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

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.