MONTHS-5 YEARS Collaboration of multiple organizations Mixed-use parking ramp Falls Park West Master Plan

LONG-TERM: 5 YEARS AND BEYOND: Opportunities to aid in development (tax abatement, tax increment financing) Develop downtown gateways Develop entertainment facilities for winter use Implement recommendations from the “Sioux Falls imagined” cultural plan and Sioux Falls Sustainability Plan Utilize Capital Improvements Plan to update and enhance downtown parks and plazas Identify areas for residential improvement

Source: Downtown 2025 Plan

The vibrant downtown of today wasn’t always the case. Like other parts of the country in the 1970s and 1980s, Sioux Falls’ downtown struggled as retailers moved to malls that developed outside of downtown. Part of Phillips Avenue was converted to a pedestrian mall in the 1970s and by the 1980s, it was being torn out. The removal of the pedestrian mall took place at the same time as the creation of Main Street Sioux Falls (today known as Downtown Sioux Falls), an organization of businesses whose initial goal was to drive business back to downtown.

chambernews.com | Chamber News 23

DOWNTOWN SIOUX FALLS HISTORICAL TIMELINE 1871

The first plat of Sioux Falls filed at the office of Register of Deeds was on Aug. 9, 1871, by Josiah L. Phillips. The plat is described as “Map of Sioux Falls, Dakota Territory,” later described as “J. L. Phillips Sioux Falls” to avoid confusion with subsequent plats.

It consisted of nine blocks extending from Sixth to Ninth streets and from Phillips to Minnesota avenues.

1890

In 1890, construction started on a wood plank bridge on east 14th Street over the Big Sioux River, which accommodated the trolley car, the horse and wagon, and pedestrians. In 1930 and 1934, the Tenth Street bridge was replaced with the viaduct and named Rushmore Bridge.

1907

In 1907, the Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce was created; at the time it was called the Sioux Falls Commercial Club.

1912

Made of beautiful quartzite stone, the Central Fire Station at Ninth Street and Minnesota Avenue was built in 1912.

1913

The Orpheum is the oldest existing theater in Sioux Falls. The theater was built for the Solari Bros. in 1913. The City of Sioux Falls purchased the Orpheum, Link, and King of Clubs Building in 2003. The City is restoring the facility to its full use and has named the entire facility The Orpheum Theater Center.

1917

Mayor George W. Burnside promoted the construction of the Sioux Falls Coliseum at Fifth Street and Main Avenue; it was constructed in 1917 and an annex was added in 1932.

1921

After much fundraising, the YMCA building was built in 1921. The YWCA (now EmBe) was constructed to the east of the YMCA facility in 1936.

1936

Under Mayor G. W. Burnside, Spitznagel and Schwarz designed City Hall, which opened its doors for business in 1936 at Ninth Street and Dakota Avenue.

The cost of construction was $420,000.

1966

In 1966 the block on Second Avenue between 11th and 12th Street was cleared for the new post office building.

1971

In 1971 buildings were removed between Dakota and Main avenues north of Eighth Street for the location of the new public library and parking area.

1973

The pedestrian mall was introduced in 1973. It was then removed in three phases: 1984, 1986, and 1989.

24 Chamber News | FEBRUARY 2015

1973

Thomas Fawick gave the Statue of David to the citizens in 1971. The dedication of the park where it was erected was held in October 1973. Today the park is known as Fawick Park.

1975

In 1975, with tax incentives for historic preservation, several historic buildings in the downtown area were renovated, including: Van Brunt building on Phillips Avenue north of Eighth Street, Albert Hotel on the southwest corner of Sixth Street and Phillips Avenue, Soo Hotel on southwest corner of Sixth Street and Main Avenue, Illinois Central Railroad Depot on East Eighth Street east of the river, and Kuehn Warehouse on northwest corner of Sixth Street and Phillips Avenue.

1977

The bike/pedestrian trail system was started in 1977. The trail was completed from downtown to Falls Park in the early 1980s.

1999

The Falls Park Visitor Information Center and fivestory observation tower opened in 1999.

2003

In 2003, Phillips to the Falls was completed. It extended Phillips Avenue and downtown to Falls Park.

2007

Completed in 2007, Cherapa Place stands where the Zip Feed Mill, at the time South Dakota’s tallest building, was located. Situated on the east bank of the Big Sioux River in downtown Sioux Falls, this six-story office building with underground parking is designed with a two story base of local stone which appears to rise organically from the riverfront and a curved upper section oriented to maximize views of the river and Falls Park.

Source: City of Sioux Falls

COVER STORY

Metli credits the Downtown Sioux Falls (DTSF) organization for helping turn things around for the city’s core. “It helped turn the corner,” Metli said, in reversing the trend of empty storefronts.

Today the organization also manages events, markets downtown and encourages development in a space that covers roughly 90 square city blocks.

Representatives from DTSF played an active role in the information gathering for the 2025 plan. Other participants included 300 stakeholders providing input via public meetings and 13 work groups and an online survey with more than 1,700 responses. In addition, a comprehensive market analysis, and a parking demand and site planning analysis were conducted. The result was 57 goals with 229 action items.

The public was also invited to participate in community meetings and surveys. The final plan was created by merging the market assessment with the vision shared by the community.

There were three clusters of programs and improvements to guide the goals and action steps: economy, environment and experience.

DOWNTOWN SIOUX FALLS BOUNDARIES Falls Park Drive to 14th Street and Minnesota Avenue to Franklin Avenue. The boundaries were not changed during the 2025 planning process.

THE CURRENT BOUNDARIES INCLUDE: 484 acres of land 101 acres of park area 1.5 miles of river greenway trail 90 city square blocks

The key results? Currently, downtown retailers account for approximately 8 percent of the city’s total sales. The market analysis said there is the potential to create an additional 190,000 to 475,000 sq. ft. of retail or restaurant space. Based on projections, there is the potential to add another 1 million sq. ft. of office space in the next 20 years.

Across the city and state, incentives are available to entice businesses to locate or expand. DTSF recently created a Retail Incubator to support new retail concepts downtown.

Participants receive 18 months of subsidized rent and receive training in areas of merchandise management, marketing, human resources, financial management and customer services. In addition, they are paired with a successful downtown business in a business-to-business mentoring program. The retailer must remain in continuous operation within the downtown district for three years from the date of opening. Applications are considered on a case-by-case basis; so far two businesses have been accepted into the incubator program: 605 Running Co. and A League of Your Own. “One of our greatest assets is that independent, eclectic business that you can’t find anywhere else. With our retail incubator program, that will help foster that independent entrepreneur,” said DTSF President Jason Dennison.

Sioux Falls is following national trends of increased housing downtown. The market assessment showed there is a potential to increase the number of housing units by 1,900 or more in the next two decades. More than 2,200 people live downtown.

Developing downtown housing opportunities has been a priority for Lloyd Companies for the last decade or so, said Vice President of Development Erica Beck. Lloyd is just Facing page: The Statue of David was a gift to Sioux Falls from inventor Thomas Fawick; it is located downtown at Fawick Park.

This page: In the 1970s, parts of Phillips Avenue were converted to a pedestrian mall. By the 1980s, the mall was taken out in three phases and the street was opened back up.

chambernews.com | Chamber News 25

DOWNTOWN SIOUX FALLS CORE VALUES VIBRANT: A downtown that is active throughout the day and evening, a neighborhood for urbanstyle living, and a center for innovation, job growth and economic development.

CONNECTED: Safe and easy to get around,

downtown is a collection of districts, attractions and recreational amenities that are seamlessly quilted together.

DIVERSE: Socially and economically inclusive — providing a variety of job opportunities, housing types and price points.

COMPACT: Downtown is a mixed-use

environment, offering walkable and bikeable access between jobs, housing, retail, dining, recreation and entertainment.

INVITING: Downtown is welcoming to visitors

and offers a variety of public spaces, events and activities that are accessible to all Sioux Falls residents.

QUALITY: A downtown that focuses on having the best environment, entertainment and development within.

one of several companies that have made investments in downtown. In that time period, the company has invested more than $100 million in downtown. Having a downtown urban living environment is important to many of the employees that companies are trying to attract to Sioux Falls, Beck said.

“By maintaining Sioux Falls’ focus on quality of life and investment into public infrastructure and recreational amenities, we’ll continue to see significant growth downtown from the private sector,” Beck said.

