leahb, Author at Sioux Falls Development

From Florida to West Virginia to Sioux Falls: Corporate move proves fit for manager and her dog

Posted on August 14, 2024August 14, 2024 by leahb

Run into Devin McGrew in downtown Sioux Falls, on the recreation trail or in a nearby state park and chances are her German shepherd, Cash, will be alongside her.

“Sioux Falls, for the size it is, is one of the most dog-friendly areas I’ve been in,” said McGrew, who moved to town at the end of 2023.

Devin McGrew walking dog in Downtown Sioux Falls

“We are out and about almost every weekend — we hit up one of the parks, or we’re downtown. He was previously a little country dog and wasn’t used to being around people, so we’re doing socialization, and he’s in day care a couple days a week. I like to bring him downtown, and they have water bowls and dog treats at businesses everywhere. They’re so dog-friendly.”

The community’s friendliness quickly has allowed both Cash and his dog mom to feel at home.

McGrew moved to Sioux Falls following a year in West Virginia and before that spent a decade in Florida. A new regional human resources role for C&B Operations drove her moves, and she’s now ready to move with her leadership colleagues into the company’s new downtown office at The Steel District.

Devin McGrew with C&B co-workers in Downtown Sioux Falls

“They encouraged everyone who is a director and above to move to Sioux Falls,” she said. “Prior to taking the role, I’d never given South Dakota a second thought.”

But her first week at work in 2023 brought a trip to Sioux Falls with it, followed by multiple additional work travel opportunities to the city.

“Working with this team is just phenomenal. They’re amazing,” she said. “And you have this nice city, but then it’s also like little small-town America, which is so fun for me. I would tell people to come visit. Once you visit Sioux Falls, it opens your eyes to so many things available here.”

After browsing homes to rent, she found one she liked on the far west side closer to Tea.

“I’ll probably end up buying within the next year,” she said. “I wanted to get to know the area. I love downtown, but Cash really enjoys a big yard, so I’ll probably stick with a house so he has that.”

Devin McGrew with dog in Downtown Sioux Falls

She appreciates that despite living on the edge of the city, it’s about a 15-minute commute to her job downtown.

“Everything is so walkable downtown,” she added. “You have the river, and it’s just so cool because the cost of living compared to where I came from is very comparable, but you get so many more amenities here.”

Her new office, which will open this fall, will be directly adjacent to Falls Park and the recreation trail.

“I’m so excited for it,” she said. “We did a tour recently, and it’s absolutely gorgeous inside. It’s going to be unreal. We’ll have outdoor lunch space, which is so nice when you’re in an office all day, plus we’ll be able to easily go outside and walk.”

The new C&B office joins many other business expansions in various industries offering outstanding opportunities for newcomers to Sioux Falls, said Denise Guzzetta, vice president of talent and workforce development for the Sioux Falls Development Foundation.

“Corporate relocations are a big reason why people move to Sioux Falls, and Devin’s experience is an amazing example of what you’ll find here,” she said. “You’re going to find forward-looking employers who understand the environment employees are looking for, combined with a community where you’ll be able to afford and enjoy a fantastic lifestyle.”

Plus, “there’s the added bonus of no state income taxes, so you get a little bump in your paycheck if you relocate to South Dakota,” McGrew added. “So that’s always a plus for people.”

As she settles into the community, in addition to spending time with her dog outdoors, McGrew has been enjoying Siouxland Libraries.

Devin McGrew with dog in Downtown Sioux Falls

“I love to read, and I’ve done some of their activities, which is nice because I love to support libraries,” she said. “The ease of use is great with an app, and the interactions I’ve had with everyone have been wonderful. I did an art activity that was totally free, all the supplies were there, and we painted little floral planters, and it was a good way to make connections in the community.”

Most importantly, she has felt welcome here, McGrew added.

“It’s stood out to me how nice and friendly everyone is,” she said. “I’m a single person, and I was trying to lift chairs into my car at Walmart, and someone right away came up to help. I know a lot of people talk about Southern charm, but this is bar none.”

Are you ready to make your next work-life move to Sioux Falls? Email deniseg@siouxfalls.com to get connected.

From Super Bowl champ to chief culture officer, keynote speaker at Sioux Falls workforce conference previews message

Posted on August 12, 2024August 12, 2024 by leahb

Among the many lessons Ben Utecht took away from his NFL career, this one has formed his future:

“If you build better men, you get better football players.”

Utecht learned and lived that mantra thanks to his Indianapolis Colts Hall of Fame coach Tony Dungy, “the first to win a Super Bowl based on servant leadership,” he said.

