Jan. 7, 2019

This paid piece is sponsored by the Sioux Falls Development Foundation.

By Bob Mundt, president and CEO of the Sioux Falls Development Foundation

During 2019, the Sioux Falls Development Foundation will focus its efforts on the attraction, retention and expansion of both business and talent.

Our partnership with the city of Sioux Falls to enhance our existing business retention and expansion programs will ensure that we engage with businesses right here in the Sioux Falls area. Local companies looking to grow and expand will receive assistance and dedicated staff support in their expansion efforts, with the result of creating new jobs and keeping existing jobs in the region.

While this enhanced effort is strengthening our existing business base, new emphasis will be placed on attracting targeted businesses to our region. Our corporate recruiting programs will ensure that these new companies offer high-value, high-paying jobs for the region.

As the greatest challenge to our continued growth, the attraction, retention and expansion of our talent base and labor pool also will be emphasized. The Development Foundation staff will work collaboratively with our economic development partners and the business community to attract new workers to the region. At the same time, our organization will focus on retaining our existing employment base through job training and sharing best practices, using Workforce Information Now as a major communication vehicle in our workforce efforts. Partnerships with local K-16 educational institutions also will focus on filling the long-range pipeline for future workers.

The attraction, retention and expansion of both business and talent will be complemented by aggressive and targeted marketing. Our outreach to site selectors, brokers and real estate professionals will be coordinated with local partners and the Governor’s Office of Economic Development. As we advance our strategy for talent, marketing for new workers will be coordinated with our economic development partners, city government and the private sector to maximize our impact for bringing additional talent to the region.

One essential element in the implementation of our broad-based attraction, retention and expansion agenda for 2019 is the addition of two staff members with roles that complement our goals. Denise Guzzetta joins us as vice president of talent and workforce development, leading the Development Foundation’s efforts to stimulate initiatives outlined in the Forward Sioux Falls strategic workforce action agenda. Mike Gray, as director of business retention and expansion, will meet with business executives throughout the region to help them assess their needs. Mike will facilitate their expansion in the Sioux Falls area.

We have a strategy in place to make 2019 a great year for growth in both workforce expansion and business development. We’re excited about the potential and look forward to a successful new year.

To see more workforce development strategies, read the latest edition of WIN: Workforce Information Now from the Sioux Falls Development Foundation.