Sept. 28, 2023

This paid piece is sponsored by Sioux Metro Growth Alliance.

The latest people to invest in the community of Worthing are two brothers who grew up on a farm just outside town.

Eric Broughton and his brother, Craig, left Lincoln County decades ago and went on to careers that landed them in Chicago and Denver, respectively. Eric is a serial entrepreneur with three exits to public companies who currently leads an EV-charging software company. Craig is an investor/operator in several entities and former president and co-founder of a pet food company.

They both saw an opportunity to put their expertise to work for their hometown, working recently with the city of Worthing and the Worthing Economic Development Corp. to buy a former bank building on Main Street. There’s a shared vision of bringing back a retail presence downtown.

“This is about doing the right thing and trying to revitalize this part of town,” Eric Broughton said. “Initially, we thought another bank might fill it, but as we surveyed the town, there’s definitely a desire for a coffee shop, so we’re talking to a few different groups that might be able to make that happen.”

The single-story building is about 1,500 square feet, and the brothers own an adjacent lot that could accommodate a drive-thru.

“We’re looking at what the possibilities are,” Broughton said. “We’ll be listing it with a commercial broker and look forward to seeing what we can bring to the community.”

The investment is one of many being made in the community of just over 1,000 people.

Highway 18 south of town is being expanded to four lanes, which could become a catalyst for a new industrial park being developed by the Worthing Development Corp.

“I think you’ll see more industrial and commercial growth encouraged along that corridor,” said Ryan Solberg, the economic development manager for Sioux Metro Growth Alliance who works with Worthing on its economic development needs.

It’s closer to Sioux Falls than you might think – about a 15-minute drive outside of town, he estimates.

The Development Corporation owns about 30 acres off Louise Avenue on the north side of town and has the property listed with NAI Sioux Falls.

“Our main focus is trying to get that built out with good tenants to bring in daytime employment and strengthen the tax base,” Solberg said.

“We think there’s opportunity for small contractor shops here, businesses that might employ 10 to 15 people each. Things like light manufacturing or 3D printing and construction or lawn care companies might make sense because it’s a good central location in Lincoln County.”

The city also recently started a popular farmers market and has restarted activities like open gym through its parks and recreation department, Mayor Crystal Jacobson said.

“Those have been going great,” she said. “We just approved expanding our sewer system as well, so that’s going in the right direction.”

The city is working on design and financing options for a community center, which would include some city offices and a large open area the size of a gym that could be used for anything from special events to recreation.

“We could do wedding receptions, graduations, bingo, anything like that,” Jacobson said.

The community is hoping for more food and beverage options, and there are indicators those businesses could do well, she added.

“We had a coffee truck come down for Worthing Days, and they said they did so well, and it’s because we don’t have anything like that here,” she said. “At the farmers market, we have a food truck come in every week, and they love coming here because they said everyone is so welcoming and nice, and they do great business.”

The last farmers market of the season is from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 5.

The community is thinking creatively to attract that kind of retail, Solberg said.

“Until the population reaches a more critical mass, it can be challenging, but it still can be a fit for some businesses,” he said. “Some of them might be more unique or niche, likely mom-and-pop businesses, but there can be some that would be able to thrive and potentially play off the success of the Olde Towne Dinner Theatre.”

“I think the theater is such a draw it could create a sort of arts district that would draw people from the Sioux Falls area,” he said. “For me, it’s sentimental. I used to ride my bike here. I think there’s nice real estate in the area that could take on new uses.”

There’s also an opportunity to increase the residential population, especially with sewer upgrades.

“There are lots for sale at good prices, and we expected some additional options coming,” Solberg said. “I think Worthing is a little bit of a hidden gem if you’re looking for a small community in a smaller school district where your kids can bike to elementary school and a local park and get involved in the community. I think Worthing has a lot of opportunity.”