Independence Day, 2021, took on added significance for the Clark family as they arrived in Sioux Falls from Oregon and made the city their new home.
“Much like every other person during COVID, we were just ready for a big shakeup in our life,” Aleah Clark said.
Fifth grade was cut short in the classroom for Tyler and Aleah Clark’s daughter, Peyton, as the COVID-19 pandemic took hold.
By sixth grade, the only option for the Oregon family was attending their local school online. As seventh grade approached, the option was going to be a hybrid model with in-person class part of the week.
Photo by Jason Davis
For an only child, finding a place where Peyton could return to a normal school life “was important to us,” Aleah said. “It was pretty isolating. So we were happy to get her to Sioux Falls, and we got her all signed up for school.”
Whittier Middle School “provided a great experience” for her daughter as has Washington High School, she said.
“My daughter is super-active and has really thrived since we moved here. She really got into trying new things and started doing show choir, which she loves.”
Peyton also has continued her love for cheerleading and now has a summer job at a coffee shop.
“It’s absolutely a night-and-day difference for her,” Tyler said. “She just took off immediately and is the kind of girl who makes friends super-fast, so she’s involved in all kinds of activities and got her driver’s license at 14 and now gets to brag about that back in Oregon.”
Back in Oregon, where they both grew up, their family and friends understand the move, Tyler said.
“They understand how difficult it is to conduct business or do business in Oregon,” he said. “Everything is limiting out there — regulations, politics, the way all the agencies are set up is crazy.”
For instance, he’s a licensed contractor who still manages some properties the couple owns in their native state. When he goes through testing in Oregon, “it’s all about consumer protection, and there’s nothing about building code,” he said.
“I got licensed by the city of Sioux Falls, and that was the first time I’d ever been tested on or required to understand building codes.”
They’re both licensed real estate agents who have worked in residential, commercial and multifamily markets. But when it came to decide where to move themselves, “we were kind of dart-on-a-map people,” Aleah said. “I wanted to have an area where we could have all four seasons, and I wanted to feel like part of a community but still be in a more rural area.”
The state of South Dakota’s wage calculator website figured into their design.
“I used it pretty heavily to compare Oregon and South Dakota, and South Dakota with other states, and it really helped with all the tax benefits being a family here,” she said. “The biggest thing is not having state income tax. In Oregon, we don’t have sales tax, but we have state income tax, and it’s pretty significant. And the housing there is really tight, with way more bidding wars and rising prices.”
In the Sioux Falls area, they were able to find an acreage in Renner that still made them part of the Sioux Falls School District. Earlier this year, when it was time to renew her real estate license, Aleah opted to move it to South Dakota, “and it was really easy to do that here,” she said.
Now, as part of the Amy Stockberger Real Estate team, she’s helping others buy and sell homes throughout the Sioux Falls area.
“It’s been a lot of fun, and I even now have a client trying to relocate from Oregon,” she said. “I wish I would have found Amy’s office when we were looking for a house. They have so many services for people and team collaboration, and I have been fully welcomed into it. If you’re new here and need a roofer or plumber, we make those connections. We even help you find a date-night spot. It’s all about getting connected to your community.”
The Clark family’s experience is a perfect example of what others will find in Sioux Falls, said Denise Guzzetta, vice president of talent and workforce development for the Sioux Falls Development Foundation.
“I love how they were seeking a better experience for their daughter, and that extended to the whole family,” she said.
“Teens like Peyton find so many ways to get involved in our community, from early work experience to extracurriculars of all kinds. And the business-first approach that Tyler and Aleah have experienced is exactly what we pride ourselves on in Sioux Falls. I have no doubt they both will find success in their industries here.”
Since becoming South Dakotans, Aleah has embraced an annual pheasant hunt — “it’s my favorite thing to do every year,” she said. And they both “really enjoy being out here,” Tyler said. “I’m really looking into trying to get involved in some agriculture-related out here, which would be a totally different change of pace.”
They’ve also adopted another dog since the move and now have three.
“I love all the things for dog moms — the Splash Bark and all the things,” she said.
“And we really love all the local breweries and love downtown so much. Early after our move, I got a job at Severance Brewing, and that was a lot of fun, so I still pick up shifts here and there because it’s a great place to meet people. We love the 605 Made Night Market, the farmers markets, and I could go on and on.”
Within six months, she knew “I couldn’t imagine moving away,” she said. “That’s why I want to help other people, whether they’re deciding to move for a life change like we did or their career. I want to help people know all about Sioux Falls as quickly as possible.”
To learn more about building your career in Sioux Falls, reach out to deniseg@siouxfalls.com.