Happy Wednesday! Megan here.
First things first: This issue is brought to you by Sioux Falls Mom Connection.
- The Sioux Falls Mom Connection is holding its annual Class Act Fundraiser this week to support teachers and offset their personal costs to stock their classrooms and have the tools they need to educate our kids. Donate today on Venmo @SFMConnection.
Weather check: A few beautiful summer days before hot soup air returns.
This week, you'll find an update on how Southeast Tech is popping off right now (and the challenges that come with growth). Plus, Mayor Christine Erickson led her first council meeting last night – you'll find some of the noteworthy items "super simplified" for you. And don't miss the weekly event guide.
And now, news:
EDUCATION
As Southeast Tech grows, students face wait lists, housing shortages
Simplified: Southeast Technical College has seen a more than 20% increase in student enrollment over the last decade. That's meant new buildings, new programs and new faculty – but it's also meant challenges when it comes to student housing and wait lists for popular degrees.
Why it matters
- Southeast Tech's growth comes in the context of a broader statewide push to support workforce development. The state created the Build Dakota scholarship in 2015 to increase the state's workforce, and two years later voted to create the Board of Technical Education, bringing the state's four tech schools outside the jurisdiction of the Board of Regents and giving them more flexibility to respond to industry needs.
- Southeast Tech is looking to continue that momentum. President Cory Clasemann told the Sioux Falls City Council on Tuesday that it's his goal to see enrollment hit 5,000 students by 2035. Meanwhile, construction starts this year on two new buildings – both funded entirely without bonds.
- Meanwhile, last fall 16 academic programs filled and had students on wait lists, and at least a dozen programs are already putting students on wait lists for the coming semester.
- Those students also struggle to find housing, Clasemann said, adding that campus housing has room for 200 students, and last year 400 applied to live there.
"We can only put so many students in a room or in a lab," Clasemann said.
Tell me more about Southeast Tech's growth
SIMPLIFIED PRESENTS
How SafeSplash helped my kids gain confidence in the water
This is a paid piece from SafeSplash Swim School.
Simplified: In less than a year of lessons with SafeSplash Swim School, my daughters went from a fear of water to begging me to take them to the pool. Here's how SafeSplash's approach to teaching made all the difference.
Tell me more
I have vivid memories of the first time my now-6-year-old daughter took swimming lessons at an outdoor city pool.
- It was an unseasonably cold June morning, and she was sobbing because she didn't want to go in the water. She spent the whole lesson sitting in my lap, watching her peers from outside the pool fence while I worried I'd scarred her for life.
This fall – more than two years after the initial outdoor pool trauma – we started lessons at SafeSplash.
The fear of water was still there, but this time, things felt different.
- For one, she had her little sister with her, and they got to take lessons at the same time, in the same pool with their respective instructors.
- The pool was also nice and warm, in an indoor, climate-controlled setting.
- And both of my girls were in classes with only a couple of other kids – meaning that even when they were scared or unsure, they had plenty of guidance and attention from their teachers.
SafeSplash also felt different for me as a parent. I wasn't sending my kids into a big, fenced-in pool area where I was far-removed from them. I could watch them from mere feet away in a warm, comfortable waiting room. They saw me, knew I was watching, and felt safe to keep learning and develping their skills.
What happened next?
SIMPLIFIED PRESENTS
How Rugged Cross Stables moved from burnout to sustainable growth
This is a paid piece from Startup Sioux Falls.
Simplified: Burnout is no joke in the agriculture industry, and Courtney Tjeerdsma's experience running Rugged Cross Stables was no exception – that is, until she found an entrepreneurial community and support through Startup Sioux Falls. Here's how Startup's GrowCo program helped her grow and sustain her business.
Why it matters
- Rugged Cross Stables offers horse riding lessons, camps, training, boarding and breeding in northeast Sioux Falls on land Tjeerdsma's husband first started leasing in 2014. It's on the land where they now run their business together that the couple first met when Tjeerdsma boarded her horse.
- After a few years of running the business, Tjeerdsma said she felt isolated and fatigued of being the only person to make the big decisions in her business. Then, she saw an ad for GrowCo, Startup Sioux Falls' program to accelerate mid-stage businesses to financial and operational sustainability.
- Through GrowCo, Tjeerdsma implemented new processes, restructured memberships and riding lesson packages, and found new systems to bring returning customers.
"We're building that pipeline from somebody who's never touched a horse to them buying a show horse," Tjeerdsma said. "In a perfect world, that's the goal."
Tell me more
TL;DR
Super Simplified Stories
- T. Denny Sanford's legacy remembered. The billionaire philanthropist died Saturday morning at age 90. Sanford gave too many donations to name here, but some of the big ones include supporting Sanford Health, the Great Plains Zoo, the State Theatre, the land downtown set to be known as the Sanford District (after Smithfield moves), and more. SiouxFalls.Business has a story sharing friends remembering Sanford, as well as a full obituary here.
