The VERB - September 2018

THE verb

noun

1. A word that expresses an action, state, or a relation between two things.

2. Your quarterly update on the action, events, and state of the Vermillion community, your Chamber of Commerce, Visitor Bureau, and Economic Development Company, and the relationship between you and all these things.

Note from Nate

PRESIDENT & CEO, VERMILLION AREA CHAMBER & DEVELOPMENT COMPANY

In the past month, we have welcomed students and faculty to our community – both returning and new. Our staff has excitedly moved into 2 E. Main Street. Watching this new space come together while new faces arrive in Vermillion has been incredible. For many, I imagine that the transition from summer to fall isn’t that exciting—the weather gets colder, the days get shorter—but I feel confident that our community will stay welcoming and warm through these changes.

Speaking of change, even the transformation of our beautiful McVicker Plaza back to its historic exterior, along with a complete redesign of its interior, threatened take a toll on personal and organizational momentum. Although this transformation was exciting and something so many looked forward to, it’s brought huge change, and change can be hard. I’ll even admit that there was a time when I needed to “fall back in love” with what this building would do for serving our purpose and our community. It didn’t take long to remember, however, all the great opportunities this space would allow. Opportunity for collaboration between our community and University. Opportunity for discussion and ideas between entrepreneurs and supporters. Opportunities for exposure between Charlie’s visitors and Vermillion visitors. Opportunity for growth between new and long-standing businesses.

You’ve also, no doubt, noticed the new design of our newsletter – now a quarterly ‘magazine’. In keeping

with the new energy that comes with transitions, we sincerely hope you’ll take the time to explore each of the features, interviews, and updates and share in our excitement for Vermillion’s trajectory.

Following big changes or transitions, it can be tempting as community members to lose some of our motivation, or to feel a little doubt as to what the future holds. American playwright John Patrick Shanley writes that “The moment of doubt is the beginning of change,” and it’s important to remember that we have the power as individuals and as a community to choose what direction that change takes us.

When we complete a renovation, hire new staff and interns, begin new projects, or reinvigorate a publication, each of these endeavors is an opportunity to fall in love with Vermillion all over again. All the new students, faculty, and community members we’ll welcome maybe haven’t yet had the chance to be introduced to who we are and what we do – but if we stay committed to telling Vermillion’s story, these new voices joining us, changing us, will continue to help us grow, and will even help define us. Let’s not be afraid of that change, since we can help shape it. Let’s not tire from the effort, as we can be the ones who empower each other. Let’s not be silent about all the GREAT things happening in our community, to remind each other why we #LOVermillion

chamber happenings

verbatim

New members First Dakota Title hosted their festive Ribbon Cutting on May 10th in their Vermillion office located at 100 E Main Street. Several new and familiar faces from the community were on hand to celebrate with Sara Magstadt and her staff.

“We offer flexible closing hours, we will accommodate your schedule.”

“The Chamber scheduled perfect weather for this event.” – Tom Schaack, Community Bank President, First Bank & Trust

The Chamber hosted their 2nd Quarter Business Luncheon on July 26th with cybersecurity expert Chris Aeilts of SDN Communications. With his down-to-earth approach, complete with sports metaphors, Chris made this topic accessible to everyone in attendance. But then, a delicious RED Steakhouse lunch makes everything go down easier. The VCDC is grateful for the support of their 2018 Business Luncheon sponsors: RED Steakhouse, First Dakota National Bank, THiNK thread & ink, and Edward Jones.

This year’s VCDC Golf Social was one for the record-books. On June 18th, VCDC staff, volunteers, and 29 teams enjoyed one of the topranked golf courses in the state - the Bluffs! The unseasonably cool day was the perfect setting for enjoying community and surprisingly competitive golf. Fantastic pin prizes and more, donated by many wonderful Chamber member businesses, went to a handful of lucky teams but at events like these –everyone’s a winner! We can’t wait for next year’s event.

Julie Blunck and Tina Wysuph from the Yankton office, and Sara Magstadt and Sam Shedd from the Vermillion office welcome the community during their May 10 th Ribbon Cutting.

Mark Lee, Tom Schaack, and Susan Oberle use laser focus to conquer Hole 9 without breaking a sweat.

An engaged crowd gets the latest strategies on cybersecurity from Chris Aeilts of SDN Communications during the 2nd quarter Business Luncheon on July 26th

SESDAC’s Nick Oyen knows what the VCDC Golf Social is really all about: getting out and enjoying yourself with your community!

