Advocating for business in D.C.

The Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce works hard to advocate for pro-business issues at the local, state and federal levels. In May, a group of Chamber members, executive board members and staff traveled to Washington, D.C. to meet with our federal delegation and discuss policies and issues affecting greater Sioux Falls and our state as a whole.

In our meetings with Senate Majority Leader Thune, Senator Rounds and Congressman Johnson, we discussed a range of topics including cybersecurity, energy and continued collaboration between federal programs and the businesses
and institutions in greater Sioux Falls that partner with them.

A priority we discussed with our delegation was the continued need for funding for the Sioux Falls Airport. These funds are critical in the Sioux Falls Airport Authority’s effort to expand terminal and gate space to accommodate the growing number of travelers coming to and from Sioux Falls for both business and leisure.

Another key item that was raised to our delegation was the importance of the South Dakota Air National Guard’s presence in Sioux Falls and continued advocacy for the long-term mission and sustainability of the 114th Fighter Wing.

Another highlight of our meetings was discussing the exciting potential for South Dakota to be a trailblazer in the cybersecurity industry. With Dakota State University and the Dakota State Applied Research Corporation based in our region, there are tremendous opportunities for South Dakota to become a major player in this industry.

We also met with staff from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to discuss the Farm Bill, proposed tariffs on South Dakota-produced ag products and other policies that could affect by-products made in our state. Agricultural products and by-products continue to be the backbone of our region’s economy, and advocating for their continued growth is critical to South Dakota’s success.

South Dakota’s federal delegation has consistently championed pro-business initiatives and advocated for our state. They remain strong partners of the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce and we’re grateful for their support and ongoing promotion of all our state has to offer.