leahb, Author at Sioux Falls Development

South Dakota ranked 3rd best for health care

Posted on August 27, 2024August 27, 2024 by leahb

South Dakota has been ranked the No. 3 best state for health care by WalletHub.

“Health care has two crucial components, cost and quality,” said Cassandra Happe, WalletHub Analyst, in the article releasing the findings. “The best health care in the nation isn’t helpful if it bankrupts the people who try to get it, and cheap health care isn’t worth paying for if it provides subpar or ineffective treatment. Therefore, the best states for health care are those that make high-quality care affordable, on top of providing many options for doctors and making insurance easily accessible.”

To learn more about the ranking and see how other states compared, click ‘read more’ below.

Building meaningful connections and gaining insight

Posted on August 26, 2024 by leahb

By: Dean Dziedzic – Vice President of Economic Development

Trade shows, conferences and site consultant forums are just a few ways that the Sioux Falls Development Foundation strategizes to attract and recruit new business opportunities to the Sioux Falls region. In the past few months, we’ve attended and participated in the Area Development Site Consultant Forum and the Logistics Development Forum.

At these events there’s a diverse audience of industry leaders, potential investors, and influential decision-makers under one roof. For economic developers, these events offer a unique platform to highlight the strengths and opportunities of their regions. Beyond the surface-level exposure, the true value lies in the chance to engage directly with site consultants—individuals who hold significant sway over corporate relocation and expansion decisions.

Site consultants play a pivotal role in guiding businesses through the complex process of selecting new locations. Their recommendations can lead to substantial economic benefits for the regions they endorse. By attending these events, we strive to establish and nurture relationships with these consultants, showcasing the Sioux Falls region’s unique selling points and addressing specific queries or concerns.

At both the Site Consultants Forum and Logistics Development Forum we were able to engage consultants in face-to-face meetings. This type of marketing is more impactful than traditional marketing methods. These interactions allow for immediate feedback, deeper discussions, and the ability to tailor pitches to the needs and preferences of each consultant. This personalized approach helps build trust and rapport, increasing the likelihood that a consultant will consider or recommend Sioux Falls in their future projects.

Over the years the Development Foundation has engaged with site consultants on many fronts. We view this as more than just a networking opportunity—it’s a strategic move for our community to elevate Sioux Falls. By investing time and effort into these events, we can build meaningful connections, gain critical insights, and position Sioux Falls as a top contender for new business investments. In a competitive economic landscape, the relationships and knowledge gained at these events can make all the difference in achieving long-term success and growth.

President’s Report: Balancing Economic Development with Community Resources

Posted on August 26, 2024August 26, 2024 by leahb

By: Bob Mundt, President and CEO

Oftentimes we as economic developers struggle with balancing the resources of our communities with the benefits of an economic development project. The Sioux Falls Development Foundation works closely with city, state and utility officials to determine those limitations and stay within those parameters to balance residential, commercial and industrial growth. In short… smart growth.

As an organization, we have developed an “economic impact scorecard” to help us analyze whether a potential industrial prospect or an expansion project is a fit for our resource allocations. The form breaks down the critical elements and needs of the project and measures them against critical measurements to determine overall impact.

Variables we consider:

Total Expenditures: CAPX for building and equipment to determine potential tax revenues.
Job Creation: Overall wages and individual salaries (the higher the better).
Benefits Package: Health and dental insurance, 401K plans, flex benefits.
Property Tax Revenue: Projected assessed value for the building for tax purposes.
Community Impact: Impact on infrastructure, schools, housing, support services.
Risk Assessment: Market and labor stability over time.
Environmental Impact: Air, water, wastewater, noise, and visual presentation.
Energy: Balance of energy usage between renewables and traditional; how much are we willing to allocate to a project?
Current Business Impact: Local suppliers, services and cross business utilization.
Sustainability: Is it a growing business or a declining business?
Community Give Back: Will they participate in the “Sioux Falls Way”?

The higher the prospect scores on the assessment the more likely we may be to offer incentives and assistance to locate in the community.

As we see across the country, natural resources including land, water, energy and the workforce are at a premium. Those communities who take a calculated approach to sustainable development will reap the benefits. We believe Sioux Falls and our region are on the right track, and must continue to work together to meet the critical needs of the future.

Chairman’s Report: Celebrating 70 years, planning for 70 more

Posted on August 26, 2024August 26, 2024 by leahb

By: Ryan Boschee, Sioux Falls Development Foundation Board Chair

In 1954, a group of community leaders had the foresight and vision to create the Sioux Falls Development Foundation in an effort to grow our economy through the recruitment and retention of business and industry. The main driver behind the effort was the availability and control of land that could be used as an incentive to bring new companies to Sioux Falls and allow existing companies to expand. Creating new tax base and growing employment was the goal.