Leanne Williamson shows us how it’s done.

The Clay County Historic Preservation Commission embarked on hosting their first-ever Missouri Valley Historic Preservation Conference, May 16-18th, with a little registration assistance by the VCDC –and featuring nationally-renowned historic preservation expert Donovan Rypkema. A wonderful crowd of preservation professionals and enthusiasts, as well as economic development experts, descended on Vermillion for 3 days of events. Needless to say, many of them raved about the things they saw happening in our community.

For the third year in a row, we hosted an Exhibition Baseball Game, presented by HyVee, on May 10th. Featuring the Sioux City Explorers vs. the Sioux Falls Canaries, the record crowd got to experience the Prentis Ball Park’s new speaker system and scoreboard. The family-friendly event was also heavy on the fun; a bouncy house and in-game promotions during every inning! The VCDC is appreciative of all the wonderful support by many wonderful sponsors who helped make the game a huge success.

A wonderful late-spring event this year was the South Dakota Law Enforcement Torch Run, which the City of Vermillion welcomed in on May 17th. Participants and supporters from across the community were on-hand to cheer the runners as they carried the Flame of Hope on their way across the state to kick off the Special Olympics South Dakota. We were especially excited to welcome them, as Vermillion will be host for the games in summer of 2019 and 2010. Keep your eyes open for more details in the coming months.

Vermillion once again played host to the South Dakota All-Star Football Game presented by Sanford, on June 6-9th. Some of the top young athletes from around the state were treated to nearly a week of events, including: paintball and archery, a pool party at the Prentis Plunge, a Recognition Banquet with guest CJ Hamm of the Minnesota Vikings….and of course, a little football. For the 3rd year in a row, a record crowd witnessed the Blue Team earn bragging rights as the top team in the state. Awards were given this year to: Offensive MVP – Jaydon Janke of Madison, Defensive MVP – Joel Dahaai of Sioux Falls Christian, and Overall MVP – Payton Zabel of Pierre.

A very special collaboration between the Vermillion Cultural Association and the VCDC brought beloved South Dakota artist Dick Termes to town at the conclusion of his incredibly successful exhibition at the First Dakota National Coyote Gallery for an Artist Meet & Greet, July 7th. Those who managed to catch the stunning exhibit can attest to how intriguing his Termespheres™ are, and having the opportunity to hear the artist discuss his work in person was an incredible treat!

Help us welcome our newest chamber of commerce members

vital Please

Gapp Counseling Services

Debra Gapp, LPC-MH, LAC, QMHP

1120 Valley View Dr. Vermillion, SD 57069

GappCounseling.com

debra@gappcounseling.com

605.677.9052

I have been a counselor since 1995. I opened my practice in Vermillion in 2009. I have been providing counseling to those who have entrusted me with their story and their hope for solutions. I consider that trust to be a privilege. I greatly respect each individual I serve, which can lead them in the direction of living life better.

I myself have been fortunate to have education and opportunity available yet, like each of us, have had to overcome life obstacles as well. I have found that within us lied a deep strength and spiritual power to not only endure, but to find happiness and success, using direction from within and help from those who care, as well as a variety of therapeutic methods consistent with systems theory and an Adlerian approach.

Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge #19

The Fraternal Order of Police is the world’s largest organization of sworn law enforcement officers, with more than 325,000 members in more than 2,100 lodges. We are the voice of those who dedicate their lives to protecting and serving our communities. We are committed to improving the working conditions of law enforcement officers and the safety of those we serve through education, legislation, information, community involvement, and employee representation. No one knows the dangers and the difficulties faced by today’s police officers better than another officer, and no one knows police officers better than the FOP.

Hartford Steakhouse Company

7 Court Street, downtown Vermillion

605.658.0214

The Hartford Tavern is a small tavern offering a simple menu with an affordable price. We originally started the business in Huron, then opened another location in the Black Hills, as well as a location in Hartford. We then opened 5 more in Colorado! The original is still in Huron and has expanded over the years. Diane and I both grew up in the restaurant business and that has fostered our passion for bringing it to Vermillion. We’re very much a family business.

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute

University Center, Classroom #108 in Science & Technology Bldg

4701 N Career Ave, Sioux Falls, SD 57107

nancy.wehrkamp@sduniversitycenter.org

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) lets you keep learning your whole life. With short-term, non-credit classes, OLLI offers adult education, continuing education and lifelong learning opportunities for members. OLLI programs are designed for people age 50 and over, but classes are open to all ages and education levels. There are no tests, no grades and no pressure!