“He was probably the most authentic and consistent leader I’ve ever been around. What you see is what you get. People want to be led by him because they can trust that his moral and ethical and corporate self is consistent and scalable.”

Utecht now leverages those and other life experiences in his role as chief culture officer at True North Equity Partners, based in his home state of Minnesota but with multiple business interests in the Sioux Falls area. Its portfolio spans 28 companies across five industries and includes ownership of the Sioux Falls Canaries.

“I always joke in keynotes that in my last career, my job was to hit people first, and now my job is to care about people first,” he said.

“In a company as leaders, you realize you have the opportunity to transform every single person that walks through the door in a way such that they go home a better person. How inspiring is that? If we put the time and intentionality into our culture, not only can we increase revenue but we can improve our people, and they might become better partners and parents and friends because of their work experience.”

He’ll share that message with attendees at the seventh annual WIN in Workforce Summit, presented by the Sioux Falls Development Foundation. The popular event will be from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sept. 24 at the Sioux Falls Convention Center. Click here to learn more and register.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Ben Utecht as this year’s keynote speaker,” said Denise Guzzetta, vice president of talent and workforce development. “His message empowers organizations to design, deploy and direct culture strategies that not only boost the bottom line but also inspire and uplift employees.”

WIN in Workforce itself is an all-day opportunity “to share best practices in talent and workforce development, network with experts and gain valuable insights that will help you and your business excel,” she added.

Breakout sessions will be structured around talent attraction, retention and current issues contributing to the workforce development field:

Engage and hear from leaders transforming our region and workforce landscapes.
Find out how technology is transforming the way and how people work.
Learn the new playbook for employee retention in the global and diverse workplace.
Hear from CEOs and seasoned business leaders about where and how they are investing in the workforce to develop and strengthen their organizations.

Beyond the business world, Utecht’s philanthropic focus lies in concussion awareness — a cause close to his heart because of a career-ending brain injury. His journey, chronicled in his book, “Counting the Days While My Mind Slips Away,” sheds light on memory, relevance and resilience.

Ben Utecht Headshot

As an award-nominated singer, his talents extend beyond business — performing for presidents to serenading Muhammad Ali.

At WIN in Workforce, he describes his message as “The Champion’s Creed,” a creed being a set of beliefs that guide behaviors and actions.

“The mission is how to build high-performing, championship culture within your organization built on the practice of an objective value and belief system,” he explained. “My goal is not just to be an inspirational speaker but to help businesses understand culture more objectively and, more importantly, how to practice culture and develop their people to help achieve their business goals.”

Attendees will leave with practical, actionable advice for incorporating culture into hiring, onboarding, training, talent development and employee engagement, he said.

“How are you hiring toward your culture and then developing team members toward the beliefs of the organization and holding them accountable?” he said. “And then as leaders, you also want to be listening and learning from employees because they are going to be honest and tell you what your culture needs are.”

Utecht also will be sharing insight with high school students attending the event as part of the Sioux Falls Development Foundation’s Career Connections program.

“Where I think this is great for high school listeners is that it should inspire emotional intelligence development,” Utecht said. “We’re talking about things in an inspirational way that provides clarity for them to begin thinking about their strategic plan for life. Decisions about college or what to study are connected to their belief system, so my hope is that there’s crossover in how you create culture and strategy in business and how you can apply that individually in your life.”

Note: Sessions at the WIN in Workforce Summit are eligible for nine SHRM and HRCI recertification credits. The Sioux Falls Development Foundation is recognized by SHRM to offer professional development credits for SHRM-CP® or SHRM-SCP® recertification activities.

If you have questions, email deniseg@siouxfalls.com. Click here to learn more and register.

Here’s a look at the full agenda:

Moving Sioux Falls Forward: P&M Steel

Posted on August 5, 2024August 5, 2024 by leahb

Nearly 55 years ago, a longtime steel worker started a business in the backside of a machine shed in a Sioux Falls industrial park.

Today, the business founded by Louis Profilet in 1970 has grown into P&M Steel, a custom steel fabrication company that serves the Sioux Falls region with an experienced team of engineers, estimators, detailers, project managers and fabricators.

It has expanded into a 50,000-square-foot office and warehouse that’s satisfying the demands of the region’s booming building industry.

“The growth of the Sioux Falls area has been supported by and also led by the success of businesses like P&M Steel,” said Bob Mundt, president and CEO of the Sioux Falls Development Foundation.

“This is a service-driven company that understands talent attraction, development and retention, and we’re excited to be a resource as they continue to grow.”

Here’s a closer look at the business, courtesy of director of estimating Nick Underberg.