“Residential growth will lead to increased density, which translates into new retail, service-oriented commercial and entertainment options for our community.”

DTSF has evolved along with the growing number of residents and now offers a residential membership and programs geared for downtown residents. Last summer, pet waste stations were installed throughout downtown to ensure downtown remains clean. More than 60 percent of downtown buildings are pet-friendly.

Downtown must remain a safe place, perception or not, Dennison said. DTSF recently created a Downtown Safety Committee whose members include business owners, elected officials and law enforcement to study downtown crime statistics and address challenges.

“It is so important for downtown to remain a safe destination. We

DOWNTOWN RESIDENTIAL PROJECTS 2012-13 Uptown Exchange, 522 N. Main Ave., 34 units City Center Apartments, 620 N. Main Ave., 44 units Phillips Avenue Lofts, 601 N. Phillips Ave., 86 units Dakota Lofts, 115 N. Dakota Ave., 40 units Boyce-Greeley (remodel), 233 S. Phillips Ave., 11 units Frank Building (remodel), 322 E. 8th St., 18 units

2014 The Residence, S. Second Avenue and E. 14th Street, 28 townhomes YMCA, 230 S. Minnesota Ave., 52 units

This page: The Phillips Avenue Lofts, located on N. Phillips Avenue, opened in 2014.

They are mixed use, with retail on the first floor.

Opposite page: The second annual Riverfest brought thousands to downtown to enjoy live music, family activities, food and fun along the riverbank.

26 Chamber News | FEBRUARY 2015

COVER STORY

know it’s a safe area, but if the perception is there that it’s not, we need to address it,” Dennison said. “Safety, homelessness — that’s a community issue, not just a downtown issue. We need to have a community response to address that issue.”

Another concept is a campaign called “Give Real Change” that will launch later this year. Parking meters will be able to accept change with donations going toward organizations that assist individuals in need with food, clothing and other resources.

Other national trends driving downtown progress include a changing workforce that favors compact urban environments for living and working. Shifts in mobility mean space that is bike and pedestrian friendly are important. Nationally, residential development in cities’ cores is huge and Sioux Falls benefits from its proximity to the river greenway and Falls Park. Downtown is a stop for recruiters as part of selling Sioux Falls — they want to show off the art, the culture, the commerce and the riverfront, Dennison said.

“Downtown is emerging as a critical economic development factor, just as important as our infrastructure, our parks and our school system,” Dennison said.

People are also seeking a healthy environment — places to walk and bike with active recreation, as well as access to fresh food and community gardens. Downtown has a favorable walk score of 92 out of 100, compared to 34 out of 100 for the city as a whole. Downtown Sioux Falls’ score is competitive with many other cities in the region.

The 2025 plan also identifies areas of redevelopment.

These areas will also have an impact on continued economic

development. Many of the sites serve as connectors within downtown or strengthen major downtown activity centers.

Existing activity centers were highlighted as major assets in the market analysis. Falls Park is a critical natural amenity that is a key advantage in continued development of downtown residential and business. Phillips Avenue was referred to as the “spine to a historic mixed use area graced by a wonderful streetscape, SculptureWalk, and a diverse range of dining, retail and entertainment options.” The River Greenway differentiates Sioux Falls from other cities and is a critical amenity to lure future residents and businesses. The East Bank area has emerged as a home to innovative retail and business concepts, with additional development potential from the adjacent rail yards. Suggestions also include incorporating action steps from other recent community plans, including the cultural plan approved in 2014.

DTSF and other involved parties have already started meeting to tackle some of the short-term and longer-term action steps laid out in the 2025 plan.

“We’re looking at a dog park, an ice skating rink and a bike-share program,” Dennison said, naming just some of the ideas that came out of the plan. Rapid City has an ice rink and bike-share program and Dennison has been in contact with them to learn more about the logistics of how those ideas could be implemented in Sioux Falls.

“We have a great working relationship throughout all the organizations and entities that are dedicated to supporting growth in the city. Nobody is working on an island,” Dennison said. “This is my downtown, this is your downtown, this is our downtown — it’s a point of civic pride.”

chambernews.com | Chamber News 27

BUSINESS ADVOCACY

Please enjoy a cup of Legislative Coffee With the South Dakota legislative session being held for only 39 days this year, the limited time lawmakers have to introduce, debate and pass bills into law makes for a fast and furious process.

MIKE LYNCH

Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce

Legislative Coffees are an integral part of the democratic process as they establish an important link between constituents and lawmakers.

Heading into the 2015 session, the public was very familiar with only a handful of the issues that were to be debated, such as the proposal to fund our state’s roads and bridges. This is not unusual as there are many topics that affect a large number of South Dakotans that are not necessarily elevated to the level of public discussion until legislators convene.

LEGISLATIVE COFFEES

Hilton Garden Inn Downtown, 201 E. 8th St. 9 a.m.-Noon

Saturday, Feb. 7 9-10:15 a.m.: Districts 6, 9 & 10 10:45 a.m.-Noon: Districts 11 & 12 Saturday, Feb. 21 9-10:15 a.m.: Districts 13 & 14 10:45 a.m.-Noon: Districts 15 & 25

Our elected officials need the public’s input, but in order for good discourse to occur, there needs to be adequate information about issues that could be enacted into law. The local media, of course, is our default mechanism to learn about potential legislation being vetted; however, there are other ways to be engaged more actively and personally.

One of these ways is to attend the Chamber-sponsored Legislative Coffees, which provide a great opportunity to learn more about legislators’ perspective on issues. Coffees also offer constituents a chance to ask their elected officials questions about topics important to them.

Partnering with the League of Women Voters, AARP, Minnehaha County Democratic Party, Minnehaha County Republican Party, Democratic Forum, Sioux Falls Education Association and American Association of University Women, the Chamber Coffees feature Sioux Falls area legislators and are free to attend.

The Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce has sponsored coffees for several decades and will do so again on Saturday Feb. 7 and Saturday, Feb. 21 at the Hilton Garden Inn Downtown from 9 a.m. to noon. The dates for the coffees are deliberate. Feb. 7 follows the day that all bills must be introduced and when committee work is at a high pitch. Feb. 21 precedes “Crossover Day,” when all bills need to be out of their house of origin so committee and floor action is at a peak. Attendees can ask legislators on the dais questions about specific bills, which are asked through a moderator. Each legislator has an opportunity to speak on the question but is not required to speak.

Coffee communiqués will go out in advance of each event and provide a summary of issues that seem to be gathering the most attention in Pierre. The communiqués will also better prepare attendees with questions to ask. A final communiqué will detail the disposition of the issues most commonly discussed at the Coffees and effectively close the loop on session.

These will be shared with our sponsors, who can in turn share it with their constituents.

Our state representatives need the public’s feedback so they can effectively represent their constituents. Frequently, issues are complex and need to be explained firsthand by those who have introduced legislation as well as those who will be voting on the bills’ passage. The public has a right to know how their elected officials feel on issues, and one could also argue, an obligation.

Legislative Coffees are an integral part of the democratic process as they establish an important link between constituents and lawmakers. These are your legislators and you deserve to know their stances on topics that affect and interest you. We invite and encourage you to attend these Coffees so that you may become more engaged in the lawmaking process.

And yes, as the name of the event implies, there will be coffee!

Mike Lynch is the Public Affairs & Research Manager for the Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce. He assists in organizing the annual Legislative Coffees.

28 Chamber News | FEBRUARY 2015

HEADLINES

SME to honor Chamber President/CEO Evan Nolte The Sales and Marketing Executives, Inc. of Sioux Falls (SME) will honor Evan Nolte as the 2015 South Dakota Sales and Marketing Executive of the Year at the annual SME Excellence Awards to be held Feb. 17 at the Best Western PLUS Ramkota Hotel.

SALES & MARKETING EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR Honoree Evan Nolte Tuesday, Feb. 17 Best Western PLUS Ramkota Hotel

Tickets are available for $50 each, with reserved tables of eight ($400) or 10 ($500).

The event begins with a social at 5:30 p.m. and dinner at 6:30 p.m. For more information or to purchase tickets, call the SME office at (605) 336-5626.