Classes are offered in Brookings, Sioux Falls, Vermillion, and Chamberlain. Your membership fee lets you take as many classes as you’d like for as little as $70 a term in Sioux Falls or $60 a term in Brookings and Vermillion.

Gregoire Excavating LLC

609 Colonial CT Vermillion, SD 57069

Welcome your new VCDC Team Members

Katherine (Katie) Heine

After a thoughtful search, Katherine Heine joined the VCDC staff on August 1st as the new Chamber of Commerce Director. Heine, a Wakonda, South Dakota native, has over seven years of experience in administration and customer service. After graduating from Irene-Wakonda High School in 2008, Heine earned her bachelor’s degree from Morningside College in 2012. She most recently served as the University of South Dakota’s Media and Journalism Department secretary, where she managed department and media affairs. An active volunteer in the community, Heine first became involved with the VCDC as a member of the special events committee.

Taber Baldwin

Taber Baldwin joined the team in August and will serve as the Economic Development Assistant for the 2018-19 school year. Taber’s cheerful face will greet visitors at the front desk of the VCDC offices. He is from Sturgis, SD, but has lived in Vermillion for six years and considers it his home-away-from-home. In 2016 he graduated from USD with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science, as well as commissioning in the Army National Guard as an officer through the ROTC program at USD. He is currently pursuing his Master’s Degree in Public Administration from USD and plans on graduating in the spring. In his spare time you can find him working out at the USD Wellness Center, or enjoying movies at the Coyote Twin Theater.

Tony Kellar

The VCDC welcomed entrepreneur and author Tony Kellar as the new Economic Development Manager. Kellar grew up in Yankton and attended the University of South Dakota while working as a bar manager and kayak guide. Kellar self-published a book in 2004, which led to a job in Glacier Bay, Alaska. A few years later, on sabbatical from business management, he backpacked Southeast Asia in 2007. He remained living in Saigon as consulting chef, opening restaurants, health clubs and an international k-12 meal program. He returned home with a new zeal for entrepreneurship and started his own business. Kellar brings fresh insight to the VCDC team, having spent five years operating his restaurants, food trucks, and a catering business. In 2014 he returned to his roots along the Missouri River and has continued his work as a startup consultant.

faces celebrating our community

why vermillion?

q&a with some of vermillion’s newest businesses

What is your name and where are you from?

DeeDee Wilking of THiNK (DW): “I’m originally from Minnesota. I came to South Dakota to attend graduate school and we never left the area. My family lives on an acreage outside of Wakonda.”

Matt Foley of THiNK (MF): “I’m originally from Wisconsin. I came to South Dakota to attend graduate school and have lived all across the Midwest through my career in agriculture. My wife and I live in DeSmet.”

Monica Iverson of Café Brulé (MI): “I am from a bunch of different places. I was raised a military brat; my dad was in the Air Force. I was born in Ohio, moved to California, then moved to Ellsworth Air Force Base in the Black Hills area. So I went to high school in Rapid City and then came to college in Vermillion.”

How did you become familiarized with Vermillion?

DeeDee Wilking and her husband have one young son who attends school in Vermillion. Matt Foley and his wife have three adult sons, all who have either completed or are in the process of completing their secondary education, including USD’s Sanford School of Medicine. Matt and DeeDee were looking to find a workshop-like space to create

and collaborate and were thrilled when they had the opportunity to make the former Vermillion Beauty Shop their new home. “Because our former employment was so remote, Vermillion became the meeting spot for many team meetings, brainstorming sessions and event planning. We still joke that we probably owe ‘rent’ to most of the coffee shops in town!”

MI: “I came here initially just to go to college. My dream was to become an attorney, so I was a pre-law student. I never intended to stay in a small town; I enjoy bigger cities. It wasn’t my plan to fall in love and marry someone locally, and his family is all from here. I knew that marrying

Jim Waters (fifth from left) and Monica Iverson (to his left) celebrate during this year’s ribbon cutting for their third Vermillion restaurant

DeeDee and Matt utilize their commercial screen-printing set up to create custom orders.

in meant I was staying in Vermillion. Vermillion has definitely grown on me. The people here are so friendly and welcoming, nonjudgmental, progressively-thinking. It’s just a really positive, supportive town.”