This year at our annual meeting on November 21 at the South Dakota Alliance, the Foundation will be celebrating 70 years of pursuing and meeting that mission, as well as our expanded role into talent and workforce development, and urban redevelopment. The Foundation continues to develop industrial park land to grow the tax base and expand employment, including our latest 1,000-acre Foundation Park, Sioux Empire Development Park 8, and seven others. The Foundation, through Forward Sioux Falls, has expanded our role to include talent and workforce development and urban redevelopment, also focusing on expanding the tax base and growing employment.

As the current Chair of the Board for the Sioux Falls Development Foundation, I am proud to continue a strong tradition of leadership in building our economy and growing our workforce. 70 years of planning, risk taking, and community cooperation has resulted in Sioux Falls becoming one of the fastest growing and most admired communities in the country.

This growth doesn’t happen by accident and continued growth will need to be carefully planned and executed. Taking into account our accelerated growth, available resources and maintaining a high quality of life will take vision, planning and smart policies to make sure we grow while maintaining our high standards and community values.

I invite you to attend our Annual Meeting on November 21 at the Military Alliance and help us celebrate our past and plan for our future. We’re proud of our past and excited about our future. Thank you for being a part of both.

A note from Forward Sioux Falls Program Director, Brittany Hanson

Posted on August 26, 2024August 26, 2024 by leahb

Stepping into the role of Forward Sioux Falls Program Director has been an invigorating experience, and I am thrilled to be part of such a dynamic and impactful program. I am deeply honored to contribute to a community that I hold so dear.

Before joining Forward Sioux Falls, I spent the majority of my career at the University of Sioux Falls, where I had the privilege of serving as the director of alumni relations and annual giving. I’ve always been passionate about the power of communication and connection—bringing the right people together to achieve meaningful goals while inspiring creativity, focus, and energy. There are few things more fulfilling to me than building relationships that help advance organizations and connect people. Even before my career in fundraising, I was drawn to those who are generous – those who find more value in giving than receiving. They are open-minded, solution-focused, and, most important, they are usually the happiest people in the room.

That’s why I’m especially looking forward to deepening my relationships with regional business leaders and FSF investors. Their generosity is not just about financial contributions; it’s about their commitment to the community and their willingness to collaborate for the greater good. I’ve already had the pleasure of meeting several of them, and they embody what makes Sioux Falls so special. It’s been said before, but I’ll say it again: Sioux Falls has amazing leaders who are committed to coming together, placing their competitive differences aside and pursuing ideas that benefit the entire Sioux Falls area. Without this collaborative spirit, our city would look much different than it does today. This has been the foundation for Forward Sioux Falls over the past 37 years and will be crucial for its success going forward.

In addition to ensuring our investors that their contributions continue to make a significant impact, I am looking forward to doing the same with Forward Sioux Falls volunteers. Their passion and commitment are vital to the success of our initiatives, and I’m committed to ensuring their efforts are both impactful and recognized.

Although I’ve only begun to explore the vast reach of Forward Sioux Falls initiatives, I am eager to continue learning about and supporting programs that drive economic growth and enhance the quality of life in our region. It’s clear that we are on a path to achieving great things together.

With that in mind, let’s move Forward, Sioux Falls!

This summit will explore the ‘great reset’ in the workforce

Posted on August 22, 2024August 22, 2024 by leahb

Written by Sioux Falls Simplified and originally published on sfsimplified.com.

Simplified: The seventh annual WIN in Workforce Summit will give attendees space to discuss what people are looking for in a post-pandemic workplace, the future of hybrid work, and how creating company culture is intentional.

Why it matters

The Sioux Falls Development Foundation hosts the WIN in Workforce Summit each year as a way to bring the business community together to talk about the different roles everyone plays in not only workforce but also in economic development.
This year’s theme is “The Great Reset,” with the goal of looking at how coronavirus changed the workforce, as well as what the future of work looks like now that the pandemic is in the rear view mirror, said Denise Guzzetta, vice president of talent and workforce for the Foundation.
The summit will also focus on the importance of empathy-driven leadership, up-skilling the workforce and the importance of creating a work culture that fosters emotional connections.

“We know that we can’t take things for granted,” Guzzetta said. “People are bringing their entire selves into work, and we also know people want to work for organizations that provide meaningful work where they can make an impact.”

Tell me more about the summit

The summit will take place Tuesday, Sept. 24 at the Sioux Falls Convention Center.

Keynote speaker Ben Utecht will kick off the event with a talk entitled, “Believe in Culture.” Utecht is a former football player and Super Bowl Champion who transitioned to the corporate world as Chief Culture Officer for True North Private Equity.

Utecht will talk about how culture is intentional, and it’s something companies can invest in, make changes and solve.

In addition to the keynote, the summit will feature six different breakout sessions, with topics ranging from leadership styles to hybrid work to the “re-skilling revolution.”

