Message from the chair

At our recent Chamber Annual Meeting, I shared how the five core Chamber values — Community, Connection, Collaboration, Vision and Service — are not just organizational ideals, but the very foundation of what has made Sioux Falls the thriving community we know today. These values are alive in our culture because we’ve continually chosen to invest in one another.

Forty-five years ago, Sioux Falls was a community of about 80,000 people. Today, we’re nearing 220,000 strong, and that growth didn’t happen by chance. It’s the result of people and businesses intentionally leaning in — supporting local entrepreneurs, showing up for community events and choosing to keep their dollars circulating right here at home.

As we look around, we can find examples of our legacy Sioux Falls companies — those that have long poured into our community — being sold to out of state or out of country ownership groups. While growth and transition are part of business, we must remain mindful of the ripple effect. When ownership and investment shift away, so too can the commitment to local reinvestment. Primarily, we make every effort to engage these owners into our Forward Sioux Falls corporate culture, with some success, but unfortunately some are more reluctant to engage on the local level.

So, how do we counter that? We start where we have the most influence — our choices. Studies show that for every $100 spent locally, approximately $68 stays within the community, compared to only about 20% when spent at non-local or online retailers. Those numbers tell a powerful story: shopping local isn’t just an act of convenience — it’s an act of leadership.

Leaders go first. We model what we want to see. Each purchase, partnership and conversation is an opportunity to shape the future we envision for Sioux Falls. Whether your vision is five, ten or fifteen years ahead, one thing remains true: for our community to continue to thrive, we must adopt a Rising Tides mindset — knowing that when we lift each other up, we all rise together.

Together, let’s continue to build not just a prosperous economy, but a connected, caring and future-focused community.