Aug. 28, 2024

This paid piece is sponsored by Sioux Metro Growth Alliance.

Here’s an eye-opening projection: In the next 25 years, Harrisburg is expected to eclipse 40,000 residents.

“It’s rapid, exponential growth, and with that comes both opportunities and challenges,” said Bryce Healy, who joined Sioux Metro Growth Alliance as an economic development and member relations specialist earlier this year.

“The priority is to focus on smart growth.”

A considerable portion of Healy’s workday is dedicated to supporting the economic development needs of Harrisburg, which contracts with SMGA for the services.

“It’s been great,” he said. “SMGA works with 16 communities around Sioux Falls, and they’re all unique and yet somewhat similar in their needs. So there have been a lot of learning opportunities as there’s a lot going on in the metro area.”

In Harrisburg, Healy’s services are key to advancing economic development, said Marcus Mahlen, senior vice president at NAI Sioux Falls and board chair of the Harrisburg Economic Development Corp.

“Bryce brings a skill set we need as a point person for planned community development,” Mahlen said. “He has great relationships across the public and private sector, and he’s able to be a bridge to help keep priorities on track and address changes that need to happen now versus five years from now. Nothing in economic development happens without a point person, which is Bryce.”

We sat down with Healy and Mahlen to learn more about Harrisburg’s current momentum and trajectory for the future.

We’re about three-quarters of the way through 2024. What kind of year has this been for Harrisburg?

Marcus Mahlen: I think this is a year where things are coming together. We’ve been on a 20-year run of growth, and commercial-wise it feels like we’re at a pivot point. We’ve got Scooter’s under construction, a second Kwik Star just opened, Jimmy John’s has opened, DQ is probably 70 percent done, so some of the national chains Harrisburg has wanted are here, which shows how the community has matured. On the housing side, we’re trending down this year as it is basically everywhere, but we’re still at healthy housing growth. We’ve just stabilized a little bit.

Photo by Jon Klemme

Bryce Healy: As I look at building-permit data, we’re on target for last year’s numbers and maybe just down a little in housing, but people continue to look at moving to Harrisburg. There’s an exceptional school district – a new elementary school just opened – and that will continue to drive population growth.

What have been some of the initial priorities in working with Bryce and SMGA?

Bryce Healy: In the last seven months, we redid the land-use map for the community, so planning and zoning decisions can begin considering what the broader vision is for Harrisburg. With so much growth, you need frequent updating, so this will be a good tool for developers, as well as the city. Growth is going to happen, and it can either happen with a good plan or it can just happen.

Marcus Mahlen: That planned community development is important as we see developers beginning to consider a handful of pockets of land, from 80 to 200 acres. That’s large-scale development that will come online in the next few years, and we need a road map to help guide land use. We’re also focused on diversifying the economy with more industrial service sector and professional office jobs. We have plenty of homes and schools, but we need to grow and broaden the business base while diversifying our jobs.

Bryce Healy: We’re mindful of the need for more businesses and amenities that enhance quality of life too. We think the community can support a family-style restaurant, and we have a number of future developments coming that will support additional retail. Part of the challenge is making sure the entire community knows what’s available now. We have three grocery stores in Harrisburg, and we likely have residents who aren’t even aware of that because they live in north Harrisburg and generally shop in Sioux Falls.

What are your expectations for Harrisburg in the coming year?

Marcus Mahlen: On a micro-scale, we’re excited to see a new boutique hotel move forward south of Country Apple Orchard and adjacent to The Meadow Barn and The Veranda. We’re hoping for a groundbreaking yet this year. Bigger picture, we’re moving ahead with a feasibility study looking at opportunities for an indoor sports multiuse facility and how that might fit in with what’s occurring in Sioux Falls and elsewhere in the Sioux Metro, including Tea. And then from a development perspective, we’re really watching the area on the north side of Harrisburg between Minnesota and Louise avenues. There are large tracts about to be developed near Harrisburg’s new elementary school and whole communities about to be developed. It’s not next month, but two or three years down the road, there likely will be hundreds of new houses, and Harrisburg will look at lot different.

Photo by Jon Klemme

Bryce Healy: It can be slow-going to go from concept to shovel in the ground, but we anticipate some additional economic development activity. We’re excited to break ground soon on new baseball fields, which will support the more than 800 young people in Harrisburg who participate in those programs. There’s a lot of that type of opportunity revolving around the schools, and it’s exciting, but it takes time and community involvement and making sure the right stakeholders are involved. In my broader community relations role for SMGA, I’m looking forward to continuing to make sure we’re connecting with members in all 16 communities. Our CEO, Tyler Tordsen, has a very team-based approach, so we want our team to be in tune with what’s happening in all communities, so we can step in and assist as needed.

Get connected

If your business is interested in learning more about opportunities in Harrisburg, reach out to Bryce Healy at bryceh@siouxmetro.com or 605-261-3672. To connect with the Harrisburg Economic Development Corp, click here.