Nolte’s career with the Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce spans more than three decades and he currently serves as the President and CEO. Nolte joined the Sioux Falls Chamber staff in 1979 as its Executive Vice President. In 1992, he was appointed President and CEO. Prior to coming to Sioux Falls, Nolte served as Executive Vice President of chamber of commerce and economic development organizations in Mason City, Iowa; St. Joseph, Mo.; Yankton, S.D.; and Nebraska City, Neb. His current community and professional involvements include: serving as a member of the Forward Sioux Falls 2011-2016 Joint Venture Management Committee, South Dakota Economic Development Council and American Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE); a member of the Sioux Empire Housing Partnership, the South Dakota Technology Business Center, the Southeast Technical Institute Foundation

Tickets are $50/person with reserved tables of 8 or 10 Call (605) 336-5626 to RSVP or for more information

Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Evan Nolte speaks at an event; Nolte is being honored by SME as the 2015 Sales & Marketing Executive of the Year.

and the Downtown Sioux Falls Development Committee. Nolte also chairs the MACE (Mid-America Chamber Execuctives) Advocacy Alliance, which is an inter-state group focused on collaborative regional advocacy efforts.

In 1997, Nolte was named Business Citizen of the Year by the Sioux Falls Sales and Marketing Executives (SME) organization. In 2013, he received an Alumni Achievement Award from Augustana College

for his leadership in community issues. He and his wife, Lesley, have four sons. Nolte attended Iowa State University and graduated from Augustana College (Sioux Falls) with a bachelor’s of science degree in political science and business administration.

SME Past Presidents will be on hand to honor Nolte along with other past recipients of this distinguished award and the public is invited to attend. SME is the premier organization for developing and sustaining a driven and influential force of leaders in the community. SME members include CEOs, marketing managers, sales managers and other senior executives who contribute to the advancement of sales and marketing management. More information about Sales and Marketing Executives, Inc. is available at smesiouxfalls.org.

chambernews.com | Chamber News 29

HEADLINES

Development Foundation invests in growing SAB Biotherapeutics The Sioux Falls Development Foundation is investing $3 million in Sioux Falls-based SAB Biotherapeutics to help grow the company’s unique disease-fighting platform.

SAB Biotherapeutics, Inc. (SAB) is a biopharmaceutical company on the leading edge of innovation. The company is developing natural technologies that have the potential to transform the treatment and prevention of diseases like cancer, Ebola, diabetes or influenza. SAB’s technology, the DiversitAb Platform, is a natural system for producing clinical-grade, fully human antibodies to treat human diseases.

“Biotherapeutics, along with a wide array of medical research and biotech industry expansion, has been a long-term target for our economic development program,” said Slater Barr, Sioux Falls Development Foundation President. “This project has the potential to be a win for SAB, the Development Foundation and the state of South Dakota. We’re excited to be invested in SAB’s growth.”

Nature has designed human bodies to produce antibodies to neutralize disease.

SAB’s platform models nature to boost humans’ antibody defenses. Antibody therapeutics is approaching a $100 billion global market with projected double-digit, near-term growth — and some of the most advanced international work in this field is being done in Sioux Falls by SAB. “This investment gives us the opportunity to pursue an aggressive five-year growth plan that can significantly alter our position in the marketplace,” said Dr. Eddie Sullivan, SAB President and CEO. “The growth of our company also means job growth, subsidiary economic advantages and tax revenue for the Sioux Falls area and South Dakota.”

Growth plans for the company include antibody production facilities, purification and packaging facilities, research and development laboratory, and the SAB global

30 Chamber News | FEBRUARY 2015

Dr. Eddie Sullivan, SAB Biotherapeutics, Inc. President/CEO, speaks at a press conference announcing the Sioux Falls Development Foundation’s equity investment in the company.

headquarters and corporate operations. In full operation, SAB projects more than 200 direct jobs, with an estimated annual payroll of more than $16 million.

Those combined facilities would have a projected residential investment impact of $13.9 million and a commercial investment impact of $164.6 million. Based on future development of the company at full operation, annual property and sales tax revenue from additional production and processing facilities could bring an estimated $387,000 to the city and $1.4 million to the state annually.

The equity position in SAB has the potential to provide future funding for the Development Foundation to continue its work in developing available sites, aiding the expansion of existing Sioux Falls area companies and attracting new industry to the area.

The Development Foundation’s investment was facilitated by a South Dakota Future Fund grant intended to support and encourage development of the state’s biotechnology sector.

“SAB Biotherapeutics is a prime example of a home-grown industry that holds incredible potential for the state of South Dakota,” said Gov. Dennis Daugaard. “This project will be a leap forward for SAB, and we believe could be the catalyst for attracting innovative biotechnology companies that want to work alongside SAB to the state.”

SAB Biotherapeutics is currently located in the Sanford Research Park. The Sioux Falls Development Foundation joins fellow Sioux Falls-based investor Sanford Health, which also holds an equity position in the biotherapeutics company.

HEADLINES

BOX info:

Painting of the Shamrock Saturday, March 14 11:45 a.m., 9th Street & Phillips Avenue St. Patrick’s Day Parade Saturday, March 14 2 p.m., downtown Sioux Falls

The Sioux Falls St. Patrick’s Day Parade is led by the Khartum Temple Pipes and Drums from Winnepeg; pictured is the start of the 2013 parade.

St. Patrick’s Day activities set for March 14 The 36th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade will be held in downtown Sioux Falls on Saturday, March 14. The traditional reading of the proclamations and Painting of the Shamrock will take place at 9th Street and Phillips Avenue at 11:45 a.m. to officially kick off the day’s events. The parade will begin at 2 p.m.

The parade forms at 5th Street and Main Avenue beginning at 12:30 p.m. Vehicles will be lined up on a first-come, first-served basis, and is at the discretion of parade officials and will proceed through the downtown area, starting at 6th Street and Main Avenue. Preregistration is highly encouraged. The official parade packet can be found on the Chamber’s website, siouxfallschamber.com, under the Events/Annual Events tab.

There is no entry fee to participate in the parade. The only requirement is that each adult (age 16 and older) participating in the parade must purchase and wear an official St. Patrick’s Day Parade button. The cost is $3 per button, the proceeds of which help cover the costs of the parade and support Special Olympics

32 Chamber News | FEBRUARY 2015

South Dakota and other organizations. Buttons are available in advance at the Chamber of Commerce office (200 N. Phillips Ave., Suite 200), numerous businesses throughout the community and from Special Olympics volunteers. They can also be purchased the day of the parade at the start of the parade. Since 1982, more than $125,000 has been raised for Special Olympics of South Dakota.

Per Sioux Falls City Council Ordinance (Section 38-143), absolutely no candy can be distributed: “It is unlawful for any person conducting, managing or participating in any parade to distribute or permit the distribution of any candy or balloons to persons in attendance during the parade.”

In 2009, the St. Patrick’s Day Extravaganza committee, which plans the parade with support from Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce staff, decided to move the parade permanently to the Saturday before St. Patrick’s Day. The decision was made in order to better accommodate visitors and families who come to Sioux Falls to celebrate the holiday.

Each year the parade is led by a Grand Marshal, who is determined by the St. Patrick’s Day Extravaganza committee. That person will be announced in the coming weeks. In addition to the parade, the luck of the Irish will be celebrated for several days with performances by the Khartum Pipe and Drum. This group will be making appearances at numerous places throughout the community in the days leading up to the parade.

The Sioux Falls Irish Club is also sponsoring a Miss Shamrock contest in correlation with St. Patrick’s Day. For an information packet and application form, contact Patrick M. Murphy at (605) 201-1158 or visit the Sioux Falls Irish Club website at dakotairish.org. The deadline to apply is Feb. 20. Miss Shamrock will be crowned at the March 8 Orpheum Theater Irish music event.

COMMUNITY APPEALS SIOUX FALLS AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Community Appeals Scheduled Fund Drives The purpose of the Community Appeals Committee is to qualify and provide orderly scheduling of capital fund drives.

The committee has a responsibility to discourage unnecessary or overlapping drives, to assess funds available in the Sioux Falls business community, and to provide input on realistic drive goals.

Capital fund drive applications will be accepted by the committee until Aug. 1 of any one year and the suggested solicitation amount and time slot for approved drives will be determined and scheduled by the committee no later than February of the following year.

