Message from the Chair
As I sat down to write my final Chamber News column as chair of the board, I was thinking about everything that has been accomplished in the last year.
We piloted a non-partisan candidate school program to educate the next generation of civic leaders; eighteen people considering a future run for public office participated. We completed our first DE&I Activator Series, with 372 people participating in at least one session. We secured $200 million in state funding support for workforce housing in South Dakota. We made major investments in higher education and research, including DSU’s Applied Research Lab in Sioux Falls, a biomedical facility at USD Discovery District, and the creation of the Health Science Simulation Center at Southeast Technical College.
We are thriving because of you!
It’s been another banner year for building and construction projects too. At the end of 2021, the city celebrated when it surpassed the milestone of $1 billion in building permits. In 2022, we surpassed that mark by the end of July and the numbers keep climbing.
And these things only scratch the surface. How do you summarize the impact of all that is happening?
I traveled to Greece this summer. It is a country I’ve visited several times, and on each trip, I make a point to visit ancient ruins. As striking as those historic sites are, what is most impressive to me is the people who built them.
All the projects and progress happening in and around Sioux Falls are made possible through the efforts of our people. We are thriving because of you! Thank you for the investments you make and the role you play in keeping Sioux Falls strong and growing.
My term as chair of the Chamber’s board of directors has been such a great honor. Serving Chamber members and the community as a whole has brought me a sense of satisfaction greater than any other service. I will cherish this time for the rest of my life.
I encourage you to mark your calendar for Oct. 18, 2022 and plan to attend our 116th Annual Meeting. We will welcome our new board chair, Paul Hanson of Sanford Health, and celebrate all the people who make Sioux Falls a great place to live and work.
Alex Ramirez
USA Media TV
