Jan. 3, 2024

This paid piece is sponsored by Sioux Metro Growth Alliance.

Two years ago, Sheldon Jensen was an early college graduate taking on a first job that was a new role for his organization.

He starts 2024 having performed so well that he elevated himself out of one job and into a new one.

Jensen, an Augustana University graduate who began as an economic development manager with Sioux Metro Growth Alliance, now is the community and economic development director for the city of Dell Rapids.

“We’re excited and proud though not surprised by Sheldon’s success,” said Tyler Tordsen, president and CEO of Sioux Metro Growth Alliance.

“This transition is a model for what we can help communities achieve in economic development.”

Dell Rapids committed to an enhanced economic development investment with SMGA two years ago, allowing Jensen to serve in a part-time economic development role for the community.

“In that time, they saw rapid progress, and it led to making this a full-time position where we’re sure Sheldon will continue to thrive,” Tordsen said.

We sat down with Jensen to learn more about his work in the community and what’s ahead.

How would you describe your experience at Sioux Metro Growth Alliance?

It’s been great. It shows the need for a regional lens in Sioux Falls. Sometimes, we haven’t quite thought that far ahead, and that’s the whole point of the organization. The model for an economic development specialist allows communities that haven’t had professional economic development assistance to see how if they invest some in it, they’ll get that back multiple times. It takes time and patience, of course, but to see a community like Dell Rapids now have the need for a full-time job shows the fruits of what we’ve done and continue to do.

What kind of progress in economic development has Dell Rapids seen in the past two years?

We’ve continued to develop the Fiegen Developement Park as well as plan for the future. We still have 35 acres left in that park, and we’re continuing to look at future industrial ground. We launched a facade easement program and saw over $75,000 in investment into downtown Dell Rapids, and we’re getting ready to launch again in January. We helped Dells Dental with a new building and groundbreaking and really started professionalizing the Dell Rapids Economic Development Corp., which has done great work in the community since the 1960s but was essentially wholly volunteer. With someone there to put plans into action, we’re helping them see a vision move forward.

What do you see as differentiators for Dell Rapids?

I can’t think of another metro community with the same sort of true central downtown historic area. We saw the facade easements already make a difference in enhancing it, with a number of improvements to windows, siding and paint, which is really enhancing what downtown Dell Rapids has to offer. The location geographically also gives it a feel of separation from Sioux Falls, even though it’s really not far. My commute is 15 minutes, but there’s still a distinct sense of place in Dell Rapids. You sense it at high school games, and there’s really opportunity for industrial growth because that’s been the backbone of the community. The quarry has been there longer than the town has been a city, so there will always be jobs in Dell Rapids.

What are some opportunities you’re excited to tackle in the year ahead?

We continue to work on industrial-related planning and work with prospects. Now that I can dedicate myself to it full time, we’ll start grading and other work that needs to be done to make the lots shovel-ready. There’s lots of interest from multifamily and multiuse developers, and we continue to do comprehensive planning to figure out where Dell Rapids grows next.

Additionally, there continue to be improvements in quality-of-life amenities like the park system. The city is working on a master plan for the parks, and what they’ve done on the river is beautiful. There’s a wonderful bike trail, and there are plans to add permanent climbing through an operating agreement with a nonprofit. There are people from Omaha who have traveled to Dell Rapids because of the unique opportunities for climbing there.

The Dell Rapids population is about 4,000 people. Are there going to be opportunities to grow through housing?

I believe so. Dells Lumber Co. has a housing development on the north side of town with nearly 100 lots left, so there’s plenty of space for building, and there still are higher-end lots available in the Spruce Glen development around the golf course. Plus, there are lots of beautiful homes being built recently and plenty of old homes that need some love, which people have been buying. If you’re interested in renovating a historic home, there’s a lot of opportunity in Dell Rapids for that, even if they might not be on the market right now.

If anyone is interested in learning more about opportunities in Dell Rapids, what’s the best way to reach you?

You can email me at [email protected] or call 605-428-3595.