CURRENT CAMPAIGN

DAKOTABILITIES APRIL 1-JULY 31, 2015 $1.007 MILLION Renovate and remodel Longfellow school for new/consolidated headquarters

NOV. 1, 2014-MARCH 31, 2015 $1.2 MILLION Feeding South Dakota will expand their current facility to enhance ongoing programs and create more efficiencies.

LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES APRIL 1-JULY 31, 2016 $1.25 MILLION To build a new “Center for Community Services” to house multiple programs

For more information visit feedingsouthdakota.org.

For more information on the Community Appeals Committee, call Mike Lynch at (605) 373-2006 or download an application at siouxfallschamber.com under the Programs tab.

chambernews.com | Chamber News 33

CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU

2014 a strong year for visitor industry Visitor business in Sioux Falls proved to be strong in 2014. Conventions, meetings, events, sports and tourism were active visitor markets throughout the year. The Sioux Falls Visitor Information Center at Falls Park ended 2014 with the highest number of visitors since the center opened in 2000. Proof of the strong activity showed clearly in increases in both room tax and BID collections.

TERI SCHMIDT

Sioux Falls Convention & Visitors Bureau

And 2015 looks to be just as good. Conventions and meetings are booking in Sioux Falls.

Events are filling the calendar. The sports market continues to grow. The leisure traveler, better known as a “tourist,” business in our community is faring well and increasing in numbers every year.

Increased sales and marketing efforts are the top priorities of the Sioux Falls Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB). Nearly every city in America is competing for the visitor dollar.

Keeping Sioux Falls in the face of meeting and event planners as well as people deciding where to vacation is a must. It is our responsibility to make sure people learn about Sioux Falls and why they should choose to bring their gathering here. Our convention center, arena and new events center, local hotels and attractions, shopping areas and other facilities throughout the community work hard to bring visitors to Sioux Falls as well. Without everyone working together, we would not be seeing the increase in the visitor industry we are seeing today.

Looking forward to the rest of 2015, we encourage you to keep track of what’s happening in Sioux Falls by participating in and watching our events calendar, visitsiouxfallsevents.com.

This calendar is filled with all kinds of happenings, especially those someone visiting our community might be interested in. You are welcome to post your visitor-related activity on the website — it’s easy and it’s free!

Thank you for making Sioux Falls a No. 1 Host City!

Sioux Falls Convention & Visitors Bureau Mission To market the city of Sioux Falls as a one-of-a-kind visitor destination, and to provide premier visitor services, and increase visitor spending in order to enhance economic impact throughout the community.

The Sioux Falls Promise The CVB stands committed to exceeding visitor’s expectations. We will provide superior visitor hospitality in the city best recognized as “The Heart of America.”

For all your convention, meeting and event needs, contact the Sioux Falls Convention & Visitors Bureau: (605) 275-6060, email sfcvb@siouxfalls.com or visit VisitSiouxFalls.com; for more updates about the visitor industry, go to pg. 43.

34 Chamber News | FEBRUARY 2015

All New! AVAILABLE MID-FEBRUARY Get your guide at one of 200 Sioux Falls locations or download the guide at VisitSiouxFalls.com/VisitorsGuide.

To have visitors guides distributed at your business call 275.6060.

.com Convention and Visitors Bure au • VisitSiouxFalls Falls x u Sio

Picturesque Falls Park Falls Park Visitor Information Center will have limited hours during renovations.

Call 275.6060 or go to VisitSiouxFalls.com/FallsPark for February hours.

CHAMBER PARTNER

Future is bright for downtown Downtown Sioux Falls has never been more vibrant than it is today. Public and private investment levels have never been greater than what we are experiencing right now. Simply put, the future of our downtown, “the heartbeat of our great city” as Mayor Mike Huether loves to proudly proclaim, has never been brighter.

DARRIN SMITH City of Sioux Falls

The rebirth and repurposing of some of downtown’s finest buildings is bringing new businesses and new energy levels.

Let’s take a step back and reflect upon just the past few years of progress in our downtown.

From east to west and north to south, an explosion of residential development is taking place before our very eyes, creating a surge in the population that calls downtown home. The Uptown at the Falls area near our City’s namesake and the famed Falls Park have led the way with multiple apartment projects that provide housing opportunities for those of all ages and income levels. Further south are even more new apartments across the street from City Hall.

On Phillips Avenue, some of our most historic buildings converted a portion of their space into beautiful condominiums and apartments with unmatched views. Across from Sunshine Food Store, the first-ever owner-occupied townhouses in downtown Sioux Falls are being built with more on the way.

The rebirth and repurposing of some of downtown’s finest buildings is bringing new businesses and new energy levels. The renaissance taking place on the East Bank is truly amazing, with new residential, office, retail, hospitality and entertainment opportunities and amenities galore.

Streets that have been reconstructed as more than just asphalt and concrete, but instead lushly landscaped in addition to ornamental fencing and artwork, add to the distinctive environment that is our downtown.

And this is only the beginning.

Imagine the rail yard area in downtown Sioux Falls today being transformed through redevelopment into several acres of new apartments, condominiums, townhomes, office buildings, hotels, shopping, restaurants and entertainment, perhaps even green space with recreational areas, and much of it overlooking the river that runs through the heart of our downtown.

Imagine walking along the river from Falls Park all the way to 10th Street, on Sioux Falls’ version of San Antonio’s Riverwalk that we call the River Greenway. As you walk, you stop for ice cream at a sidewalk vendor, a few steps later you sit down to listen to a local musician, and you end your journey as you cross a pedestrian bridge that spans the river on a clear, star-filled evening.

Imagine a revitalized Weber Avenue on the far east edge of downtown that includes restored buildings and a unique environment for artists and entrepreneurs.

Imagine ice skating with your children or grandchildren at an outdoor rink downtown, with a hot chocolate to warm up when you are done. Or how about a picnic as you sit on a blanket in a grassy area just a few feet from a new outdoor entertainment pavilion that’s featuring a puppet show or even the symphony.

Close your eyes and imagine all these things, because this is what the future of downtown Sioux Falls can look like, and it’s just around the proverbial corner. Indeed, the future of downtown Sioux Falls has never, ever been brighter.

Darrin Smith is the Director of Community Development for the City of Sioux Falls.

36 Chamber News | FEBRUARY 2015

USING YOUR MEMBERSHIP

Business Sense Workshops provide learning opportunities

BY KATE FOLEY

Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce

You’re busy and you don’t necessarily have a lot of time to devote to long classes and programs to keep you up-to-date on current business trends.

To assist members in this endeavor, the Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce offers low-cost training to all Chamber members and their employees through the annual Business Sense Workshop series, planned and sponsored by the Chamber’s Small Business Council.

These one-hour workshops deliver ongoing business and management training led by talented and engaging Chamber member presenters.

The weekly sessions, held over the noon hour at the Chamber office every Tuesday in January, February and March, cover topics in customer service, technology, marketing, sales, workforce, management and professional development — and more. And remember, the Business Sense Workshops and all Chamber events are open to business owners AND their employees. Feel free to send your employees and take advantage of these valuable informational sessions. For certain professions, attendance at these workshops can even qualify for Continuing Education Credit.

In February, the Business Sense Workshop topics focus on ACA Reporting Provisions for 2015; Five Hot Business Law Issues for 2015; Techniques to Boost Sales and Grow Business; and the very serious and often ignored issue of Workplace Bullying & Mobbing.

Coming in March, workshop attendees will have a chance to revisit their LinkedIn profiles and see how they are using this business tool. With the change in South Dakota’s minimum wage that was effective on Jan. 1, are you wondering about overtime and wage compensation? The Chamber is here to help by offering a Business Sense Workshop debunking the salaried employee myth and the costs of non-compliance. Also on the schedule for March, a topic that you won’t want to miss — “The Longevity Revolution … Why Everything You Think about Older Workers & Customers Might be Wrong.”

The goal of the Business Sense Workshops is to help Chamber members and their businesses succeed. In addition to providing business education opportunities, these workshops also offer members a chance to network with other members of the business community. Bring your business cards. Stand up. Shake hands. Exchange those business cards. Promote your business and get to know other Chamber members. You have our permission!

Pictured are attendees at a recent Business Sense Workshop — a nearly full house.