Year founded and when operations began in Sioux Falls: 1970

Total employees in the Sioux Falls area: 40

CEO/lead executive in Sioux Falls: Mike DeJong, president; Katrin Profilet, vice president

How would you describe your organization to someone not familiar with it?

P&M Steel is a custom steel fabrication company. We work with general contractors, as well as individuals, to provide steel for commercial and residential projects. Our specialty is producing load-bearing structural steel such as beams and columns. We also pride ourselves on the more intricate work such as stairs, handrails and ladders.

Most of the time, structural steel is covered up, but we love to see projects that highlight exposed steel as an architectural element! Our machine operators cut the steel to specifications, and our skilled fabricators weld the steel components together.

What are the top three reasons you continue to locate in the Sioux Falls area?

There are three primary reasons. The first is location. Many of P&M Steel’s primary customers are located in or within a 200-mile radius of Sioux Falls, making it a strategic location for serving them efficiently.

We also value our community roots. Sioux Falls is where P&M Steel was established. The company has strong ties to the local community, which supports its operations and business relationships.

And finally, there are important family connections and ties in the area for us that contribute to the decision to remain in Sioux Falls, providing personal and professional stability.

These factors contribute to P&M Steel’s commitment to staying in Sioux Falls and supporting both its business and community relationships.

What are you most proud of within your business in the past year?

Community engagement: Working with local schools and their welding programs to develop the next generation of our workforce through internships and steel donations.
Impactful projects: Fabricating steel for new schools around the area, including the Boys and Girls Clubs expansion at McGovern Middle School, Marcella LeBeau Elementary and the West Lyon school addition. All of those will house future leaders, making a significant contribution to the infrastructure that supports the next generation.
Company growth: The growth of the company, particularly through the addition of new management staff, enhancing the business’s capabilities and leadership.

What do you see as the biggest challenge facing your business?

Our challenges include workforce availability and material competition. Finding and filling open positions is a significant challenge impacting the company’s ability to meet its operational needs. Also, we’re facing the increasing popularity and use of precast concrete and wood in building construction. While these materials can offer cheaper and quicker build times, they do not hold the longevity of a steel structure.

How would you describe the culture of your business in three words?

I’ll actually give you five — the P&M core values:

Community
Team oriented
Integrity
Commitment
Reliability

Why does your business choose to invest in Forward Sioux Falls?

We appreciate the focus on community growth and development, and support contributing to enhancing the Sioux Falls area’s economic and social infrastructure. We also value community involvement and want to be an active part of the community, fostering strong local relationships and supporting community initiatives. And finally, Sioux Falls is considered home for P&M Steel, making our investment deeply personal and meaningful.

What specific advantages or values have you found to partnering with Forward Sioux Falls and its programs?

Collaboration with the Sioux Falls Development Foundation: This partnership helps P&M Steel leverage resources and opportunities provided by the foundation to support local economic development.
Increased local opportunities: Being involved in more local opportunities, allowing the company to expand its network, engage in community projects and access new business prospects.
Continuous growth: The partnership supports the company’s ongoing growth, fostering development and expansion within the local market.

What are your expectations for your business in the year ahead?

We anticipate strong business operations, maintaining a full schedule and ensuring robust business activities. We also expect to expand our team and increase our involvement in the community.

Forward Sioux Falls is a joint venture between the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce and the Sioux Falls Development Foundation and is widely respected as the premier economic driver for the Sioux Falls region. To learn more and connect, click here.

Fortune ranks Sioux Falls in top 50 best places to live for families

Posted on July 31, 2024July 31, 2024 by leahb

Looking for somewhere with big city amenities and a small town feel? From sprawling bike trails to shopping, dining, arts, and culture, Sioux Falls is one of the best places to live, work, raise a family, and so much more. But don’t just take our word for it! Sioux Falls has been named by Fortune as one of the top 50 cities for families.

To see where Sioux Falls landed on the list, click the ‘read more’ button below.

Market Analysis for Riverline District Supports 2050 Vision

Posted on July 12, 2024July 12, 2024 by leahb

In 2023, several Sioux Falls community leaders identified an opportunity to maximize the use of riverfront land on the southeastern edge of Downtown Sioux Falls. With its proximity to the river, the bike trail, the Whittier neighborhood, and a growing and prospering downtown, this property was identified as having much greater potential for vibrancy and long term impact for the Sioux Falls region.

This next chapter — the Riverline District — is an opportunity for Sioux Falls to dream big. Our community has done just that, and Forward Sioux Falls has been a part of the ideation and visionary process, and has also provided financial support for conducting a Highest and Best Use Analysis and Economic Impact Study for the Riverline District.

