Viewpoint
From the Chair we, as a community, have survived COVID-19 and are taking on 2021 with a revitalized fervor that doesn’t look like it’ll be slowing down anytime soon. Staff at the VCDC continue to work hard each and every day to bring fun, community-centric events to Vermillion, but they are also making their mark outside of city limits. Staff presented at the South Dakota Tourism Advisory Board in July, updating the board on tourism in Vermillion. The presentation was so well-received that staff have been asked to return to Pierre to participate in the 3-year strategic planning for the state of South Dakota. What an exciting honor!
“the vcdc was awarded as a bronze winner of the telly awards in the general television category.” Scott Pohlson
As Chair of the Board of Directors for the Vermillion Area
Chamber & Development Company, I hope summer treated you well here in Vermillion. It definitely makes a person feel good to see events happening again in our community, as these events have played an intrinsic role in the quality of life we have here. Summer brought so many ribbon cuttings and business-after-hour gatherings facilitated by the VCDC, as well as the weekly Thursdays on the Platz, and numerous golf tournaments supporting local businesses. Speaking of ribbon cuttings, we have held a record number of them this year. The business community is primed to get back out there, and what better way to engage with the rest of Vermillion than through the VCDC. Since the first of the new year, 35 businesses and individuals have joined the membership and invested in the VCDC. We’ve hosted 10 ribbon cuttings, and have a few exciting ones coming up in the books. It’s clear that
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Speaking of honors, the VCDC was also recently awarded as a Bronze winner of The Telly Awards in the General Television category. The submission was the Standstill Parade of Lights broadcast, produced by the VCDC and Ebsen House Productions and hosted by Nate Welch, VCDC President & CEO, USD Foundation’s Michelle Green, and community icon, Mitchell Olson. The Telly Awards honor excellence in video and television across all screens, and staff received notice that they were awarded the honor in May of this year. What a great show of dedication and excellence by VCDC staff and, what I’m sure would be, a long list of community member involvement. We’ve had a fun summer, but there is an exciting fall ahead of us. Thank you to the Vermillion community and to our chamber members who continue to engage with and support the VCDC’s efforts and mission by attending events, sponsoring them, joining the chamber, or all of the above. We really couldn’t do it without you.