- Council elects new leadership. City Council on Tuesday voted to elect new leadership. Councilor Rich Merkouris, who just started his second term on the council, will serve as the new chair, and Councilor Jennifer Sigette will serve as vice chair. Councilor Miranda Basye also nominated Sigette to serve as chair, but her motion did not get a second and failed. She was then elected vice chair.
- Five local nonprofits get community foundation grants. The Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation awarded grants totaling more than $100,000 to local organizations in the second quarter. Those include: Affordable Housing Solutions, The Community Outreach, the Laura B. Anderson Elementary School Chess Club, St. Dysmas of South Dakota, and Uniquely Yours. The next grant cycle closes Aug. 1. Learn more here.
More Super Simplified Stories
- Need clean floors?* FloorTec Cleaning & Restoration is excited to expand its presence in the Sioux Falls area with the opening of a new Tea, South Dakota location. From the Tea office, FloorTec provide 24/7 emergency response for water, fire, smoke, mold, and storm damage, along with carpet and duct cleaning services for homeowners and businesses throughout the region. Learn more about their services and service area by visiting FloorTecRestoration.com.
- Council renews lease for The Link. The City Council on Tuesday voted unanimously to renew the $0/year lease for The Link triage center downtown. The Link's future is facing some uncertainty with a lack of sustainable funding sources.
- Additionally, Homelessness Coordinator Michelle Treasure shared there's a brand new board, and they're looking at more cost-effective ways to provide services. Another dynamic at play is that Avera is the group currently in charge of Link operations, and their contract is coming to an end this year.
- Quarry improvements get first OK from council. Councilors on Tuesday also took the first step in accepting the $15 million grant from the Bezos Earth Fund to restore the quarry downtown (background here). Once approved, the parks department can move forward with an "extensive" public input and design process, as Assistant Parks Director Brett Kollars put it, and plans for construction in 2028.
*Denotes a paid partnership
EVENTS
Stuff to do: July 22-28
- Downward dog with actual dogs. Great Bear is hosting Doggy Yoga on Saturday morning in partnership with Almost Home Canine Rescue. There will be a yoga class followed by a meet and greet with all of the adoptable dogs. Details and registration here.
- Hang with the band. The Sioux Falls Municipal Band are playing an outdoor show on the front lawn at Touchmark at All Saints Wednesday evening. Bring a lawn chair, sit back and relax. There'll also be SDSU ice cream available for purchase. Details here.
- Grab some brews. Remedy is celebrating its ninth anniversary with a party Saturday featuring food specials, music and anniversary beers. Details here.
- Treat yo self. Alchemy House is hosting a "Sunday Fun-Day" with a special deal on a self care package including a foot soak, salt room and tea tasting. Details here.
- Splash around. The city parks and recreation department is hosting a "Splash Pad Showdown" at Jacobson Plaza including extra water toys, beach balls and games to keep kids moving. The free event is going down Sunday afternoon from 1 to 3 p.m. Details here.
- Thrift your little heart out. South Dakota Vintage Fest is happening Saturday afternoon at 605 Antiques featuring 30+ local vendors, food trucks, music and lots of fun finds. Details here.
- Hit up a block party. Wiley's is hosting the 10th annual block party this Saturday featuring music from Niko Moon. Details here.
- Check out some classic cars. Nyberg's Ace is hosting the ninth annual Hot Classics Night downtown – one of the biggest car shows in town. There'll also be a whole bunch of food trucks and a chance to win a Craftsman metal utility cart. Details here.
THIS AND THAT
What I'm falling for this week:
ICYMI
More Simplified Stories
Megan Raposa
Megan Raposa
Megan Raposa
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Thank you
Thank you to Sioux Falls Simplified sponsors, including SafeSplash Swim School, Wayne & Mary's Nutrition Center, Startup Sioux Falls, Encompass Mental Health, the Sioux Falls YMCA, EmBe, the Sioux Falls Development Foundation, Barre3 Sioux Falls, the Sioux Falls Zoo and Aquarium, the Washington Pavilion, The Premiere Playhouse, The Good Night Theatre Collective and the Sioux Metro Growth Alliance. When you support them, you're also supporting Sioux Falls Simplified.
Oh, by the way
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Special thanks to Sioux Falls Mom Connection
Teachers spend hundreds of dollars out of pocket to support kids. Sioux Falls Mom Connection is working to support those teachers through the annual Class Act Fundraiser. The last two years, the fundraiser has raised more than $4,000 for local teachers. Donate today on Venmo @SFMConnection. (Tip: If you've got some cash left over in your Venmo account, it's the perfect way to give back. Every dollar matters!)