This report was released in early 2024 in tandem with the February announcement of a visionary plan for the community from the Friends of the Riverline District and the City of Sioux Falls. This 2050 vision includes the development of a modern and appropriately sized convention center and repurposing the existing Sioux Falls Convention Center into a flexible public indoor recreation and event space, which will help fill the community’s stated demand for this type of indoor facility.

On July 9, 2024, the City of Sioux Falls released the “Convention Center Review and Market Analysis” for the Riverline District during the City Council Informational. Several representatives from Johnson Consulting, based out of Chicago, IL, compiled the study and presented it to the City Council. This is part of a comprehensive and phased approach to analyzing the feasibility of developing a new convention center at the Riverline District at Tenth Street and Cliff Avenue.

The “Convention Center Review and Market Analysis” by Johnson Consulting shows that Sioux Falls would support a newer and larger convention center at the Riverline District and that it’s a feasible development at that location from a market standpoint.

“Downtown Sioux Falls is growing toward Tenth Street and Cliff Avenue, so it’s important we are strategic in the steps we take now to maximize the potential of the Riverline District,” said Mayor Paul TenHaken. “This market analysis is part of our due diligence with the Riverline District to ensure this visionary plan emphasizes the well-being of our community and economic vitality for Sioux Falls.”

“We continue to see the potential positive impacts the investment of the Riverline District will not only have on the area directly at Tenth Street and Cliff Avenue but also for businesses downtown and throughout the community,” said Lynne Keller Forbes, co-chair of Friends of the Riverline District. “We are taking a multi-faceted approach to this project to continue the momentum of this bold vision for our community.”

To read more about the Market Analysis, click here.

Job opening: Talent Recruitment Coordinator

Posted on July 11, 2024July 11, 2024 by leahb

We’re hiring!

The Sioux Falls Development Foundation is searching for a motivated and outgoing individual to work directly with universities, tech schools and community colleges to recruit new graduates and alumni to fill important jobs in the Sioux Falls region.

We’d love to have you as a valued part of our team. Please send your letter of interest and qualifications to:

Denise Guzzetta
Vice President for Talent and Workforce
Sioux Falls Development Foundation
deniseg@siouxfalls.com

View Job Description

Multifaceted agribusiness expands in Sioux Falls development park with plans for additional growth

Posted on July 8, 2024August 6, 2024 by leahb

An agribusiness with global reach has grown steadily since moving its corporate headquarters to Sioux Falls more than a decade ago – and is far from done expanding in the community.

Worthington Tractor Parts Inc. most recently added a 24,000-square-foot building to its growing campus in the Sioux Falls Development Foundation’s Park VII in northwest Sioux Falls.

The expansion at 5400 N. Annika Ave. supports its U.S. distributorship for Capello of Italy, which is a leading provider of globally innovative header solutions for ag equipment, primarily chopping corn heads since 1965.

“Capello dominates its category in Europe, and we were introduced to it throughout parts deals in Ukraine and around the world,” said Mike Winter, president of Worthington Tractor Parts. “It’s a good fit for many customers because it’s not brand-specific, and we’ve been steadily making farmers aware of the quality of the product as their U.S. distributor.”

The Capello USA training and distribution facility offers extensive warehousing, a full product showroom and final assembly shop. The new location also will host dealer training to provide hands-on education for service technicians. Open to the public, the showroom is available to customers to view Diamant, Quasar and Spartan lines and visit with the Capello USA team.

“We’ll bring in dealers from all over the Midwest at this location,” Winter said. “And we have a training facility to train service techs on the Capello product as they provide support to customers.”

Worthington Tractor Parts dates back to 2012 in Sioux Falls, when it opened the first building and moved its corporate headquarters from Maple Grove, Minnesota.

“It’s an excellent community to live in and operate a business. I don’t regret the decision one bit,” Winter said. “When we moved, it was in conjunction with building the headquarters for our Capello distributorship as well as Parts Express, which is a wholesale distributor of aftermarket new parts for ag equipment.”

Essentially, Worthington Ag Parts, Parts Express and the Capello distributorship combine to offer customers everything from used parts to new corn heads and new or rebuilt aftermarket parts.

The legacy Worthington Ag Parts business will mark its 60th anniversary this year and is an independent distributor of non-OEM, aftermarket new, and used replacement agriculture parts. It has six locations nationwide in addition to three in Australia. The business sells directly to farmers and has seen a strong increase through e-commerce, Winter said.