Jim Waters of Café Brulé (JW): “I came to USD, I was in general studies. I was in food service since I was fourteen; my parents opened a restaurant when I was 16. I worked in food service at USD; I was the assistant director of food service—that was before Aramark.”

How would you briefly describe your business?

DW & MF: “It’s a complete mixture but what keeps us busiest is our screen printing and engraving services. We love to design and produce creative awards, signage, apparel and drinkware. We have a vast background in sales and marketing, branding and team training for other businesses. We really try to think outside the box. Oftentimes, that results in a unique piece of art.”

MI & JW: “Family-oriented, kicked-up American comfort food as well as laid-back European food.”

How did you get started?

DW & MF: “We were both in sales and marketing for the duration of our professional careers, having built brands, sales programs and marketing plans for others, and after spending most of that time living on the road, it was time to put our passion and creativity into our own endeavor here in Vermillion: THiNK thread & ink.”

MI: “My mother and my grandmother did cakes, so that’s probably where that inner passion came from. Cakes by Monica came first; I started that out of my home 25 years ago, then I became licensed and started doing cakes out of a local grocery store, and then we brought it to the Café when it opened seven years ago. Brick House was 2016-ish, and then Bru2 was April 2017.”

JW: “We worked together at Jones’ Food Center. We decided in 2010 that we wanted to open Café Brulé. We had about two years of discussion about opening Bru2, before Brick House, but the building [for Brick House] opened up so we took the opportunity.”

What qualities did you personally see in Vermillion that would support the well-being and success of your business?

DW: “For my husband and I, the Vermillion area and surrounding communities have become home. It’s where we both work and send our son for school. It’s where we shop, bank, worship –almost everything happens here.”

MF: “Vermillion is a solid yet growing city but lacked a business that offered multiple capabilities like THiNK thread & ink offers. The community has responded and is learning we’re not limited to just screen printing.”

MI & JW: “The younger population was craving more modern and organic and farm-to-table food and menu choices than what was offered here. What Jim and I noticed was people leaving town to eat in other places outside Vermillion, and we thought that was sad. We saw the need for something more progressive as far as healthier foods, more flavorful foods.”

What does your business have to offer a town like Vermillion?

DW & MF: “It’s about more than just offering services for businesses, teams and groups. It’s about offering creativity, stepping outside of comfort zones, setting ourselves apart and helping others do that as well (and loving it). Products are made to order as a means to fit the personality of the customer. We want to ensure that we are meeting the personality of the person, business, team or group we’re serving.”

lebrate with their spouses, staff, and many supporter from the community staurant – Bru2.

MI: “We’re constantly looking for new ingredients, new combinations, and new menu items. A refresh of what we originally were passionate about, so I’m hoping that we are offering something new and exciting to new and old customers. And we want to be good neighbors to the other restaurants downtown; we’re all rooting for each other and we support each other. We want to keep creating new items, new interest, doing as much organic products as we can. We want to keep up with gluten-free needs, special dietary restrictions. We welcome that and we want to continue doing that.”

JW: “We were looking to offer variety to lots of different cultures: academic, student, farm, business. Everyone can find something they’re looking for at Brulé. We bring a full, unique menu. And we hope that as more good places open, more people will come to Vermillion all year round.”

THiNK thread & ink / Maiden605

Matt Foley/DeeDee Wilking

106 E Main Street

605-350-2321 // 605-212-0954

www.facebook.com/thinkthreadandink

www.maiden605.com

facebook.com/maiden605sodak/

Dakota Brick House

Jim Waters/ Monica Iverson

15 W Main Street

Vermillion, SD 57069

Phone: 605.658.BEER

www.dakotabrickhouse.com Bru2

Jim Waters/ Monica Iverson

1110 E Cherry Street

Vermillion, SD 57069

Phone: (605) 658-0140

CafÉ BrulÉ

Jim Waters/ Monica Iverson

24 W Main Street

Vermillion, SD 57069

Phone: (605) 624-2945

www.cafebrule.com/

DeeDee Wilking and Matt Foley pose with a sampling of their handiwork in their THiNK storefront location at 106 E Main Street.

It’s always a clean, comfortable and affordable stay – with more amenities than you would ever expect from an economy hotel.