Business Sense Workshops are held in cooperation with SCORE, the Small Business Development Center, and the U.S. Small Business Administration. For a complete schedule, to register, or for more information, contact Kate Foley at (605) 373-2002 or kfoley@siouxfalls.com. You can also register and pay online at siouxfallschamber.com.

chambernews.com | Chamber News 37

MEMBER’S VOICE

Finding small business success in downtown Sioux Falls I’m a Sioux Falls native who spent time in other parts of the country and found my way back home. While there are many things that I appreciated in larger metros, there’s a lot to love about Sioux Falls, too.

KATHRYN MACZIEWSKI

A League of Your Own

There is nothing like our store anywhere else downtown, which means it fits right in ...

I have always enjoyed sports and being a fan. I went to college for retail merchandising and had lots of great opportunities to gain knowledge and experience in my field. I have been blessed with encouragement from family and friends to pursue my dream, which was finally realized last year when I opened A League of Your Own in downtown Sioux Falls. We sell merchandise from all professional sports. If we don’t carry it, we can get it. There is nothing like our store anywhere else downtown, which means it fits right in with the other unique, niche businesses.

Starting your own business can be challenging. I was fortunate to have mentors like Nancy Savage inform me about available space in our city’s core and available programs to help new businesses. I’m proud to be one of the first businesses taking part in Downtown Sioux Falls’ retail incubator program. The space my store occupies is one of the great pluses to be being located downtown. I look at the floor and I see a basketball court; the color on the walls reminds me of vintage baseball stadiums.

Since returning home to Sioux Falls I’ve been able to see first hand and take advantage of investments being made in our city’s core. Why wouldn’t you want to be at the heart of our city’s history, surrounded by friendly people and an energy from shoppers and shop-owners alike?

I have the best job in the world — I’m my own boss and every day I get to work in an industry that I thoroughly enjoy. Come visit us downtown.

Sioux Falls native Kathryn Macziewski is the owner of A League of Your Own in downtown Sioux Falls.

38 Chamber News | FEBRUARY 2015

BUSINESS NEWS

Sioux Empire United Way raises more than $10 million for the first time The Sioux Empire United Way met its 2015 fundraising goal of $10.1 million, raising $10.2 million — a 2.6 percent increase over the previous year’s campaign.

“Sioux Empire United Way’s annual campaign is a perfect example of our community coming together,” said 2015 Campaign Chair Paul Bruflat, CNA Surety. “Reaching $10 million is made possible by every single gift, whether that gift was $1, $100 or $10,000.”

The dollars raised during this year’s

campaign will fund 88 different programs at 44 agencies across the Sioux Empire.

One in three people benefit from Sioux Empire United Way partner programs each year. Among the funded programs this year is Ready to Start, a five-week program for children who may not have had access to pre-kindergarten services or who may have demonstrated a need for additional services prior to the first day of kindergarten.

our partner agencies will do with the funds,” Bruflat said. “Assisting in establishing permanent safe housing for families, providing food for children for the weekend and caring for seniors with dementia are just a few examples of the services that will be available because of this successful campaign.”

To learn more about the 2015 campaign, visit seuw.org.

“Raising $10 million in our 85th year is exciting, but even more exciting is the work

Registration now open for South Dakota BIG Job Fair The 25th Annual South Dakota BIG (Business, Industry and Government) Job Fair will be held Tuesday, Feb. 24 at the Sioux Falls Convention Center from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

SOUTH DAKOTA BIG JOB FAIR getgrads.com

Students, graduates and alumni from colleges and technical institutions throughout South Dakota and the multi-state region are invited and encouraged to attend. Many employers consider the BIG Job Fair one of the best recruiting events they attend each year to identify outstanding interns and employees for their business.

support from Forward Sioux Falls and others committed to the marketing and placement of the region’s fine graduates.

The South Dakota BIG Job Fair is sponsored by the South Dakota Association of College Career Centers (SDACCC), with

Register today at getgrads.com. For more information, contact Marie Lohsandt at marie.lohsandt@dsu.edu.

Tuesday, Feb. 24 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Sioux Falls Convention Center

Forward Sioux Falls seeks internship partners Students need quality, academicallychallenging internships. Businesses need new and creative talent. Interns in Industry is a Forward Sioux Falls program developed to grow the number and variety of Sioux Falls business internship opportunities for postsecondary students, with a focus on marketing, accounting, business and technology.

Each winter, Sioux Falls area businesses are invited to participate in the Interns in Industry program. Up to 50 interns can take part in each summer’s program, with a $500 scholarship paid to every intern

selected upon completion of the internship.

Since 2003, more than 65 Sioux Falls area businesses have offered a combined 367 internships through this effort.

Forward Sioux Falls can assist in contacting area campuses and introducing businesses to outstanding candidates. Contact the Workforce Development office to discuss the benefits of becoming a 2015 Interns in Industry business partner: Mary Medema, (605) 339-0103 or marym@siouxfalls.com.

chambernews.com | Chamber News 39

BUSINESS NEWS

City seeks applicants for new workforce development pilot program The City of Sioux Falls launched a Workforce Development Pilot Program to support and explore activities to drive workforce growth and development within the community. As part of the 2015 budget, $500,000 was included to support these efforts.

Four key areas of focus have been identified: strategic planning and implementation, attracting and recruiting new employees, training and re-employment and educational partnerships.

The program is seeking applicants from any business, organization or entity with operations in Sioux Falls. The maximum amount for any single proposal is $100,000 and the minimum amount is $2,000.

Matching funds are not required, however the availability of matching resources may be a factor in the City’s determination of awards. There is no application deadline as all applications will be considered as they are

received. The City anticipates making its first awards prior to March 1 and it is expected that any awarded funds would be used exclusively for activities taking place in the 2015 calendar year.

Application information is available at siouxfalls.org or by contacting the Community Development Department at (605) 367-8180.

2014 building activity breaks three records Construction activity is booming in Sioux Falls, and the final data for 2014 shows that Sioux Falls building permits broke three different records.

The construction valuation for building permits issued by Building Services in 2014 totaled $619.5 million. The previous record was $588.2 million set in 2013, and the record previous to that was $523.1 million, set in 2007.

A total of 14,945 building permits were issued in 2014. The previous record was 7,953, also set in 2013. The cumulative number of all dwelling units (single-family,

town houses, duplexes and non-transient apartments including independent and assisted living facilities) set a record in 2014 at 2,056 new dwelling units, exceeding the 2,039 units issued in 2013.

“Back-to-back years of record-breaking construction in our town prove that our residents and businesses are confident in our economy,” said Mayor Mike Huether. “Even with this incredible growth, Sioux Falls city government is working hard to stay one step ahead of it!”

The June 2014 hailstorm resulted in the issuance of 8,500 building permits for the replacement of roof coverings, predominately re-shingling residential properties throughout the city. The number of building permits issued for roof replacements alone exceeded the record number of building permits issued the previous year.

Board selected to oversee Build Dakota scholarships Gov. Dennis Daugaard appointed seven people to a board to oversee the Build Dakota scholarship program, which was announced in December. The program will provide full-ride scholarships to the state’s technical schools for students who meet qualifications and are pursuing jobs in highdemand fields. It will be funded through a $25 million donation from T. Denny Sanford and the state will fund another $25 million over five years.

40 Chamber News | FEBRUARY 2015

The board includes: Wayne Baumberger, Caterpillar, Rapid City; Greg Carmon, Midwest Railcar Repair Inc., Brandon; Chamber Chair of the Board Dana Dykhouse, First PREMIER Bank, Sioux Falls; Mark Leddy, Valley Queen Cheese Factory, Milbank; Terry Sabers, Muth Electric, Mitchell; Deb Shephard, Lake Area Technical Institute, Watertown; and Diane

Vanderwoude, Sanford Health, Sioux Falls.

“All of these individuals know firsthand about the workforce challenges we’re experiencing in South Dakota,” Daugaard said.

“With their background and expertise, I’m confident this diverse group of professionals will administer this program well.”

Build Dakota is expected to provide 300 full ride scholarships annually in its first five years, and approximately 50 scholarships each year after 2020.

BUSINESS NEWS

Siouxland Libraries offers free online courses for job skills Siouxland Libraries’ cardholders can enroll and participate in Gale Courses from library computers or remotely from home computers. The next session start date is Feb. 18. The program, which will offer 365 six-week courses, is offered free to Siouxland Library cardholders. Library records indicate 100,392 cardholders have been active in the last five years.

