JULY RETROSPECTIVE a (half) year in review

Can you believe it’s already July?

From VCDC events to business development to Vermillion getting a shoutout in a national magazine, it’s an exciting time to be a Vermillionaire. Chamber membership continues to grow and diversify— so far, we’ve had a flower farm, video production freelancers, a church, manufacturors, restaurants, and quite a few service organizations join the chamber this year! So much has happened that it’s hard to keep track of it all, and we couldn’t possibly name everything, so here are some highlights from the first half of the year:

VCDC Annual Celebration

We rebranded our Annual Banquet to be an Annual Celebration because that’s really what it is: a celebration of the many individuals, businesses, nonprofits, and organizations that make what we do at the VCDC possible. The event was a black-and-white party, with attendees encouraged to dress entirely in black and white, no color allowed! Dinner was enjoyed, silent and live auctions were held, and a good time was had by all. VCDC staff, board members, and friends gave out the 2023 VCDC Awards, two of which (Family-Owned Business of the Year and Chamber Member of the Year) were new. Congratulations to Family-Owned Business of the Year Pressing Matters, Spirit of Entrepreneurship winners Mike & Jen Phelan from Outside of a Dog Books & Games, Vermillion NEXT Young Professional of the Year Katey Ulrich, United Way Volunteer of the Year Judy Zwolak, Mayor’s Community Service Award winner Sandy Aakre, Community Leader of the Year Scott Pohlson, and Chamber Member of the Year Premier Real Estate & Property Management! Nobody was more deserving of the 2023 VCDC Awards than this crowd!

App Launc h

If you haven’t heard the news already, Vermillion has its own app! The new Live Vermillion app is modern, user friendly, and showcases how incredible Vermillion is just with the touch of a button. It’s now easier than ever to find so many of the amazing things in our community, like our dining and bar scene, amenities, services, retail stores, events, and more. Chamber opportunity to edit their business listing, hours, photos, and links to websites and social media, and they can even advertise directly in the app as well. We know that new businesses are popping up all the time, so if you don’t see your business, don’t worry. If the VCDC doesn’t add it first, you can submit a listing directly through the app. The app has over 900 downloads already, and the number grows every day!

New video campaign

The VCDC prides itself on helping businesses to grow and prosper, so we thought we might show off some success stories with our new video campaign, “There’s a Place for You in Vermillion.” Our friends from Outside of a Dog Books & Games, Blue Monarch Boutique, Davis Pharmacy, and Pied Piper Flowers and Gifts (new to town!) talk about their experiences with the VCDC and why they think Vermillion is a great place to live, stay, and play. We could go on, but we’ll let the video speak for itself: check it out on our YouTube channel at @vermillionsodak

Smithsonian Mention

The latest buzz about Vermillion? Our mention in the Smithsonian Magazine’s article “The 15 Best Small Towns to Visit in 2023!” Towns on the list all have a population under 25,000 people and were chosen for their cultural history, geography, unique businesses, and community events. Vermillion made the list as the “Musical Small Town” pick! Check out what the article has to say about Vermillion:

“Thousands flock to this university town in South Dakota’s southeastern corner each year to experience the world-renowned National Music Museum, home to one of the largest collections of musical instruments on the planet […] Vermillion’s downtown is chock-full of restaurants, cafés and art galleries. Swing by Tigert Art Gallery to peruse limited-edition watercolor prints by Black Hills artist Jon Crane, or score a table at Dakota Brick House for plates of wings and poutine accompanied by pre-Prohibition-era craft cocktails. The town’s population nearly doubles during the school year, infusing its restaurants, pubs, theaters and streets with lots of lively energy.”

Those are just a few Vermillion highlighs of the last few months, and with Thursdays On The Platz, RED Talks, and ribbon cuttings galore on the horizon, 2023 is shaping up to be a great year!