This is a paid piece from the Sioux Falls Development Foundation.

Simplified: The Sioux Falls Development Foundation is hosting a series of events this summer to help local interns connect with their peers, gain professional development experiences and see all of the reasons Sioux Falls is a great place to live and work.

Why it matters

  • The Foundation started the Intern Sioux Falls program in 2023 as a way to help businesses build their talent pipelines and give interns a chance to deepen their connections to the community.
  • Intern Sioux Falls will have six events throughout the summer with opportunities including networking, volunteering, getting a new headshot and even catching a Sioux Falls Canaries baseball game. Events are intended for post-secondary students interning for a company in the Sioux Falls area.
  • All events are free for interns to attend, thanks to the support of Forward Sioux Falls, and interns who make it to a certain number of events will also earn a digital badge and certificate recognizing their work going above-and-beyond their intern responsibilities.
"We're hoping that the interns see Sioux Falls in a different light and that they want to live and work here full-time after graduation," the Foundation's Talent Recruitment Coordinator Riley Johnson said.

Tell me more about the events

All six events take place in June and July at various Sioux Falls locations and require pre-registration, which you can find linked at the bottom of this story. Here's a run-down:

Kickoff Lunch and Speed-Networking

  • When: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, June 10
  • Where: Sioux Falls Development Foundation
  • What to expect: Interns will have a chance to network with members of the Young Professionals Network as well as connect with other interns.

LinkedIn Workshop and Headshots

  • When: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, June 24
  • Where: Startup Sioux Falls
  • What to expect: Interns will learn how to make the most of their LinkedIn profile in a workshop. They'll also get a chance to get a free, professional headshot.

Community Banquet and Service Project

  • When: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, July 8
  • Where: Sioux Empire United Way
  • What to expect: This event will give interns a chance to give back to the community with a blanket-tying event as part of a service project in partnership with Sioux Empire United Way.

Sports Night

  • When: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, July 15
  • Where: Sioux Falls Stadium
  • What to expect: Cheer on the Sioux Falls Canaries and network in a relaxed atmosphere.

Scavenger Hunt

  • When: 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, July 22
  • Where: Sioux Falls Development Foundation
  • What to expect: Interns will get to work in teams to solve clues and complete challenges as part of a scavenger hunt that'll lead them around various landmarks and businesses downtown.

End of Summer Networking Mixer

  • When: 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, July 29
  • Where: Cherapa Interconnect
  • What to expect: This final event brings employers and interns together for a celebration of the growth, community-building and professional development interns achieved through the various Intern Sioux Falls events.

How can I learn more?

You can learn more, and interns can register for the events here. Interns should register soon because capacity is limited.

If you have any questions, or, if you're a business that'd like to learn more about how the Sioux Falls Development Foundation can assist your internship program, reach out to Riley Johnson at rileyj@siouxfalls.com.