If you haven’t been to Red Roof lately, you’ll discover more than you’d ever expect from our hotel:

• #1 in Online Guest Reviews – 8 years running

• Free Red Roof Coffee Bar featuring freshly brewed gourmet coffee and tea

• All rooms include, microwave and mini-fridge, in-room coffee and hair dryer

• Large, flat screen TVs

• Indoor, Heated Pool (open year round)

• Free Wi-Fi

• Children 17 and under stay free

• Pets stay free (one well behaved pet)

national music museum

Special Feature

National Music Museum sets October 7th to begin expansion-closure

If you want to visit the treasures of Vermillion’s National Music Museum (NMM) in the near future, plan on doing so by October 6th! After that day, the Museum will begin complex preparations for its upcoming architectural expansion. Doors will be closed to the public throughout the preparation period and much of the eventual construction work. Groundbreaking for the addition is slated for early summer 2019, with the museum reopening in 2021.

Patricia Bornhofen, the NMM’s Manager of Communications says, “Despite the temporary museum-building closure, the NMM will be very much alive. We will continue to hold our NMM Live! concert series – just off site. Most of the shows will be held in the University of South Dakota’s Farber Hall. We will also partner with other venues, placing instruments in special ‘pop up’ displays or loaning instruments to other museums for special longerterm exhibits. And we will ramp up our social-media presence, so that people can stay connected with the NMM and our collection virtually.”

“Our goal is to continue being expert stewards and scholars of these masterworks, while attracting more visitors and enhancing their overall museum experience.” -Margaret Downie Banks

With some 15,000 musical instruments currently in the NMM’s collections, as well as many thousands of supporting artifacts and materials, the NMM needs not only more public display area but more storage and conservation options. The new addition will provide approximately 4,600 square feet of new exhibit space on the first floor, a gallery dedicated to temporary exhibits, a new performance hall, a dedicated classroom, a new research and conservation lab, a new photography lab, more archival storage, and new administration offices.

The National Music Museum is located in the former 1910 Carnegie Library building on the USD campus. In March of this year, the NMM announced they had been approved to add approximately 16,000 square feet (two floors plus an underground level) to the existing Carnegie building. The new addition will be on the west side and will include a new ADA-accessible entrance into a glass-fronted two-story lobby. Schwartz/Silver Architects of Boston, MA, created the integrated look of the addition. Koch Hazard Architects of Sioux Falls, SD, are the on-site authorities as architect of record.

Known for historic musical-instrument holdings that rival any of the finest in the world, the NMM sees the expansion as the opportunity to showcase these masterpieces with state-of-the-art practices and technologies. NMM Associate Director and Senior Curator Margaret Downie Banks says, “Our goal is to continue being expert stewards and scholars of these masterworks, while attracting more visitors and enhancing their overall museum experience.”

More fundraising is now underway to support exhibit redesign, cutting-edge museum technologies, aesthetic enhancements, operational costs, and the sustained growth of the museum’s endowment. The Museum encourages individuals and organizations to become NMM members and add their support to this metamorphosis that will benefit the entire Vermillion-area community.

If you find yourself missing the National Music Museum during its lengthy renovation, you can at least enjoy a new highlights book the Museum has published.

Responding to popular request, the NMM has created a colorful 80page soft cover edition in which you’ll find some of the museum’s musicalinstrument head-turners and crowd favorites. Sixty+ instruments (out of 15,000 in the NMM’s historic holdings) are pictured along with brief descriptions. The book also includes a short history of the Museum, answering the question “Why is the NMM in Vermillion, South Dakota?”.

Among the book’s high notes: the NMM’s stellar Stradivari and Amati stringed instruments, as well as the famed ‘Neapolitan’ harpsichord, and Adolphe Sax brass masterworks.

The $12.95 book can be purchased at the Museum until October 6th or ordered online for some time to come at www. nmmusd.org. It is $12.95 (plus shipping and handling if applicable).

Renderings of proposed expansion of National Music Museum

Schwartz/Silver Architects, Boston, MA

settling in at

M c Vicker Plaza

We can never say it enough: the mission of the VCDC is to improve Vermillion’s quality of life by enhancing Vermillion’s economic and community environment through strategic investments and collaborations. In practice, we strive to broaden the city’s tax base, encourage new capital investments and entrepreneurship, and actively recruit and encourage the expansion of businesses in the area. In addition, our organization also functions as Vermillion’s Chamber of Commerce; promoting the retail, manufacturing, civic, agricultural, and economic development interests of the Vermillion community and the surrounding area. The third primary function is as a Visitors Bureau, promoting Vermillion and the surrounding region as a tourism destination. Through these functions and a number of programs, we are continually working to promote the growth of Vermillion - a city that values community, innovation, team work, and history.

