March 16, 2023

This paid piece is sponsored by Sioux Metro Growth Alliance.

Innovators and collaborators across the Sioux Falls region were honored Wednesday with annual awards from the Sioux Metro Growth Alliance.

“Growth and development like we’ve experienced across our region are only possible with people, businesses and places like the ones we honored with this year’s annual awards,” said Jesse Fonkert, president and CEO.

“We’re excited to share their stories and best practices with the broader region.”

Community Innovation: City of Salem

The Community Innovation award is granted to a member community that has demonstrated successful new ideas in community development or achieved a community goal through partnership and community effort. 

The county seat of McCook County, Salem is rebounding in a big way after two damaging storms struck the community in 2022.

Thanks to public-private partnerships, Salem now is planning for industrial development, needed housing and a community center. It began working in partnership with Sioux Metro Growth Alliance at the beginning of 2022 to restart its economic development corporation.

Together, the community rallied to raise more than $240,000 for economic development to increase its housing availability, support business retention and expansion, and improve quality of life.

“This is a community that really knows how to band together and get things done, and that starts with leadership like Mayor Glenda Blindert has provided,” Fonkert said.

“By being proactive and investing for the future today, Salem is positioning itself to take advantage of all the opportunities presented to cities in our region. It’s going to be exciting to see where that investment leads them.”

Business Partner of the Year: DGR Engineering

The Business Partner of the Year award is given to a company, enterprise or entrepreneur doing business in the SMGA region that has shown outstanding community development support or regional economic development partnership activity during the preceding year.

Engineers help put the building blocks in place for growing communities.

DGR Engineering has established long-standing, positive relationships with communities across the Sioux Falls metro area to assist in their economic development needs.

The firm has been instrumental in assisting multiple communities to develop industrial parks, including Crooks, Dell Rapids and Salem.

“This firm has established a strong presence in so many of our communities,” Fonkert said. “It’s clear they’re invested in the success of our region. By providing expert guidance and truly working in partnership with our communities, they’re advancing economic development in a multitude of ways.”

Regional Economic Development Champion: Mike Geraets, Dell Rapids

The Regional Economic Development Champion award is granted to an individual living in or working in the region who has shown active support for community development through recent or cumulative past service to economic development and community enhancement. 

As a city councilor in Dell Rapids, Mike Geraets is one of his city’s biggest advocates – as well as one of the region’s biggest supporters.

In addition to serving as the City Council representative on the Dell Rapids Economic Development Corporation and as the representative of Dell Rapids to the Sioux Metro Growth Alliance, he regularly supports the town’s schools and community organizations. Additionally, he has been instrumental in assisting the city of Colton in its efforts to develop new housing.

Known as “Iron Mike,” he has logged almost 1 million miles driving a truck or bus – and he definitely has gone the extra mile when it comes to public service.

“We need dedicated, solution-mind people like Mike Geraets in public service,” Fonkert said. “He’s the first to volunteer when something needs to be done and a true advocate for growth and progress, not just in Dell Rapids but in our broader region. We’re thankful for his genuine care for his community and the broader Sioux Metro area.”