Happy Wednesday! Megan here.
Weather check: Another hot week, but cooler temps are on the horizon
This week, you'll find an update on The Link, another feature about our friends at Bread Break, and frankly more events than anyone could possibly attend. Plus, there were a number of amendments to the 2027 city budget that the City Council passed 7-1 last night – I'll have more time to break those down in Friday's issue, but know there's more to come.
- Meanwhile, I'm hanging out in San Diego at the LION Publisher's annual conference with all of my local news buddies from across the country. I'm excited to be learning alongside such brilliant publishers, and hopefully I can bring some fun ideas back to Sioux Falls.
And now, news:
CITY
Why The Link could see a big transition in 2027
Simplified: The Link downtown triage center has been managed by Avera Health since opening in 2021, but that could all change next year because the board recently released a new request for proposals for clinic operations – and Avera is no longer throwing its hat in the ring.
Why it matters
- The Link opened in 2021 with the goal of giving inebriated people a place to land that wasn't jail or the emergency room. The facility provides medically managed detox, a sobering center, a space for folks experiencing a mental health crisis to go, and – as the name indicates – a "link" to other services in the community.
- About 1 in 4 patients at The Link go on to inpatient addiction treatment, and the vast majority, about 79%, of patients are unhoused, according to Thomas Otten with Avera Behavioral Health, who presented an update on The Link to the City Council on Tuesday afternoon.
- Part of that presentation included unveiling new board members for The Link, as well as sharing details for a newly released request for proposals (RFP) seeking someone new to take over clinical operations. The change comes as The Link faces a $546,000 deficit this year.
"We’re very dedicated to this mission," Otten said. "We will not walk away from it. We’re not walking away, but we are not submitting an RFP either."
Tell me more
A LITTLE HELP
How volunteers help rescue 400,000+ pounds of food each year
This story is one of several in Sioux Falls Simplified's annual 'A Little Help' give-back campaign. Our goal is to raise $5,000 to support Bread Break. You can donate here, and, if you wanna support two cool things in one, we're donating a portion of new subscriber revenue as well.
Simplified: In her first two weeks on the job as Bread Break, Volunteer and Program Coordinator Keilani Burroughs said she's never seen anything like the volunteer support the nonprofit has. Here's how Bread Break's network of 80+ volunteers fuel the mission to rescue food from going to waste and feeding the hungry.
Why it matters
- Bread Break was entirely volunteer led and ran for its first decade. It wasn't until the effort formalized as a federal nonprofit in 2021 that it hired its first paid employee and later its first executive director, Pam Cole, in 2024.
- Today, the nonprofit relies on more than 80 volunteers to fulfill 120 routes picking up food that would likely otherwise go to waste and delivering it to people in need. That's resulted in more than 400,000 pounds of food being diverted from the landfill, and the nonprofit is on track to surpass 500,000 pounds rescued this year.
- For volunteers Joni and Stan Wendland, supporting Bread Break is a not only a simple way to give back, but it's also a way to truly to see the results of their work. For example, Stan Wendland said, there's often unhoused folks sitting outside the Union Gospel Mission when they arrive to drop off food.
"When you deliver it, the staff inside are very grateful that food comes in," he said. "And then you can see the people outside there waiting to go inside and have their meal. It's kinda special."
Tell me more
SIMPLIFIED PRESENTS
This one-day summit will help you keep employees – and keep them engaged
This is a paid piece from the Sioux Falls Development Foundation.
Simplified: In a community with one of the lowest unemployment rates in the nation, employee retention is a big deal. That's why the Sioux Falls Development Foundation's 2026 WIN in Workforce Summit will share tools to help employers support, retain and engage their teams.
Why it matters
- A key mission of the Sioux Falls Development Foundation is to carry out talent and workforce initiatives, and for nearly a decade the WIN in Workforce Summit has been directly addressing those needs.
- The one-day event – which this year will take place Thursday, Oct. 22 at the Canopy by Hilton downtown – centers on the theme of "Workforce Playbook 2.0: Engagement, Risk and Retention in 2026."
- The overarching goal of the event is to help human resources professionals, managers, business leaders, C-suite professionals and anyone who manages people. Throughout the day, attendees will learn how to keep employees engaged, how to incorporate AI without scaring people away and how to better communicate so everyone can be successful.