Course offers include a handful of preparation courses for specific tests and 16 classes that can be used as continuing education units for medical skills. The remainder are similar to a small community college type class.

Two new lessons are introduced every week for a total of 12 lessons per course.

Unless otherwise specified, all courses run for six weeks. You will be granted access to two

41 Chamber News | FEBRUARY 2015

lessons each week for six weeks. Each lesson will be accompanied by a short, multiplechoice quiz, and some lessons may include a hands-on assignment. You are expected to try and complete each quiz and assignment within two weeks from when the lesson is released. The course will conclude with a final exam. You will have two weeks from the last lesson and final exam to complete your studies and submit the final exam. Courses cannot be transferred to an accredited college.

New sessions begin every month and lessons are offered by professional instructors. To see a list of all the courses, go to siouxlandlib.org. Under Browse Catalog on the left side of the screen, click a subject area, and select a sub-subject. When you have found a course in which you wish to enroll,

click the Enroll Now button. Then, select the course start date of your choice. Create an account as a new student or sign in as a returning student.

Lessons can be viewed via computer at any time and instructors will respond to emailed questions within 24 hours. They also will monitor an online discussion between students.The most popular classes Gale Courses offers involve Microsoft applications such as basic Word and Excel. Classes for nonprofits such as financing and grant writing also are in demand.

About 120 libraries in the U.S. and Canada offer Gale Courses. For information about the courses offered or to enroll, visit siouxlandlib.org or call (605) 367-8720.

BUSINESS NEWS

CVB 2014 marketing campaigns effectively promoted Sioux Falls Marketing initiatives in 2014 achieved great successes and set the stage for an exciting 2015. Industry research and reports, hotel occupancy and rate trends and website analytics helped create specific niche campaigns across all markets.

Overall hits at visitsiouxfalls.com were up 18.2 percent with non-local visitor traffic up 13 percent. Organic search traffic had an increase of 47.1 percent and quality time on-site. Emails collected surpassed goal by 16.9 percent. Leisure travel itineraries submitted were up 20.6 percent. Proven leisure print publications with reader service and geo-targeted digital banners continued to promote visitor guide requests and downloads. Printed visitor guide requests were up 8 percent and downloaded visitor guides were up 10.4 percent.

Leisure campaigns contributed to the website successes through engagement with specific audiences. In the winter, the South Dakota Tourism Campaign Community Cooperative effort gave away a chance to win three travel packages to Sioux Falls. The campaign bettered the previous year’s non-duplicated entries by 13.5 percent.

A spring campaign called “Plan to Win” asked participants to build their dream itinerary to Sioux Falls and share it to win it. Nearly 200 entries, 477 itinerary submissions and 171,000 second generation “word of mouth” shares helped spread the word about Sioux Falls through peer recommendations.

The Premier Events Concert Contest was a campaign matched with cooperative marketing funds from the South Dakota Department of Tourism. Total impressions for the campaign neared 5 million and engaged a younger audience to post a lip-synced song to YouTube from one of the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center opening acts. Great engagement on social media was achieved along with positioning and branding for the new event center in our target “feeder market” visitor locations.

Another leisure highlight was a campaign targeting people headed to the Sturgis Rally. Bikers love scenic rides, so we the goal was to get them to see Falls Park and think about stopping in or extending their trip to Sioux Falls. The promotion included a $10 gift for bikers who mentioned “beauty of the ride” at Falls Park. When they signed up they were sent an auto-generated reminder two days out from the day of their trip. More than 40 gifts were distributed, which helped brand the beauty of Sioux Falls to this demographic for future visits.

42 Chamber News | FEBRUARY 2015

Planners guide requests showed a 4.4 percent increase, planner guide views were up 38.1 percent with RFPs submitted online up nearly 100 percent. Part of the increased traffic was attributed to the continued promotion of a free site visit to Sioux Falls for qualified planners. The “Be Our VIP” promotion included 330,000 inserts with new creative inserted in 12 meeting planner specific publications. Digital efforts mirrored the creative and drove planners to a revamped landing page where 50 leads were produced.

A new effort was geared toward targeting sports planners in advance of the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center opening and continued development of the Sanford Sports Complex. The “See for Free” initiative focused on attracting sports event planners to come for a free site visit to learn more about what Sioux Falls offers as sports event host city. In its infancy, 20 leads were produced.

Social media made new milestones in 2014, specifically Instagram and Pinterest. Instagram was a focus for growth by the CVB Marketing Team after it surpassed Twitter, reaching 300 million users. The year ended with an explosive 314 percent growth in Instagram followers from 2013. A “25 days of Christmas” campaign on Pinterest was implemented in December, which doubled the amount followers in just one month. Facebook remained steady at nearly 23 percent growth in likes, Twitter followers showed a 43 percent increase and YouTube video views doubled, which can be partly attributed to the Premier Events Concert Contest.

Visitor Industry Updates CVB SALES BOOKINGS UP OVER PREVIOUS YEAR

The Sioux Falls Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) sales team finished 2014 strong, booking 36 more events than in 2013. All business turned definite in 2014 will bring an estimated economic impact of $43.5 million to the city of Sioux Falls through 2019.

Bookings were generated from a number of sources such as industry tradeshows, online RFPs and campaign submissions, as well as local referrals and CVB prospecting.

A few notable events that were booked in 2014 include: International Senior Softball Association (ISSA) Tournament, LPGA Symetra Tour, National Public Parks Tennis Tournament, NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Regional, North American Versatile Hunting Dog Annual Meeting, Rocky Mountain International (RMI) Roundup, Technology in Education (TIE) Conference, USA/ASA Girls 14U Fast Pitch Softball Tournament and U.S. Youth Soccer Midwest Regional Championship.

2015 WINFIELD EXECUTIVE GROWER NATIONAL ANSWER PLOT TO BE HELD IN SIOUX FALLS

Land O’Lakes selected Sioux Falls as the host city for the 2015 WinField Executive Grower National Answer Plot event, to be held July 26-30. This event will bring attendees from across the U.S. to attend educational classes on-site at a local answer plot.

There will be five regions coming to Sioux Falls for the event, totaling roughly 370 people per region. This event is estimated to have an economic impact of nearly $1 million, with close to 1,900 people in attendance throughout the event.

SCHEELS ICEPLEX OFF TO HOT START

Since opening its doors last October, the SCHEELS IcePlex has been busy with visitors looking to test out the new three-sheet ice complex. The facility held its first tournament in late December, hosting the Sioux Falls Youth Hockey Association’s “Sioux Falls Flyers Squirt B/C” tournament that brought in 15 teams from three states. The association plans to host three more youth tournaments in the coming months, including the 22-team “Mite Fest” tournament in February with an estimated economic impact of $316,500 for Sioux Falls.

The IcePlex will also host the Northland Hockey Group for three tournaments beginning in March with a combined estimated economic impact of $1 million for Sioux Falls. Northland is a top-level tournament series based out of the Minneapolis area.

In addition to hockey tournaments, the IcePlex is also the new home for the Sioux Falls Curling Club and the Sioux Falls Figure Skating Club.

FALLS PARK WELCOMES RECORD NUMBER OF VISITORS IN 2014

The Falls Park Visitor Information Center hosted 186,456 visitors in 2014, a 10 percent increase over 2013. Visitors who entered the Visitor Information Center in 2013 totaled 169,443. The 2014 number of visitors is also a record since it opened in 2000. The Visitor Information Center is managed by the Sioux Falls Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Visitors have the opportunity to sign an electronic guest book, but the actual count is taken as people enter the building. It is estimated that approximately one-third of the people visiting Falls Park actually enter the Visitor Information Center and/or sign the guest book.

Visitors who signed the guest book in 2014 came from all 50 states and 49 foreign countries.

TOP VISITING STATES/COUNTRIES: TOP 10 STATES:

TOP 10 COUNTRIES:

South Dakota Minnesota Iowa Wisconsin Illinois Nebraska California Missouri Michigan Kansas

Canada Australia Spain Netherlands England Germany Norway United Kingdom Brazil Finland

chambernews.com | Chamber News 43

RIBBON CUTTINGS

Ribbon Cuttings

The Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce holds ribbon cutting ceremonies for members to celebrate joining the Chamber, milestone anniversaries, grand openings, expansions or remodelings. Ribbon cutting ceremonies are organized free of charge for members and are held Monday through Friday at 11:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. The public and all Chamber members are invited to share in the celebration. Call (605) 336-1620 for more information or to schedule your event.