You can see a full schedule of events here:

Win in Workforce Summit Schedule

What’s new this year?

This year’s summit will include a “Meet your future workforce” panel featuring workers who are 20 years old and younger.

“This new generation, they’re very boots-on-the-ground, very pragmatic,” Guzzetta said.

The event will also include a lunchtime talk about a day in the life of a remote worker and what it’s really like to manage working from home full-time.

Additionally, the summit will close out with a session discussing artificial intelligence. Attendees will hear from experts offering different perspectives on AI, from a legislative standpoint to a legal standpoint to employers to users.

How to get tickets

You can get tickets here for the one-day summit, which will run from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 24 at the Sioux Falls Convention Center.

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.

Former New Yorker drawn to Sioux Falls for ‘digital nomad’ lifestyle settles in quick

Posted on July 17, 2024January 23, 2025 by leahb

After living for two years in Manhattan and one year about 45 minutes north, Torrel Moseley was ready to trade the New York City area for something entirely different.

“I was looking at doing the digital nomad life for the next year or so and heard good things about getting residency in South Dakota, so I checked it out,” said Moseley, a Colorado native who has spent the past several years working as a software engineer.

Torrel Moseley sits at a laptop

A “digital nomad” is a remote worker who chooses to travel from place to place and work from different locations along the way. One day, you might find the person in a coffee shop; the next, a different state in a co-working space.

“I had been looking at places where digital nomads were operating,” Moseley explained. “I learned that in South Dakota, even if you stay one night, if you establish a mailing address here and have the intent of staying, you can get residency just after staying one night. It’s unique, and it’s not complicated.”

Torrel Moseley sits at a laptop

Intrigued by the idea, he started looking further into South Dakota, and YouTube videos led him to take a closer look at Sioux Falls.

“It seemed like a nice place to be, so I thought I’ll spend a few days here for a week and get residency and maybe come back at some point as I do the digital nomad thing,” Moseley said.

That was in early June. And, instead of moving on to the next town and plugging in somewhere new, Moseley decided he liked Sioux Falls more than he expected.

Torrel Moseley sits at a laptop

“I thought, ‘It’s nice enough here, why don’t I give this a go?’” he said.

“It’s great. Being from Colorado, often people are very impressed by mountains, and I love Colorado, but (Sioux Falls) brings up a certain feel that is present in some of the towns and cities on the front range of Colorado. That as a backdrop I love — the Big Sioux River running through and nice trails. Those are the things I look at.”

He’s now living blocks from downtown in a temporary lease at least until the end of the summer.

“I really appreciate the trail system and the parks and being in a place where you’ve got the amenities of the city and you don’t have the traffic or stress of a big metro area,” Moseley said.

Sioux Falls Greenway Trail System sign

“I feel like the downtown offers most of what you could want or need. It’s very walkable, and it’s also very friendly and accessible, with a trail running straight through to Falls Park. Those two things colliding — good infrastructure and nature — that’s what I like about the city.”

He mostly has been job-hunting with some freelance work and is interviewing with multiple companies that would allow him to continue working remotely.

He discovered Startup Sioux Falls downtown while searching for coffee shops “so I walked around and struck up a conversation with someone on the back patio and took advantage of a day pass to go work there when I had a presentation to work on for a company and just hit it off chatting with people there.”

Startup Sioux Falls building

As Moseley further connects with Sioux Falls, he’ll continue to have those kinds of experiences, predicts Denise Guzzetta, vice president of talent and workforce development for the Sioux Falls Development Foundation.

“We see this all the time — people discover something about Sioux Falls that draws them here, and then they quickly begin building community,” she said.

Startup Sioux Falls co-working space

“While we are an outstanding place for remote workers thanks to our favorable tax structure and cost of living, someone like Torrel with a software engineering background is going to find so many ways to use those skills in Sioux Falls if he chooses. We have such a variety of exciting, growing companies that will want to connect with him, and we’re here to help facilitate those connections.”

For now, Moseley is thrilled to discover that “within a 10-minute drive of my apartment, there are eight or 10 coffee shops,” he said. “I can hang out and work, and they’ve got good-quality coffee, and it’s a friendly place to be with a laptop for a few hours, not to mention the downtown library is a fine place to go too.”

Torrel Moseley sits at a laptop

Sioux Falls’ friendliness in general has stood out, he added.

“The thing I really appreciate about Sioux Falls is that you go out and the people you run into on a day-to-day basis are just nice, polite, they smile, they say hi on the sidewalk, and for me, that counts a lot,” he said.

“The politeness and friendliness of folks in the area is beyond compare. If you want to come here and have this as your home base and live the digital nomad life, it’s very amenable here. I came at the right time because it seemed like a great place in general, so why worry about being a nomad anywhere else?”

To learn more about building your career in Sioux Falls, reach out to deniseg@siouxfalls.com.

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.

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