"The hard part for businesses is getting employees through the door," said Leah Friese, director of marketing and digital media for the Foundation. "So, once you have them, what can you do to keep them? We're hoping each of our sessions has something that speaks to that."
Tell me more about the event
TL;DR
Super Simplified Stories
- Mayor Erickson opens up about being first female mayor. Mayor Christine Erickson addressed a roomful of women on Tuesday during Women's Day at the Sanford International Tournament, and much of her speech focused on what it's like to be a woman in a position of leadership and the role of grit in her life. She started by sharing a quote from the famous America Ferrera speech in "Barbie," and went on to encourage women to try new things before they're ready, to be resilient and to know they don't have to do it all alone.
- Erickson also addressed the role she's playing as both mayor and as a mother – raising three boys who she hopes see women in leadership as the norm, not the exception.
- "I'm trying to raise young men who respect strong women – young men who understand that a woman can lead the company," Erickson said. "She can run the meeting. She can own the business. She can make difficult decisions. She can be the mayor, and she still can be the mom sitting in the stands and cheering louder than anyone else."
- City makes property tax relief 'charter official.' Ok, so there isn't a Facebook status update for this, but the City Council on Tuesday voted unanimously to permanently codify the city's property tax relief program for elderly and disabled residents. The program has been in effect for several years now, but the vote makes it a permanent part of the city's ordinances.
- Council OKs updates to down payment assistance. The City Council on Tuesday also voted unanimously to approve revisions to a down payment assistance program which offers money to city public safety employees (fire, police, 911 call center) who buy a house within city limits.
EVENTS
Stuff to do: Sept. 9-14
- Mark your calendars for Siouxpercon.* The largest nonprofit pop culture event in the Midwest is coming up later this month, Sept. 25-27 at the Sioux Falls Convention Center. See celebrity guests, break out your best cosplay, check out more than 100 vendors and find a ton of family fun. Learn more here.
- Celebrate Oktoberfest. Remedy is getting the fall fun started with an Oktoberfest event starting at 11:30 a.m. Saturday. It's the 10th year of Remedy's Oktoberfest event, and they're going big with live music, food specials, homebrewing competition and a stein-holding contest. Find the full schedule here.
- Play with Legos. Stockyards Ag Experience is teaming up with Bricks & Minifigs Sioux Falls for an event where kids can build a farm animal habitat out of Legos. Each kid will leave with a farm animal, base plate and bricks to make a new farm friend. The 10 a.m. Saturday class is free to attend, but registration is required. Details here.
- Enjoy local, organic food. Grace Place Farm & Gardens is hosting an exclusive six-course, farm-to-table dinner Friday evening on the farm at 8201 E. 41st St. The meal features the talents of Chef Deven Rieck, of Rivage Oak Kitchen, and there are still a few tickets left. Learn more and get yours here.
- Catch some improv. Improv Falls is back at the Icon Lounge on Friday night starting at 8 p.m. Come enjoy unscripted comedy from local performers. Get your tickets here.
- Support healing through art. Journey of Hope is hosting an art gallery and reception at The Underground by Rehfeld's. From 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, you can check out artwork created by youth at the Juvenile Detention Center who've been supported by art therapy programs. Learn more here.
- Learn how to adult. South Dakota Parent Connection is teaming up with the Sioux Falls School District to host an event Saturday to help kids age 15 to 21 who have disabilities. The free Transition-to-Adulthood fair will be at the Instructional Planning Center and will feature information on job training, guardianship, SSI benefits and services for young adults.
- Play video games competitively. The SoDak Circuit Esports Tournament is kicking off at 8 a.m. Saturday at the Sioux Falls Convention Center. Compete for over $5,000 in cash prizes in games including Mario Kart World, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Fortnite, Rocket League and more. Details here.
- Find fun AND friends. Fun & Friends, a nonprofit for kids and families with disabilities, is hosting its second annual All Family Picnic on Sunday from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. There'll be music, face painting, snacks, tie dye and more. Details and RSVP here.
*Denotes a paid partnership
THIS AND THAT
What I'm falling for this week:
ICYMI
More Simplified Stories
Megan Raposa
Tom A. Savage
Megan Raposa
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