By: Kent Cutler, 2025 Sioux Falls Development Foundation Board Chair
First and foremost, thank you to last year’s Chair of the Board Ryan Boschee. Ryan led the Foundation Board throughout 2024 and made sure we met and exceeded the goals and objectives we set for ourselves. Completing the grading of Foundation Park, completing road and infrastructure work, leveraging the TIF to maximize funding, and investing our available funds for maximum return. In addition, Ryan pushed hard for tangible results in our workforce initiatives leading to a record year for workforce development numbers and recruitment of new talent to the region. Our hats are off to Ryan for a job well done and for setting the stage for additional growth in Foundation Park and the region.
It’s an honor for me as the incoming Chair for 2025 to pick up where we left off in 2024. As we enter 2025, we’ve started strong.
- Over 300 acres under option – Projected sale of 120 acres
- Prospect activity up 15%
- Final option on land north of Memory Lane set to close in May
- Final grading for land north of Memory Lane ready for bid
- Owens & Minor/Avera set to open
- One 37-acre prospect set to close in April
- New company to begin construction on 14 acres
- CJ Foods to begin going vertical this summer – completion 2027
- Supercharging our INTERN Sioux Falls program
- Increasing the numbers of Talent Tours for onsite experiences for students
- Increasing our focus on local university alumni as talent prospects
- Completing our spring Career Connections program and planning for the fall class
- Organizing our summer STEM Camp program
- Retargeting our WORK Sioux Falls programs to be laser focused on our top job needs
- Developing the next version of the Forward Sioux Falls campaign and beginning the capital campaign
The Development Foundation is also working closely with the City to begin redevelopment of identified areas including the Riverline District, North Minnesota Avenue, and other potential redevelopment sites.
As we move into 2025 with some of the uncertainty from federal and state government, the Development Foundation is laser focused on making our community and its commercial and industrial base strong. A renewed emphasis on business retention and expansion efforts are designed to help our existing businesses grow and prosper by connecting them with resources and assistance. Growing what we have is top priority.
The Sioux Falls Development Foundation is proud of the work we’ve done in the past, and we are confident in what we can achieve in the future with your help. I am proud to work with the Foundation staff under the direction of the Board of Directors to continue building our community. Thank you to all of you for being here in Sioux Falls. We appreciate all you do, and wish you the best in 2025.