June 28, 2018

Downtown Sioux Falls is the newest home for South Dakota Public Broadcasting, which will begin broadcasting from a new studio across from Falls Park West in July.

SDPB is leasing 4,000 square feet on the first floor of the Phillips Lofts on North Phillips Avenue.

It’s primarily a space for content and production, executive director Julie Overgaard said.

“It was very strategic for us in thinking where we wanted to be,” she said. “Part of our strategy is to have a public space where people can interact with public broadcasting and our guests.”

SDPB will keep a presence in Vermillion but base eight employees in Sioux Falls, including two beat reporters, radio program hosts and fundraising staff.

“We’ve built in some floating desks so myself or other producers or reporters can have a floating office as well,” Overgaard said.

There are studios for radio and television broadcasting, and the idea is that live audiences could come in for music or interview programs followed by time with the guests.

“This fall, we plan on doing one of our debates out of our space or a possible town hall on some ballot issues,” Overgaard said. “And we hope to bring our ‘South Dakota Focus’ show here on a quarterly basis.”

The proximity to the Levitt Shell was a “cementing factor” in the location, she added.

“We wanted to be where other arts and culture things are happening, and the vibrancy of downtown and the millennial crowd are who we want to reach out to.”

The construction project was supported by fundraising. The state of South Dakota funds the infrastructure for public broadcasting, while donors fund the programming.

“I think we are probably one of the best examples of a public-private partnership that works really well,” Overgaard said.