“We don’t operate a location in Sioux Falls because we can’t have salvage equipment on the lot, so Worthington, Minnesota, is the closest location, and then Sioux Falls is our corporate headquarters and warehouse facility for Parts Express and Capello parts, where about 50 people support our multiple business entities here,” he said.

“We’re always looking for good people, and it’s not necessary to have an ag background. We have sales positions open for Capello and Parts Express as well as warehouse roles and administrative purchasing positions.”

Parts Express is based out of Sioux Falls and serves about 4,000 dealers nationwide, in addition to four warehouses in Australia and a warehouse in Germany that serves multiple countries, including Ukraine, where “it has seen a drop because of the war, but they’re still farming,” Winter said.

In the past 12 years, Parts Express and Worthington Ag Parts have brought guests to Sioux Falls from Argentina, Ukraine, Australia, Italy, Russia, China, Taiwan, Turkey, Israel, India, Germany, Denmark and Kazakhstan.

“Their first impression is that everyone loves the city of Sioux Falls,” Winter said.

Dean Dziedzic, vice president of economic development for the Sioux Falls Development Foundation, has worked with Worthington Tractor Parts since its original expansion more than a decade ago.

“They were a catalyst for development in Park VII, starting out with one 6-acre site and then buying additional land for expansion,” he said. “They offer an excellent variety of positions and treat employees well with very competitive wages and benefits. They’ve just been a great tenant for this development park, and we’re excited to see them positioned for continued growth in Sioux Falls.”

Going forward in the short term, “it’s going to be a good harvest for us,” Winter said. “Crops are in the ground, there’s been good rain, and we expect the second half of the year will be stronger than the first in our sector. I’m optimistic in how we go forward.”

Ultimately, expect to see Worthington Tractor Parts and its associated businesses expand even further into on-site assembly, he said.

“I predict we’ll build again to the north in about five years,” Winter said.

From Arizona to Sioux Falls, dispatcher becomes police officer through new cadet program

Posted on June 28, 2024June 28, 2024 by leahb

Despite serving as a 911 dispatcher, Megan Matthews’ own family was living in what she considered one of the most dangerous communities in Arizona.

Then she moved to Sioux Falls three years ago.

“We were looking for something more family-friendly, and South Dakota is beautiful, good laws, good communities, and we picked South Dakota,” she said.

Then she decided to pursue a career on the other end of the emergency calls.

Megan Matthews trains in the Career Cadets program

“It’s the biggest police department in the state, so you would expect it to feel like a big department, but it doesn’t,” she said. “Everybody is super-friendly, everybody is super-helpful, everybody knows each other.”

From her first training, Matthews has felt the community’s support too. She’s one of the first members of the new Career Cadets program, a partnership of Southeast Technical College, the city of Sioux Falls and the Sioux Falls Development Foundation/Forward Sioux Falls.

“It’s really a collaboration, a partnership and a true testament to what a community needs to do in order to look at a problem and come up with solutions,” said Denise Guzzetta, vice president of talent and workforce development for the Sioux Falls Development Foundation.

Megan Matthews trains in the Career Cadets program

The immersive Sioux Falls Police Department Career Cadets program blends a part-time job in the department with relevant education at Southeast Tech and mentorship.

“You just learn so much,” Matthews said.

Now, she’s ready to graduate. To learn more about the program and her path forward, click below.

Sioux Falls Police Department’s Career Cadet Program

Sprenger Midwest Wholesale Lumber supports regional building needs, earns industry recognition

Posted on June 28, 2024June 28, 2024 by leahb

Record building activity like Sioux Falls has enjoyed in recent years is supported by homegrown materials businesses such as Sprenger Midwest Wholesale Lumber.

Led by a team with decades of experience, the business has been supporting the wholesale distribution of lumber, plywood and other forest products to regional retail lumber dealers and industrial accounts for 45 years.

“Sprenger Midwest Wholesale Lumber is a Sioux Falls success story that has grown along with the development of our community and beyond,” said Bob Mundt, president and CEO of the Sioux Falls Development Foundation.

“Access to quality building materials is key for supporting our area construction industry, and Sprenger Midwest does a wonderful job servicing not just the needs of Sioux Falls and South Dakota but many of our neighboring states. We’re grateful our community serves as their home base.”

Business name: Sprenger Midwest Inc., Wholesale Lumber Sales.

Year founded/operations began in Sioux Falls: 1979.

Total employees in the Sioux Falls area: Approximately 40.

Here’s a closer look at the business, courtesy of president Steve Sprenger.

How would you describe your organization to someone not familiar with it?

