Nov 4, 2024

This paid piece is sponsored by Sioux Metro Growth Alliance.

Attracting businesses, adding housing and supporting the overall growth of communities doesn’t happen without one basic resource: water.

“I think everyone is realizing how important water is to growth,” said Tyler Tordsen, president and CEO of Sioux Metro Growth Alliance.

“This is a regional issue, so we want everyone to understand how water works, how our water systems get built out, what capacity our communities have left and what the future looks like.”

Water will be the theme of the annual Growth Summit from Sioux Metro Growth Alliance. While its focus is on economic development, attendees will leave learning more about the foundational role that water plays in communities’ ability to expand.

The annual event will be from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Dec. 10 at the Sanford Event Barn, 2510 E. 54th St. N.

We caught up with Tordsen for a preview of what to expect.

What made you decide to focus on water for this year’s Growth Summit?

Coming into this role, I realized early on that a better understanding of economic development and growth requires realizing the importance and availability of water. How much exactly is 100,000 gallons a day? Is that a lot? How much does a community or water system have left? Those questions really came up for me in previous roles working for Sen. Mike Rounds and serving in the South Dakota Legislature as I was exposed to state and regional water projects, and it made me wonder how many people really understand our access to water. The amount of water available can vary dramatically, even among our Sioux Metro regional communities, so it’s important to understand what you have access to and what needs to happen to position you to meet future needs.

Who is a good fit to attend this event?

We’re addressing this topic through an economic development lens, so it’s applicable for everyone from elected officials to bankers, builders and anyone else who helps support community growth. I want attendees to leave with a better understanding of the state of play, so it’s a little bit of a “101” approach to the topic.

How is the agenda coming together?

It will be a one-day event that looks at the past, present and future of water in our metro communities, including panelists and speakers from local, state and federal government roles in addition to the private sector. Troy Larson, who leads the Lewis & Clark Regional Water System, will give background to get us started, we’ll bring in a panel of leaders from the city of Sioux Falls and area water systems to talk about the state of our infrastructure today, and we’ll address the challenges of looking at economic development projects through the context of water capacity. Do you have to pass on going after certain industries because you’re saving capacity for housing? And then, we’ll be forward-looking and discuss what it takes to get more water. What are your options? There are multiple approaches, but it’s important and takes time and money, and it’s important to have these conversations and figure it out. Finally, we’ll hear from a Colorado-based company that specializes in utilities about creative ways to maximize allocation and reuse, so it’s a futuristic and forward-looking note to end on. There definitely will be something for everyone.

And, as always, there will be plenty of opportunity for questions and networking. This event typically draws a great group of community-minded people who will have a lot of insight to share with one another, so we’re excited to bring them together again and open it up for more people and communities who could benefit from the information shared.

Early-bird registration closes Nov. 10, though you can register up to the day of the event. Click here to learn more and register.

Want a preview of what to expect at the Growth Summit? Click below for a recap from last year’s event: