This is a paid piece from Forward Sioux Falls.

Simplified: Sioux Falls businesses aren't just talking about the importance of investing in our community's future. They're walking the walk. That was made abundantly clear Wednesday afternoon when Forward Sioux Falls revealed the group has raised $19.1 million to invest in the Sioux Falls community over the next five years.

Why it matters

  • Forward Sioux Falls began in 1987 as a joint venture between the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce and the Sioux Falls Development Foundation. Campaigns are every five years and have raised nearly $70 million to drive progress in Sioux Falls. Before announcing the big fundraising success for Forward Sioux Falls IX, the organization also reflected on the outcomes of the previous campaign, Forward Sioux Falls VIII, which supported key initiatives for the last five years.
  • Outcomes of that campaign exceeded goals at every metric, creating more than 5,400 new jobs at above-median wage, $1.65 billion in new capital investments and $610 million in new property tax revenue.
  • The campaign saw 95 new investors, nearly one-third of the total number of investors (Editor's note: That includes Sioux Falls Simplified). In total, the campaign saw 316 investors.
"We've talked a lot about strategy, but what makes Forward Sioux Falls different is its execution," said Brittany Hanson, program director for Forward Sioux Falls. "And execution takes investment. Through Forward Sioux Falls, people like you invest to make sure the work gets done, and this community showed up in a big way."

Tell me more

Since that first Forward Sioux Falls campaign in the late '80s, it has been the primary economic driver for the region, creating thousands of jobs, developing industrial parks, supporting the workforce and advocating for businesses.

Looking ahead, the Forward Sioux Falls IX plan has four pillars, which include:

  • Economic Development
  • Talent & Workforce
  • Innovation & Entrepreneurship
  • Advocacy & Community Enhancement

Each of these pillars involves key partners who help execute the goals set by Forward Sioux Falls. For example, Startup Sioux Falls supports entrepreneurship, and local universities support some of the talent and workforce goals.

"This only works because we're all working together," said Andy Munce, campaign co-chair, and president and CEO of Sanford Health's Sioux Falls region.

What happens next?

It's time to do the work. Forward Sioux Falls will implement the strategies to reach the plan’s 2031 goals that will move the community forward.

It's also not too late to invest in Forward Sioux Falls IX. To learn more, contact Hanson at brittanyh@siouxfalls.com.