Groundbreaking ceremonies are coordinated by the Sioux Falls Development Foundation. Call (605) 339-0103 for more information or to schedule your event.

2nd Wind Exercise Equipment

2ndwindexercise.com/commercial 2nd Wind Exercise Equipment continues to be the leader in helping homeowners and businesses with their exercise equipment needs.

L to R: Aaron Wielenga, Tim Sturdevant, Jack Dyvig, Brad Greguson, Sam Liester (regional commercial sales manager), Joey Rotert and Corey Weide.

A League of Your Own LLC

229 S. PHILLIPS AVE. facebook.com/pages/A-League-of-Your-Own A League of Your Own LLC is your destination as a sports fan to find your team apparel. L to R: Jessica Moser, Aaron Moser, Corey Weide, Keith Severson, Nancy Weber-Sweere, Kathryn Macziewski (owner), James Payer II, Yvonne Macziewski, Mayor Mike Huether and Joel Macziewski.

American Family InsuranceCindy Van Gerpen Agency, Inc.

3220 W. 57TH ST., STE. 108 cindyvangerpen.com American Family Insurance-Cindy Van Gerpen Agency’s mission is to educate clients about their insurance and policy needs, providing dependable protection and service. L to R: Corey Weide, Joey Rotert, Jessica Sobolev, Cindy Van Gerpen (owner/agent), David Johnson, Anita Wetsch and Jeff Daschel.

Bures & Associates, P.C.

5024 S. BUR OAK PL. #215 burescpa.com Bures & Associates, P.C. is a professional full service income tax and accounting business offering the personalized service you deserve.

L to R: Jessica Colman, Corey Weide, Bobbi Thury, Bill Rezac, Frank Bures (owner), Harrison Bures, Lyle Dabbert, Lily Bures, Christie Aberson, Saydae Bures, Dawn Bures, Laura Wright and Laura Thesenvitz.

chambernews.com | Chamber News 45

RIBBON CUTTINGS CO-OP Architecture

300 N. PHILLIPS AVE. #120 co-oparch.com CO-OP Architecture is a full-service architectural firm that believes in collaboration and creativity. L to R: Nikki Van Hill, Steve Miller, Gary Gaspar, Corey Weide, Dan Doyle, Kyle Raph (principal), Mike Hauck, Tom Hurlbert (principal architect), Bill Rezac and Cory Bleyenburg.

Dakota Workwear

330 W. 41ST ST. nybergsace.com Dakota Workwear specializes in Carhartt work clothing and other quality work wear brands.

Dakota Workwear — tough stuff with a staff that knows their stuff. L to R: Greg Buus, Dan Doyle, Gary Gaspar, Corey Weide, Marin Huber, Nathan Stallinga, Kevin Nyberg (president), Bill Rezac, Cheri Haight and Chris Beatty.

Epicosity

1741 S. CLEVELAND AVE. #302 epic-multimedia.com Epicosity is an advertising agency that specializes in the art of storytelling. L to R: Scott Ostman, Julie Nelson, Lexie Jacobsen, Justin Smorawske, Amy O’Connor Hoback, Gary Gaspar, Eric Sivertsen (CEO), Eric Anderson and Cheryl Elbers.

PuroClean Restoration Services

3503 S. NORTON AVE. cleanupasap.com PuroClean Restoration Services handles residential and commercial needs for any type of property damage. L to R: Dennis Hance, John Neth, Kim Cerwick, Corey Weide, Eric Anderson, Kyle Eberts (president/CEO), Brett Carter, John Henkhaus and Carmen Mercy.

Sage Project Consultants, LLC 100 S. SPRING AVE., STE. 240 sageprojectconsultants.com Sage Project Consultants, LLC are experts in grants (research, writing, management), strategic planning and leadership development. L to R: Leslie Nelson, John Neth, Sharon Chontos (owner/partner), Corey Weide, Karen Noonan, Rachel Oelmann, David Johnson, Sabina Kupershmidt, Lynda Billars and Ben Tiensvold.

46 Chamber News | FEBRUARY 2015

RIBBON CUTTINGS Harriet Scott Senior Care Management and Consulting 1601 E. 69TH ST., STE. 201A harrietscottseniorcare.com Harriet Scott Senior Care Management and Consulting provides professional geriatric care management services for citizens in the Sioux Falls region. L to R: Daren Anderson, Ruth Christopherson, Amy Scott-Stoltz, Harriet Scott (executive director), Corey Weide, Adam Cooper and Donnie Stoltz.

Sioux Falls Noon Sertoma Club

noonsertoma.com Sioux Falls Noon Sertoma Club is a service club whose mission is to improve the quality of life for those at risk or impacted by hearing loss through education and support. L to R: Otto Hagedorn, Corey Weide, Jessica Nelson, Willie Bertsch, Larry Ayres, Brad Jans (president), Dean Karsky and Harvey Nelson.

chambernews.com | Chamber News 47

RIBBON CUTTINGS

Stewart Title

4700 S. TECHNOPOLIS DR. #1 dataquick.com Stewart Title (formerly DataQuick Title) is excited to become a part of the Stewart Title organization — a nationally known underwriter in the title insurance industry for more than 120 years. L to R: Yvonne Johnson, Ruth Christopherson, Eric Anderson, Kris Graff (business development officer), Becky Neises (division president), Daren Anderson, Amy O’Connor Hoback and Donna Wright.

Taco Time 4511 E. 26TH ST. tacotime.com Taco Time offers a variety of freshly-prepared, home-style, Mexican fare. L to R: Patty Davis, Amy O’Connor Hoback, Jeff Davis, Nancy Weber-Sweere, Kay Davis (owner), Anita Wetsch, Jim Slater, Sharon Vortherms (general manager) and Mark Jones.

RIBBON CUTTINGS

The Kory Davis Experience

6001 S. SHARON AVE. #5 korydavis.com The Kory Davis Experience is a real estate company placing emphasis on the client relationship and serving all their home buying and selling needs. L to R: Corey Weide, Dean Karsky, Betsy Homan, Jocelyn Davis, Eric Anderson, Kory Davis (owner), Marshall Selberg, Mayor Mike Huether and Tiffany Hohn.

WingStop

1902 S. MINNESOTA AVE. wingstop.com Wingstop is a quick-service restaurant focused on chicken wings – classic bone-in, boneless and strips served with a variety of freshly made sides. L to R: Adam Wilka, Corey Weide, Jay Huizenga, Mark Lee, Claire Santos (brand partner), Jordan Beacom, Matt Sage and Angie Wahl.

MEMBERSHIP

Member Anniversaries Founding Members

Coca-Cola Bottling Company

facebook.com/pages/Coca-Cola-Bottling-Companyof-Sioux-Falls Member Since 1907

George Boom Funeral Home & Cremation Services georgeboom.com Member Since 1919

Getty Abstract & Title Company getty-midwest.com Member Since 1919

Kreisers, Inc.

kreisers.com Member Since 1907

Minnehaha Country Club minnehahacc.com Member Since 1907

Parker Transfer & Storage, Inc. parkertransfer.com Member Since 1924

50 Chamber News | FEBRUARY 2015

Congratulations to the following members who are celebrating their milestone membership anniversaries this month and the new members who joined the Chamber in the last month.

They are part of a continued commitment to our community through their investment in the Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce. To learn more about Chamber membership, contact (605) 336-1620 or sfacc@siouxfalls.com. Find a complete Membership Directory online at siouxfallschamber.com or on your smartphone using the Chamber’s app — search “Sioux Falls Chamber” in the Google Play or iTunes stores.