We source lumber, plywood and other building materials from quality mills in the U.S. and Canada. We sell to retail lumber dealers and industrial accounts in the seven-state region: South Dakota, Minnesota, North Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas and Missouri.

Sprenger’s location in Lincoln, Nebraska

We have warehouse facilities in Sioux Falls; Lincoln, Nebraska; and Moorhead, Minnesota. Our organizational chart starts with a management team consisting of our sales manager, purchasing manager, controller, credit manager and branch managers from each of our locations.

What are the top three reasons you continue to locate in the Sioux Falls area?

We started here, and our home office is here.
Sioux Falls and the surrounding market for lumber continues to grow.
We have invested in real estate with two large lumber warehouses: South Yard at 523 E. 14th St. and North Yard at 4501 N. Fourth Ave. in an industrial park.

What are you most proud of within your business in the past year?

From our Lincoln, Nebraska, yard we were given the 2023 Supplier of the Year Award from the Nebraska Lumber Dealers Association. I accepted the award at their annual convention held in Omaha.

What do you see as the biggest challenge facing your business?

The changing climate of new lumber dealer and industrial account customers. For instance, in the past two years, there are five or six new truss plants and wall panel fabrication plants in the Sioux Falls area. Several longtime lumber retailers have changed ownership with national chains.

How would you describe the culture of your business in three words?

Honest, dependable, hardworking.

Why does your business choose to invest in Forward Sioux Falls?

The goals and values of Forward Sioux Falls are to promote economic growth. These values help our business to grow and provide jobs for our employees and those we do business with.

aerial view of Sprenger Midwest Wholesale Lumber

What specific advantages or values have you found to partnering with Forward Sioux Falls and its programs?

Our partnership has been mainly financial support. We are aware of programs for increasing housing, which directly affects our business, and workforce recruitment and training.

What are your expectations for your business in the year ahead?

We are experiencing a more difficult business climate with higher interest rates and economic uncertainty. Lumber demand nationally is down, resulting in lower prices. From the high demand during the pandemic, we are now at pre-pandemic prices. This means we need to sell two or three times as much board footage for the same amount of sales. Our expectation is that the second half of the year will be better than the first half. Overall sales will be up marginally in 2024 — maybe 10 or 15 percent over 2023.

To learn more about Sprenger Midwest Wholesale Lumber, click here.

Moving Sioux Falls Forward: Design Tanks offers best-in-class products made in Sioux Falls

Posted on June 19, 2024June 25, 2024 by leahb

From its relatively low-profile location in Sioux Falls, Design Tanks aims to be the nationwide leader in fiberglass tank manufacturing.

“Our mission through modern design, engineering and manufacturing processes is to create the highest-quality fiberglass tanks in the industry while bringing outstanding value to our customers,” president and CEO Bret Vanden Bosch said.

Located at 612 W. Blackhawk St., Design Tanks manufactures custom-engineered FRP — fiberglass-reinforced plastic — tanks that store corrosive liquids. The company’s products support a range of industries, including ag, food and beverage, energy, industrial chemical, water, wastewater and air pollution control.

“This is advanced manufacturing at its best,” said Bob Mundt, president and CEO of the Sioux Falls Development Foundation.

“Design Tanks has a nearly 70-year history, and in that time, they have evolved and enhanced their business to become an industry leader. These are excellent careers, and we’re eager to do what we can to support this company’s growth.”

Here’s a closer look at the business, courtesy of Vanden Bosch.

Business name: Design Tanks.

Year founded: 1956.

Year operations began in Sioux Falls: 1956.

Total employees in the Sioux Falls area: 80.

CEO/lead executive in Sioux Falls: Bret Vanden Bosch.

What are the top three reasons you continue to locate in the Sioux Falls area?

We take great pride in being a Sioux Falls-based company, and I think our reasons come down to our dedicated employees really representing the best of the “Midwest work ethic”: working until the job gets done, staying humble through success and remaining community-focused. We’re all from here; it’s a great state and city to do business in, and we want to make sure we give back to our communities through our success as a company.

What are you most proud of within your business in the past year?

Design Tanks had a record-breaking year in 2023, making more tanks of all sizes than we ever have before. And we’re on track to do it again in 2024. Our team continues to perform at such a high level that we’re able to produce quality products with both exceptional efficiency and employee safety standards.

What do you see as the biggest challenge facing your business?

With Design Tanks’ rapid growth and plant expansions, we’re always looking to add new employees to the team. New members are critical for us to continue advancing and keeping up with new demand, so it can be tough if there’s an employee shortage. We’re actually hiring right now for a few entry-level roles.

How would you describe the culture of your business in three words?

