Happy Wednesday! Megan here.
Weather check: A literal sigh of relief
This week, you'll catch the latest crime statistics (and a little context about how TenHaken's investments in public safety are paying off). Plus, find a new addition to a downtown park, a new housing option popping off in Minnehaha County and a first look at the site plan for the new Smithfield pork processing plant.
And now, news:
CITY
What it costs to keep crime down as Sioux Falls grows
Simplified: Sioux Falls is a safe place, Mayor Paul TenHaken emphasized during an annual public safety briefing Tuesday morning. That's no accident. TenHaken oversaw a significant increase in public safety spending – including new resources to help police solve crimes in real time. Here's a closer look.
Why it matters
- Violent crimes per capita reached a five-year low in 2025, and an "unprecedented low" rate of property crimes, as Police Chief Jon Thum told reporters Tuesday.
- Meanwhile, the Sioux Falls Police Department's annual budget increased by 75% over the last decade, with a total of $57.7 million in 2025. Per capita police spending also increased by just shy of 40% during that period – so the population increase accounts for some of the overall budget growth, but not all of it.
- That growth has also included an increase of about four dozen sworn officers since 2016, and the average salary has gone up 47% in that time to a starting salary at $72,000, Finance Director Shawn Pritchett told Sioux Falls Simplified last fall.
"One of the most important things residents expect is to feel safe in their communities," TenHaken said Tuesday. "It's probably one of the topics that people bring up the most."
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CITY
How a $2.65M gift will improve Jacobson Plaza
Simplified: A $2.65 million donation from the Jacobson and Everist families will bring a second phase of improvements to downtown's newest park, including an overlook near the upper Falls.
Why it matters
- Donors Garry and Diane Jacobson, as well as Rob Everist teamed up to help the city fund Phase II of Jacobson Plaza. Those improvements will primarily focus on connective pathways, landscaping, infrastructure improvements and an upper falls overlook called "Everist Family Overlook."
- The first phase of Jacobson Plaza opened last year with a splash pad, ice ribbon, dog park and the largest playground in the city. Many of those features were also funded with the support of donors, including the Jacobson family and T. Denny Sanford.
- Construction on the pathways and overlook for Phase II are expected to start as soon as the weather warms up, and work should be completed by the fall, Park Development Specialist Mike Patton said, noting that the vast majority of this work is funded through the philanthropic gift.
"This city would not be where it is today if we didn't have generous people doing these types of projects and forward-thinking," Councilor Curt Soehl said ahead of a unanimous vote to advance the naming agreement to second reading.
SIMPLIFIED PRESENTS
From roller blades to business partners: A case study in growth
This is a paid piece from Startup Sioux Falls.
Simplified: Tanna Soukup, founder of marketing firm Strategie, can point to the moment when her business was ready to scale and grow: a roller blading date with friend and now-Strategie Creative Partner Sara Lum. Today, the duo operates a four-person marketing agency in downtown Sioux Falls. Here's a look at how it came to be and how Startup Sioux Falls played an instrumental role in their success.
Why it matters
- Soukup first launched Strategie in July 2021 after going through Startup's Co.Starters 10-week business accelerator program, which helped her vet and build out her business idea while also connecting with other entrepreneurs in the community.
- It was the relationships built in that program that ultimately led her to her future business partner, Sara Lum, who brings a background in architecture, design and marketing as Strategie's creative partner.
- Before bringing Lum on board, Soukup further developed the business through Startup's Growco program – a year-long cohort dedicated to increasing revenue and building scalable, sustainable businesses.
- Another reason for that growth is the sheer amount of time Soukup has spent just putting her head down and doing the work, Lum said, noting that Soukup put in three years of work building and establishing the business before bringing on a co-owner to scale it.
"It's really easy to have this big idea," Lum said. "But sometimes, you just have to go and fly the plane and figure out how to land it."
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TL;DR
Super Simplified Stories
- 🔍 Closer look at Smithfield TIF. The Planning Commission on Wednesday is expected to vote on whether to advance a proposed nearly $90 million tax-increment financing plan to offset costs to build a new $1.3 billion pork processing plant in Foundation Park in northwest Sioux Falls. This is the first public look at the specifics of the TIF (background here), including eligible costs, the base land value and a sketch of the site plan for the new facility. If you wanna dig deeper, you can read the full TIF project plan here. If approved by the planning commission, this will move to the City Council for first reading next Tuesday.
- City finalizes more Community Partner Program grants. The steady stream of Community Partner Programs – the city's new program for supporting local nonprofits – continued this week with the approval of two more contracts. The Premiere Playhouse will receive $100,000 from the city to provide an arts and movement-based wellness program "Theatre for Every Body." Additionally, the St. Francis House will receive $131,500 to support at-risk populations by providing transitional housing.
- 🏘️ADUs taking off in Minnehaha County. Last year, the Minnehaha County Commission changed zoning laws to allow for accessory dwelling units (ADUs). Since then, more than half a dozen of these units have been approved in the county, according to Planning Director Scott Anderson. Anderson told commissioners this week he's seen very little pushback from surrounding properties and "huge benefits" for the people who have the ADUs – e.g. as housing for elderly parents, disabled adult children, etc.
- "I feel it really has been a huge benefit to the county," Anderson said. "And so I'm really pleased with how that has turned out."
- What's next? The county is looking to implement ADUs in Dell Rapids
EVENTS
Stuff to do: March 4-10
- Support menstrual health. For the last 16 years, The Pad Party has been collecting menstrual hygiene products to donate to The Banquet. That drive is happening again this weekend with a drop-off event Saturday at Queen City Bakery. Donate pads, tampons, incontinence products or make a financial donation. Details here.
- Salsa it up. Learn to Salsa with The Ballroom Academy. There will be a salsa dance lesson at Icon Friday night for $10 per person, or $20 per person if you want to include a Spanish appetizer with your ticket. Details and registration here.
- Catch some hoops. The annual Summit League Basketball Tournament is going down this weekend at the Denny Sanford Premier Center. Find tickets and schedule here.
- Support local theater. The Theatre Lab is putting on a production of “Mothers and Sons,” a 2014 Tony Award nominee. The show runs Thursday through Saturday at the Orpheum Theater. Details and tickets here.
- Live in Crooks? You may want to stop by a public meeting Monday evening to discuss Smithfield’s plans to build a new pork processing plant in Foundation Park — directly adjacent to Crooks. Can’t come in person? You can also tune in via livestream. Details here.
THIS AND THAT
What I'm falling for this week:
ICYMI
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Megan Raposa
Megan Raposa
Megan Raposa
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Thank you to Sioux Falls Simplified sponsors, including SafeSplash Swim School, Dakota State University, Wayne & Mary's Nutrition Center, Startup Sioux Falls, Redmond Prime Cuts, 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.
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