Schoeneman Brothers Company schoenemans.com Member Since 1907

Shipley’s Garment Spa Cleaners & Launderers shipleysgarmentspa.com Member Since 1907

Travel Partners, Inc. travelpartners.tv Member Since 1920

50 YEARS

AAA Collections, Inc. aaa-coll.com

Midland, Inc. dba Johnstone Supply johnstonesupply.com

40 YEARS

Beal Distributing, Inc. budsiouxfalls.com

Culligan Water Conditioning siouxfallsculligan.com

Heartland Paper Company heartpaper.com

Miller Funeral Home, Inc. millerfh.com

Republic National Distributing Company rbc-usa.com

30 YEARS

Lutheran Social Services of South Dakota lsssd.org

Shaykett Appraisal Co., Inc. shaykettappraisal.com

25 YEARS

Hegg Companies, Inc. heggcompanies.com

Sioux Area Metro siouxareametro.org

VistaComm

vistacomm.com

Wells Fargo Home Mortgage

wfhm.com/loans/sd-siouxfallsbranch-siouxfalls

MEMBERSHIP 20 YEARS

5 YEARS

siouxfalls451.alphagraphics.com

abcrentalsmidwest.com

Alphagraphics

ABC Rentals

El Riad Shriners

Apple Tree Children’s Centers, Inc.

H & W Contracting, LLC

Dakota Supply Group Inc.

Sioux Falls Housing & Redevelopment Commission

Fresh Produce Inc.

elriad.com

h-wcontracting.com

siouxfallshousing.org

Travel Leaders/Village Travel travelleaders.com/siouxfallssd

15 YEARS

Millennium Recycling, Inc. millenniumrecycling.com

Ultimate Automotive atlEastsiouxfalls.com

10 YEARS

Christian Businessmen’s Connection cbmc.com

J & M Transmission Service, Inc. jmtransmissionservice.com

appletreechildren.org

dakotasupplygroup.com pickfresh.com

Minuteman Press

Buche’s Bargain Butcher Meats-Retail Aaron Goettig, (605) 275-6323 200 S. Kiwanis Ave., 57104

mmpsiouxfalls.com

GNC

Perceptive Media & Marketing, LLC

Nutritional Products JJ Nair, (605) 338-3696 1029 S. Highline Pl., 57110

perceptivemedia.net

Tallgrass Wealth Management tallgrasswealth.com

First-year members who reinvested during their December anniversary month: Agnus Dei Communications, Inc. lambradio.com

DTV PROS

thedtvpros.com

Oppenheimer Endocrinology

Minnehaha County Farm Bureau

siouxfallsendocrinology.com

sdfbf.org

Radiance Day Spa, LLC

South Dakota Budget & Policy Institute

radiance-dayspa.com

New Members

Military Order of the Purple Heart Associate Member Rob Dickerson, (605) 336-3470 1519 W. 51st St., 57105

The Vantis Team Commercial Sioux FallsMike Emery Affiliate-Real Estate Mike Emery, (605) 215-0940 222 S. Main Ave., 57105

sdbpi.org

U.S. Senator John Thune thune.senate.gov

chambernews.com | Chamber News 51

31ST ANNUAL

SIOUX

FALLS Day at the

LEGISLATURE AGENDA 6:15 a.m. ���������� Bus loads in Sioux Falls at the northwest corner at The Empire Mall (JC Penney parking lot) Complimentary coffee, fruit and donut holes will be available on the bus.

6:30 a.m. �������� Bus departs for Pierre 10 a.m. ������������ Arrive in Pierre at State Capitol

Listen in on any of the following committees in progress: Senate Health & Human Services, Senate State Affairs, Senate Taxation, House Commerce & Energy and/or House Judiciary 11:45 a.m. �������� Bus departs for lunch

Best Western Ramkota River Centre Noon �������������� Lunch with Sioux Falls Area Legislators The lunch program includes a briefing from Gov. Dennis Daugaard and Pat Costello, Commissioner of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development 2:15 p.m. ��������� Leave for Capitol to Observe Session 3 p.m. �������������� Sioux Falls Day Reception,

Capitol Rotunda 4 p.m. �������������� Group Photo, Capitol Rotunda Steps 4:15 p.m. ���������� Bus departs for Sioux Falls

TO RSVP:

Call (605) 373-2015 or email mgutierrez@siouxfalls.com Please indicate the following in your RSVP (you can do any or all of the options):

Ride the bus Attend the luncheon Total for both bus and luncheon:

$30 $20 $50

SPACE IS LIMITED! PLEASE RSVP BY FEB. 13, 2015 Attendees are encouraged to wear a blue shirt or past Sioux Falls Day shirt.

All attendees will receive a lanyard and nametag to wear indicating that you are with the Sioux Falls delegation.

THANK YOU TO OUR MAJOR SPONSORS: LUNCHEON:

CAPITOL RECEPTION:

BUS:

52 Chamber News | FEBRUARY 2015

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 18, 2015

FIVE QUESTIONS Five questions is a monthly feature on a Chamber volunteer, Chamber member or staff member.

Want to be featured here? Call (605) 336-1620.

Five questions with Chuck Hughes Chuck Hughes is the Deputy District Director of the U.S. Small Business Administration. Currently he serves as the Chair of the Chamber’s Small Business Council and is a member of the Chamber’s Sports & Recreation Committee and Military & Veterans Affairs Committee. He volunteers on the leadership committee for the Federal Government Combined Federal Campaign, which works in conjunction with the Sioux Empire United Way. He is also on the Advisory Board for Business Administration at Southeast Technical Insitute.

DESCRIBE SIOUX FALLS IN THREE WORDS. Entrepreneurial Innovative Exciting

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT SIOUX FALLS?

CHUCK HUGHES

South Dakota Small Business Administration

Raising a family in Sioux Falls made me very aware of the many opportunities our community can offer children. Some of my favorite things included the athletic programs with baseball, softball and basketball and the number of venues available to allow for time and space and a large number of participants.

WHAT HAVE YOU OR YOUR EMPLOYER GAINED FROM BEING A CHAMBER MEMBER? The Small Business Administration membership has provided us with a valuable resource partner to provide information and services to small businesses. The Small Business Council and workshop attendees have been an excellent connection to small business to offer a sounding board for our agency.

WHAT TECHNOLOGY TOOL OR APP COULD YOU NOT LIVE WITHOUT? I’m not a big technology user, but would have to say my laptop and I did just get my first app. For Christmas I received a Fitbit and am able to track my daily steps, mileage and calories burned. I’m hoping my competitive nature kicks in and I will start being more active.

WHEN YOU WERE A FRESHMAN IN HIGH SCHOOL, WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GREW UP? I probably thought I would follow in my father’s footsteps and get into the insurance business, but still held out hope that professional baseball was a possibility.

chambernews.com | Chamber News 53

FROM THE ARCHIVES

As a membership organization with a history spanning more than a century, the Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce has influenced progress across the community in a number of ways throughout the decades.

Detailed work continues at the State Theatre in downtown Sioux Falls. Above, a rendering of the completed auditorium is displayed in front of the auditorium in its current condition. At top right is the iconic State Theatre marquee.

At lower right, an artisian works to uncover the original artwork, photo courtesy of Argus Leader Media.

State Theatre still vital to downtown The State Theatre on Phillips Avenue was completed in 1926 and was one of several theaters in downtown Sioux Falls. It shut its doors in the 1990s and in the last two decades the Sioux Falls State Theatre Company, a nonprofit organization, has worked to restore the building to its original 1926 splendor.

Fundraisers for the State Theatre, including participating in the Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce Community Appeals process, have helped with the progress. Because of the building’s historical nature, however, uncovering original art under layers of history is painstakingly slow, methodical and expensive.

When completed, the State will provide nightly entertainment including new-release blockbusters, independent films and performance art in a state-of-the-art facility. More than $2.5 million has already been raised and invested in the State, which includes the theatre’s purchase, architectural and engineering plans, a remodeled lobby and main floor restrooms, a new roof, asbestos removal and the restoration of the facade and marquee.

The Stars, Statues, and the State fundraiser event will be held Sunday, Feb. 22 from 5-11 p.m. at Icon Lounge and Event Hall, 402 N. Main Ave. At this event, which includes watching the Academy Awards, you can also walk the red carpet, sip champagne and dine like the stars as you watch the winners. Admission is $125 per person, $250 per couple, with dinner included. Attire is optional black tie. Order tickets online at siouxfallsstatetheatre.com or call (605) 335-5757 for more information.

Work continues on the main auditorium. The theatre is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was named a “Save America’s Treasures” designee in 2010 by the U.S. Department of Interior and boasts a fully restorable, vintage Wurlitzer pipe and sound-effect Vaudeville organ — one of only a few that remain across the country.

54 Chamber News | FEBRUARY 2015