Sept. 29, 2025

An initiative designed to support Sioux Falls workforce development efforts “from cradle to career” is closing.

Sioux Falls Thrive announced today that it will cease operations Sept. 30 after seven years.

Thrive has served as a collaborative force in the community, partnering with churches, community organizations, businesses, nonprofits, individual stakeholders and local government using a unique collective impact model. The organization’s focus has been threefold: food security, affordable housing and out-of-school enrichment.

“This community-driven approach allowed Thrive to unite existing resources, subject matter experts and residents directly affected by local challenges by fostering deep collaboration, mutual accountability and meaningful community engagement,” the organization said in a statement.

“Thrive has addressed complex issues not in isolation but through a shared commitment to collective solutions.”

Program launches included:

• Eat Well Sioux Falls Mobile Market, the first affordable grocery store on wheels in South Dakota.
• Kid Link Initiative, which became the foundation for the school district’s Community Learning Centers.
• Food Rescue 605, a community-based system for reducing food waste and increasing access to nutritious meals.
• Sioux Falls Youth Connect, a website that supports youth, parents and educators in connecting teens to community-based activities.
• The Community Housing Education and Resource Fair, a free, two-track course designed to provide participants with information on the homebuying process or renter rights and responsibilities.
• Advocacy for the creation of an Affordable Housing Fund using local tax dollars to support new and rehabilitated housing projects.
• The community’s first Housing Retention Specialist, now housed at East River Legal Services.
• One Roof, a program of The Community Outreach that supports at-risk tenants.

Last year and this year “presented significant challenges both for Thrive and the broader Sioux Falls community,” the organization said.

That included securing long-term financial sustainability for the Eat Well Sioux Falls Mobile Market, a cornerstone initiative in Thrive’s food access strategy. The Mobile Market closed in June. The trailer was bought by Team Buche Cares, the charitable arm of grocer GF Buche Co., which plans to bring it to nine tribal reservations in South Dakota.

“Despite diligent efforts and strong community support, these financial pressures have made it increasingly difficult for Thrive to maintain operations at the scale and quality the community expects and deserves,” the organization said.

“Sioux Falls Thrive extends sincere gratitude to all partners, volunteers and supporters who have contributed to this journey. The impact of collaboration cultivated over these years will continue to inspire and inform ongoing efforts to improve the lives of Sioux Falls residents.”