March 21, 2024

This paid piece is sponsored by Sioux Metro Growth Alliance.

People and places making an impact on the broader Sioux Falls region have been recognized with annual awards from Sioux Metro Growth Alliance.

“There’s so much strong momentum occurring in the Sioux Metro area, and these honorees help capture the reason why,” said Tyler Tordsen, CEO of Sioux Metro Growth Alliance.

Here’s a closer look at this year’s winners:

Community Innovation: City of Centerville and the Centerville Development Corp.

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. 

Centerville became part of Sioux Metro Growth Alliance just over a year ago but already is making a noticeable impact as a community and in the broader metro area.

“We’ve been so glad to work more closely with Centerville over the last year and are impressed by how they’re making things happen in their community,” Tordsen said. “The community has put significant effort into a thriving residential housing development, with 22 lots for sale and five already under contract.”

Jared Hybertson, Centerville Development Corp., and Tyler Tordsen

Successful Main Street businesses, a growing industrial park and a strong sense of community pride will help Centerville achieve even more, he added.

“This community continues to see increases in their sales tax revenue as well as their building permit revenue, and their downtown and community atmosphere just feels like home.”

Business Partner of the Year: Marmen Energy 

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.

For more than a decade, Marmen Energy has been a key employer for the Sioux Metro and Brandon area.

The Canada-based wind tower manufacturer has its only U.S. manufacturing site in the Rovang Industrial Park in Brandon.

Tyler Tordsen, Sioux Metro Growth Alliance; David Kull, city of Brandon; Yannick Laroche, Marmen; Danny Lueders, Marmen; Dennis Olson, SMGA/Brandon; Brandon Mayor Harry Buck; and Patrick Andrews, Brandon Area Development Foundation.

A 15,000-square-foot addition in 2023 brought the overall facility to about 260,000 square feet and added 50 jobs.

“Since the beginning, Marmen has been committed to contributing to the economic growth and socio-cultural development of the regions where its plants are located,” Tordsen said.

“Throughout the years, they have increased their commitments in the community, whether in the form of sponsorships, partnerships or charitable donations. The continued support of their leadership team reflects a great generosity of heart and a sincere desire to support its communities in their development efforts and to help those in need.”

Regional Economic Development Champion: Sophie Johnson, community development manager at the South Eastern Council of Governments

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. 

Sophie Johnson leads the South Eastern Council of Governments’ efforts to provide community and economic development within McCook, Minnehaha, Lincoln, Turner, Clay and Union counties. That includes overseeing grant writing assistance for the six counties as well as 40 cities within those counties.

“Sophie has been an integral part of helping so many communities in their economic development efforts,” Tordsen said.

“Whenever any of SECOG’s counties and communities are looking to secure funding for a project or to see what funding might be available for future projects, Sophie is a trusted resource for economic development assistance.”

Under her direct leadership, her team assisted in securing more than $130 million in grants and loans in 2023. Individually, Johnson assisted communities within Clay, McCook and Minnehaha counties to secure more than $77 million in grants and loans in 2023. Projects include an industrial development project in Hartford expected to create more than 30 jobs, sidewalk improvements in Colton, development of the Sioux River Red Rock Trail in Dell Rapids and a trail extension in Valley Springs. Additional loans supported infrastructure work and community facilities.

“These projects help build communities and enhance quality of life,” Tordsen said. “We’re grateful for Sophie’s service and proud to honor it.”

Board moves

Sioux Metro Growth Alliance also named new officers to its board of directors for 2024-25:

• Chair of the board: Sharese Ihnen of Hegg Realtors.
• Vice chair: Mike Jaspers of East River Electric.
• Secretary/treasurer: Heather Kranz of TrioTel Communications.
• Past chair: Jay Buchholz of Sioux Valley Energy.
• MAB chair: Dean Karsky of the Minnehaha County Commission.

New board members also were named: Marcus Mahlen of NAI Sioux Falls/HEDC; Tony Wiseman of Journey Construction; David Kull, a member of the Brandon City Council; and Dean Karsky, MAB board chair and Minnehaha County commissioner. They replace outgoing board members Joan Franken of Costello Cos., David Doxtad of ISG Inc., Dennis Olson of Brandon and Chad Ronshaugen of the city of Dell Rapids.