We are family. Design Tanks prioritizes a family culture when bringing in new hires and looking out for veteran employees to make sure everyone succeeds both on and off the job. We look after our own.

Why does your business choose to invest in Forward Sioux Falls?

Forward Sioux Falls is diligently working to help bring in new employees to help counteract any shortage we have, and bringing in new employees means bringing in new community members, which inherently enriches the Sioux Falls community and economy. We want Sioux Falls to not only continue being a great community for our employees to live in, but to expand it for future generations to come.

What specific advantages or values have you found to partnering with Forward Sioux Falls and its programs?

Partnering with Forward Sioux Falls can align us with a strategic vision for economic development and community growth, providing access to resources, networks and opportunities that can drive success and sustainability. By providing high-quality jobs that require talented, upstanding people, Forward Sioux Falls will help us fill those roles, and inherently the community, with people who fit the bill.

What are your expectations for your business in the year ahead?

Continue to focus on what we do best: customer service, best-in-business delivery times and high-quality products. If we keep this course, there’s no telling what we can achieve.

To learn more about Design Tanks, click below.

One of the best places to raise a family: Sioux Falls, SD

Posted on June 18, 2024June 18, 2024 by leahb

Raising a family can be one of the most rewarding life experiences, but where you decide to locate your family can play a big part. From cost of living to quality of life, there are many factors to consider.

WalletHub is helping take the guesswork out of this decision, and has just released their 2024 rankings of best places to raise a family. Sioux Falls, SD, ranks in the top 20!

“With families in mind, WalletHub compared more than 180 U.S. cities based on 45 key metrics that consider essential family dynamics, such as the cost of housing, the quality of local school and health-care systems, and the opportunities for fun and recreation,” the article releasing the findings says. “While not perfect — given personal preferences and the limitations of publicly available data — our findings will hopefully give movers a better sense of their options.”

Discover why Sioux Falls made the top 20 by clicking the button below.

Learn More

South Dakota among states with the lowest tax burden

Posted on June 18, 2024June 18, 2024 by leahb

The amount of “tax burden” upon citizens can vary from state to state. If you’re looking for a state with a low tax burden, we have some great news for you: South Dakota is among the states with the lowest tax burden in the United States, according to data compiled by WalletHub and visualized by VisualCapitalist.

“It’s important to understand that under this methodology, the tax burden measures the percent of an average person’s income that is paid towards state and local taxes,” the article releasing the findings says. “It considers property taxes, income taxes, and sales & excise tax.”

To see how other states compared and to learn more about the methodology, click the button below.

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South Dakota ranked 2nd best state for doctors (2024)

Posted on June 18, 2024June 18, 2024 by leahb

As an essential service, healthcare is an important facet of our society. Medical professionals work tirelessly to provide care and expertise. Given the importance of their work and cost of their education, when deciding where to practice, doctors consider factors such as annual wage, cost of insurance, and more.

WalletHub has done the research, and South Dakota has recently been ranked the second best state for doctors!

“Living in one of the best states for doctors can make a big difference for your medical career,” says Cassandra Happe, Wallethub Analyst. “In addition to making more money, you will also be able to work in higher-quality hospital environments, be less likely to burn out, and pay less for malpractice insurance. For everyone else, living in one of the best states for doctors can lead to quality healthcare.”

To see how South Dakota compared with other states, click the button below.

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Muth Electric celebrates new Sioux Falls location to support growing operation

Posted on June 18, 2024 by leahb

Several local divisions of Muth Electric now are under one roof in Sioux Falls, thanks to a brand-new office and warehouse building at Foundation Park.

The business has started operating out of a 24,500-square-foot building that sits on 7 acres, directly east of the Amazon fulfillment center.

“We’ve made a tremendous effort to create a world-class environment for our employees,” president and chief operating officer David Muth said. “We set out to find a way to improve the employee experience and provide outstanding training and better serve our customers. I think we’ve hit a home run with all three in this building.”

The building houses multiple divisions for Muth Electric. The electrical contractor takes on a broad range of large commercial and industrial work, including hospitals, water and wastewater treatment facilities, wind energy, correctional facilities, airport runway lighting, roadway lighting, hotels, industrial plants, military facilities, schools, medical clinics, office buildings and major retail stores. The company has a fleet of service vans to cover electrical needs for customers.

Additionally, Muth Technology specializes in structured network and fiber optic cabling for industrial, commercial, wind farm, small-business and residential customers, along with designing and installing distributed antenna systems, SCADA infrastructure platforms, wireless networks, and security and audiovisual systems.

