June 25, 2025

A northeast Sioux Falls property owned by Sweetman Partners of Sioux Falls is among the latest sites submitted for consideration as a location for the new South Dakota men’s prison.

A letter from Tom Sweetman sent to the task force evaluating potential locations offered to negotiate with the state on 137 acres it owns between Interstate 229 and just east of Bahnson Avenue not far from Gage Brothers Concrete Products and south of land owned by Wholestone Farms.

“Sweetman Partners is currently in the process of developing the property by subdividing it into smaller lots and constructing multiple streets. However, Sweetman Partners would be willing to sell it all to the state of South Dakota. If you are interested and would like to enter into negotiations, please let me know,” managing partner Tom Sweetman wrote in a letter to Lt. Gov. Tony Venhuizen.

Venhuizen, who serves as chairman of the 22-member task force, told The Dakota Scout the Sweetman property could be a viable option, pointing to its proximity to the existing prison, industrial zoning, distance from residential areas and topography.

“There’s a lot of positives with this site,” he said. “At some point, we have to build this somewhere, and it’s not going to be on the moon.”

The only other option currently being considered in Sioux Falls is on existing Department of Corrections property.

The next Project Prison Reset task force meeting is scheduled for July 8 in Sioux Falls.

For the latest on the process, view this update from South Dakota Searchlight.