Keeping in mind the sense of history and the need for a central location, in 2016 the VCDC purchased and made plans to renovate the historic

building at 2 E Main Street, originally built in 1884. Plans to restore it to its original façade were deemed an appropriate nod to Vermillion’s rich history. An early print of the brick building signed E. Matson

and published in the October 13, 1887 Dakota Republican, as well as in the 1901 Atlas of Clay County, indicates the architectural characteristics of the structure. These include the centrally located staircase to access the second story, the decorative tin cornice around the front and west side of the building, the tall display windows in 2 and 4 East Main Street, one over one half rounded arched windows with decorative headers (or lintels) and brick sills below, and the prominent centrally located decorative peaked cornice framing the year the building was constructed, “1884”.

These plans required a great deal of coordination and resources, but the new facility houses our offices in a visible downtown location while providing the additional space necessary to expand the impact of our operations. We’ve been particularly excited to create Vermillion’s first collaborative co-working space for small businesses, entrepreneurs, and community members to engage, collaborate and participate in entrepreneurial programming. Mindful of

the growing body of research indicating that communities with vibrant social capital have the best outcomes for overall quality of life, our staff have designed the space and its programs to strengthen the existing networks to build the confidence of the next crop of citizens, entrepreneurs, and community leaders. The remaining street-level space houses Charlie’s, the University of South Dakota’s retail store, which is a favorite destination for University visitors, students and USD faculty and staff, and locals, alike.

continues on page 20...

join us! help us celebrate the completion of this significant renovation

Thursday, September 20th

Two full days of events are planned for Thursday, September 20th and Friday, September 21st, including tours, announcement of collaborative co-working space programs, and more. A highlight of the two days of events will be a book-signing event with Melody Warnick, author of This is Where You Belong.

8:00am – VCDC Volunteer Appreciation Coffee Social

Board and committee members, as well as any event volunteers, will be welcomed in for small group tours of McVicker Plaza while enjoying morning coffee and refreshments.

2:00-4:00pm - Community Involvement Workshop with author Melody Warnick

This engagement workshop is aimed at those who find themselves well integrated into the Vermillion community, as well as those who are looking to forge deeper connections. Idea folks of all ages, backgrounds or experience are welcome. Open to the public; RSVP is encouraged.

4:30pm – Vermillion NEXT Third Thursday Social

Any current or prospective members of Vermillion NEXT, our young professionals organization, are encouraged to spend the evening with us as we ‘break in’ the new space with our first evening social!

Friday, September 21st

8:00am - Coffee with the Author Melody Warnick & Book Signing

Advance copies of the book will be available for purchase at Charlie’s Retail Store, 2 E. Main Street. Copies will also be available for purchase at the event. Open to the public.

10:00am – Entrepreneurial Workshop

Visit our new Collaborative Co-Working Space at street level, while discussing associated new programming. We will introduce you to all of the support and opportunities that a space like this can provide, including: business consultation, financing options, networking and connections.

11:30am - Vermillion NOW! 2 Luncheon

Open to Vermillion NOW! 2 Contributors, takes place at Old Lumber Company.

1:00-2:30pm – GOED Opportunity Zone Presentation

Members from the Governor’s Office of Economic Development will be in town to present information about Vermillion’s recent designation as an Opportunity Zone, which is expected to encourage and enhance potential developments in the area. This presentation will be attended by Deputy Commissioner of Economic Development, Aaron Scheibe.

3:30pm – National Music Museum Preservation Center Ground-Breaking

Takes place at Riverbend Business Park, 1225 N. Carr Street. Open to the public.

4:30pm - McVicker Plaza Open House & Ribbon Cutting

The two days will culminate with the main event! Visitors can expect tours of the building and refreshments, in addition to the celebratory ribboncutting.

As many of you know, community and university relations are incredibly important to me. You likely also know that I am the current Vermillion Chamber and Development Corporation President, serving my second and final term. I have spent significant time cultivating the relationship between the community and the university during my time at USD and will work to keep building that relationship. I believe strongly that a rising tide raises all ships and that the success of Vermillion is dependent upon the success of USD, and that the success of USD is dependent upon the success of Vermillion. The reciprocity and generosity between the academic and local communities is vital and becomes stronger every day.