Muth Power Solutions, the company’s automated control division, as well as employees supporting a medium voltage group that works throughout the Upper Midwest, also work out of the new building.

Family-owned Muth Electric is based in Mitchell and was founded in 1970. The team has grown to 530 employees in 12 locations across South Dakota and Nebraska.

Employees companywide will begin coming to Sioux Falls for training starting this summer, using the first-class classroom and training lab that was built at the office.

“We have a full-time trainer who will be leading our classes and trainings, not just for our Sioux Falls electricians and technicians, but throughout the company we’ll bring people to Sioux Falls for training sessions and orientations throughout the year,” CEO Paul Muth said.

“It’s similar to what works very well in tech schools, with both classroom space and a lab for hands-on work.”

Muth Electric partners closely with tech schools to support its workforce needs. It has three full-time recruiters regularly working with 16 tech schools throughout the region. The company offers 15 to 20 full-ride Build Dakota Scholarships every year, plus additional support for college students.

The Sioux Falls office is the company’s largest, with about 160 employees.

“Muth Electric has been a respected name in Sioux Falls for many years, and we were happy to welcome them to Foundation Park,” said Bob Mundt, president and CEO of the Sioux Falls Development Foundation.

“Their imprint on our growth and development is apparent in so many of the construction projects you see taking shape in Sioux Falls and the region. We are honored to have them as partners.”

The Foundation Park location has been an ideal fit, Muth Electric’s leaders said.

“We wanted an exciting location, and I think Foundation Park is the real deal,” Paul Muth said. “That location is perfect. We have a lot of customers out there, plus it’s easily accessible throughout the area and even the region.”

Along with large construction projects statewide, the company has seen significant growth in its servicing work, which also is convenient from the new location.

“The professionalism of our employees has led to a tremendous amount of service work,” Paul Muth said. “We’ll go into Amazon or a number of other businesses in Sioux Falls and do their day-to-day maintenance and service work.”

The location reflects a strong ongoing relationship between Muth Electric and the Sioux Falls Development Foundation.

“They’ve supported us, and we’ve done our very best to support them,” David Muth said. “We think it’s a mutually beneficial relationship.”

The new office also will serve as a sort of blueprint for other Muth Electric locations across the region.

“Sioux Falls is the prototype, and Rapid City, where we are building a new office, will have the same look and feel. We’re delighted with the finished product in Sioux Falls, and we want to replicate it in other new builds,” David Muth said.

Plus, the Sioux Falls property allows Muth Electric plenty of room to expand.

“The lot is big enough to accommodate us currently, plus a lot of growth,” Paul Muth said. “It will take us years down the road, so we have really nice potential for expansion.”

A note from FSF Program Director Mike Lynch

Posted on June 17, 2024June 17, 2024 by leahb

By: Mike Lynch

After nearly 11 years working in the Commerce Center building, I will be resigning from my role as program director for Forward Sioux Falls later in July. My wife Brenda and I will be moving to the Twin Cities as our daughter is planning to relocate from Atlanta and Brenda will be working in St. Paul. On a personal and professional level, it has been an honor to have worked with so many Forward Sioux Falls investors to help make this community economically stronger.

When I’ve had conversations with people from around the country asking about the intricacies of what makes Forward Sioux Falls successful, it’s not a difficult question for me to respond. I’m humbled by how leaders tirelessly come together, place their competitive differences aside and pursue objectives that benefit the entire Sioux Falls area. Collectively, we are stronger and were it not for this dynamic, the success of the program—and the community—would look much different.

325 investors support the current five-year program and there’s little doubt that the number will continue to rise. When we embarked upon the current campaign during the onset of the pandemic, there was reasonable skepticism as to what the future would hold. We wanted to be respectful of the business community before making any campaign timeline decisions. With so many uncertainties, we held conversations with dozens of investors, asking them if this was the right time to conduct a capital campaign. Unequivocally, they responded yes. There was a trust factor and profound respect for what Forward Sioux Falls continues to do to navigate the rising tide.

Though I’m very excited about the next chapter of life, leaving my position and Sioux Falls is bittersweet, for sure. I was born here and have spent much of my life here. Like so many, I’ve seen it grow from a very nice, yet relatively ordinary community well over 35 years ago, to one that is growing exponentially and catching the eye of so many throughout the country. People have realized this is a phenomenal place for those of all ages, with varying aspirations and intentions.

On many levels, I will miss living and working here and yet, I plan to return often and expect to be impressed, but not surprised of the continued evolution and expansion of this city. I appreciate so much, all who have crossed my path over the last decade; it’s been a rewarding ride!

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