April 30, 2026

This piece is sponsored by Forward Sioux Falls.

Forward Sioux Falls is launching its next chapter with momentum — and more support than ever from the business community.

The region’s ninth five-year economic development campaign, Forward Sioux Falls IX, surpassed its $18 million fundraising goal, raising more than $19.1 million and setting the stage for a new round of investment in growth, workforce and quality of life initiatives through 2031.

“Once again, our business community exceeded our expectations, out-raising our goal by continuing — and in many cases increasing — their investment in Sioux Falls’ future growth and success, and we’re so grateful for their support,” said Brittany Hanson, program director for Forward Sioux Falls.

The program of work, which officially began April 1, builds on decades of coordinated public-private investment aimed at driving economic development across the region.

“A solid five-year plan is crucial, but the execution relies on investors, and our community really stepped up to make sure we can implement the five-year strategies that will move our community forward,” Hanson said.

Forward Sioux Falls is a joint venture of the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce and the Sioux Falls Development Foundation. Since its inception in 1987, the program raised nearly $70 million — not including the latest campaign — and has consistently delivered results that far exceed its initial investments.

The previous campaign, Forward Sioux Falls VIII, exceeded major goals across the board, including adding more than 5,400 jobs paying above the median wage, welcoming nearly 29,000 new residents and generating $1.65 billion in capital investment.

That track record helped drive strong support for the latest campaign, which drew 95 new investors and a total of 316 investors.

“Investor support is driven by a legacy of success,” Hanson said.

It also reflects a shared mindset among Sioux Falls businesses.

“The longstanding mantra is that a rising tide lifts all boats,” Hanson said. “The business community recognizes that when we put competitive differences aside, we can accomplish great things for our community as a whole.”

A roadmap for the next five years

Forward Sioux Falls IX focuses on four core pillars: economic development, talent and workforce, innovation and entrepreneurship, and advocacy and community enhancement.

Together, those efforts are designed to support continued growth in a rapidly evolving economy.

By 2031, the campaign aims to:

• Add 5,000 new jobs paying at or above the median wage
• Generate $3 billion in capital investment
• Add $700 million in new property tax value
• Attract 30,000 new residents

“This next plan is focused, actionable and built for impact,” Hanson said.

Work on several key initiatives already is underway.

In economic development, efforts will continue to focus on attracting new businesses while supporting existing companies as they grow and adapt.

On the workforce front, the upcoming opening of the South Dakota State University Metro Center is expected to significantly strengthen the healthcare talent pipeline in Sioux Falls.

Innovation initiatives include continued development of a shared equity workforce housing program, designed to explore new approaches to affordability and long-term community investment.

And advocacy efforts will continue to support pro-business policies, community engagement and initiatives such as air service expansion and programming through the Sioux Falls Young Professionals Network.

Workforce emerges as a top priority

As campaign leaders engaged the business community, one theme rose consistently to the top: workforce.

“Workforce continued to be top of mind as a need for the community,” said Laura Mitchell, president of L&S and a campaign co-chair. “That’s one of our areas of focus with the most elements and individual programming pieces.”

The emphasis wasn’t surprising — it was identified in early feasibility studies — but it was reinforced throughout the fundraising process.

“We know we’re on the right track,” Mitchell said.

Projects like the SDSU Metro Center resonated strongly with investors, she added, particularly because of their potential to increase the number of graduates entering the local workforce.

At the same time, Forward Sioux Falls is exploring creative solutions to broader workforce challenges, including housing.

“This is about thinking differently about how we can create more options for housing and support long-term community development,” Mitchell said.

Leaders emphasized clearly defined metrics tied to each pillar, along with a commitment to regular reporting.

“We really tried to hone in on how we’re going to measure success,” Mitchell said. “That gives investors confidence. They know the dollars they’re investing are going to be watched, measured and reported back.”

Forward Sioux Falls provides quarterly updates, along with an annual report and briefing event to share progress toward campaign goals.

“We take our accountability to execute the plan and meet our goals very seriously,” Hanson said.

Beyond financial contributions, organizers also encourage investors to stay engaged with the work itself by connecting with partner organizations and initiatives.

“We encourage others to take that list of investors and support those businesses,” Mitchell said. “Those are the businesses reinvesting in this community, and we need you to invest in them so they continue tothrive and have the ability to put their dollars in a place that helps our community grow.”

Developing the next generation of leaders

For many involved, the campaign is about more than dollars — it’s about building leadership and strengthening connections across the business community.

James Gaspar, vice president of Interstate Office Products, served as a cabinet lead and said participation offers valuable professional development opportunities.

“Forward Sioux Falls only works because it develops the next generation of people who are going to carry out the campaign,” he said.

The most recent campaign intentionally broadened participation, including a strong presence from young professionals who helped lead outreach efforts.

More than 30 young professionals were involved in investor engagement, building relationships and helping drive support for the campaign.

“It’s always good to see competitors come together and participate,” Gaspar said. “There’s a sense of unity. What we do helps all of us and makes the community better.”

That unity extends across industries and generations, with both longtime investors and new participants stepping up to support the campaign — in some cases increasing their contributions significantly.

“The confidence in the program is high,” Gaspar said. “People understand it, they expect it and they see the results.”

Looking ahead

With fundraising complete, the focus now shifts fully to implementation.

The work will be carried out by a network of partners, including the Sioux Falls Development Foundation, the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce, regional educational institutions and a handful of others.

Hanson expects investors will begin seeing progress immediately across all four pillars.

“We encourage all our investors as well as the broader business community to connect with our programs,” she said. “They are developed for you — to help you attract, develop and retain talent.”

At the same time, she emphasized that the campaign remains open to additional participation.

“Although we’ve made an announcement regarding the fundraising effort, we would be thrilled to have additional businesses join this effort and expand our forward momentum,” she said.

The campaign represents a shared investment in Sioux Falls’ future, Mitchell added.

“If we don’t continue to invest in the community, we won’t continue to see the growth and positive impact of new businesses, new families and the amenities that improve quality of life,” she said.

To learn more about supporting Forward Sioux Falls as an investor, please contact Forward Sioux Falls program director, Brittany Hanson at brittanyh@siouxfalls.com.