This reciprocity has helped carry us through a busy year. A primary topic of conversation is the restoration of McVicker Plaza, a beautiful historic building in the very heart of our downtown. At the time of this letter, the restoration is nearly completed, and 2 E Main Street is already so much more than just a beautiful building. It is also a symbol of the partnership and amazing relationship between USD and the VCDC by housing Charlie’s, and it will be an unprecedented collaborative space for conversations to advance the collective. I envision the young entrepreneur networking with the experienced and successful business owner, and doing so in a space specifically designed for holding civil and engaging conversations about topics relevant to community advancement. When we bring together the diverse perspectives of community members like University students, expert scholars, local business owners, long-time residents or new arrivals, we create a more imaginative dialogue about public policy that can carry us to a brighter future. I continue to look forward to what we can achieve – together.

from the chair

Sheila Gestring, VCDC Board Chair, and President, University of South Dakota

Vermillion Next young professional news

Vermillion NEXT is Vermillion’s young professional network for emerging leaders. As a part of the Vermillion Area Chamber & Development Company, it is a nexus for young professionals between the ages of 21 and 40 years old and the first place to learn about Vermillion and get involved.

Upcoming:

UpNEXT Coffee Hour

Vermillion’s hotspot for free coffee, great conversation, and active engagement had another fantastic season! Recent speakers included USD President Sheila Gestring, local political candidates, representatives of community organizations like Habitat for Humanity and Community Blood Bank, and more! There’s even more in store throughout the rest of 2018. Learn, engage, and caffeinate every Wednesday, 8:009:00 AM, at 2 E. Main.

9/19 - Ben Nelson, Vermillion Police Department, ALICE Active Shooter Discussion

9/26 - Rozzy Finn & Beth Lambeth, Technology Transfer Program

10/3 – Disability Awareness Month & SESDAC Services

10/17 – Patricia Bornhofen, National Music Museum updates

10/24 – Sandie Sullivan, Domestic Violence Safe Options Services

10/31 – Dongming Mei, USD Inventors

11/7 – Vermillion Human Relations Commission

Reach out to us at vcdc@VermillionChamber.com to subscribe to the weekly UpNEXT email.

Thursdays on the Platz

Vermillion’s premier downtown concert series has wrapped up for this season after 7 fantastic weeks. Great, free live music with bands like 35th & Taylor and Beard, and food vendors like Dakota Brick House and Heck’s BBQ, and a chance to enjoy your community in a beautiful outdoor setting is a recipe for summer fun! Join Vermillion NEXT now to help plan for next year’s season.

Leadership Vermillion

Exciting plans are underway for a dynamic new professional development program designed for NEXT members. Look for news about how to get involved by early 2019.

USD President Sheila Gestring makes an appearance to a packed crowd at the UpNEXT Coffee Hour this past August.

Local band Beard graces the National Music Museum stage during the sixth week of this summer’s bigger-than-ever Thursdays on the Platz, facilitated by the NEXT committee.

NEXT committee leaders, Kelsey Collier-Wise and Travis Letellier (shown here, at this year’s Chamber Golf Social), are busy with the committee’s plans to launch Leadership Vermillion.

VCDC Ambassadors

The members of this committee serve as the goodwill and public relations representatives of the VCDC. They attend ribbon cuttings, new business openings, ground breaking ceremonies, expansions and business relocations. They strive to attend community events, parades and festivals, assist and/or host VCDC sponsored events, and act as hosts or “Ambassadors” for other city functions when called upon. This committee meets on the first Tuesday of each month, from 12-1 pm.

VCDC Special Events Committee

The purpose of the Special Events Committee is to facilitate/organize and run the various activities and events such as the Annual Meeting & Banquet, Oktoberfest, and Stand-Still Parade of Lights.

Governmental Affairs Committee

The purpose of this committee is to strengthen communication between the community and government entities and to work to stay up to date on legislative issues and keep the VCDC membership informed. The committee helps facilitate the planning of events like Cracker Barrel sessions, Vermillion Day in Pierre, and Candidate Forums.

To get involved with any of these committees, or to get more information, reach out to Chamber Director Katie Heine at Katherine@VermillionChamber.com.

McVicker Plaza

2 E. Main Street, Suite #101

Vermillion, SD 57069

605.624.5571

www.LiveVermillion.com

VCDC@VermillionChamber.com

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