Chair's Column
We are building a bright future in Sioux Falls

By Dave Rozenboom
2009-10 Chair of the Board

Dave Rozenboom 2009-10 Chair of the Board

Well, we did it again. In their 12th annual ranking of the Best Places for Business and Careers, Forbes ranked 400 metro areas on 12 different criteria including job growth, cost of living, income growth, labor supply, quality of life, educational attainment, etc. For a remarkable eighth year in a row, Sioux Falls ranked No. 1 out of the 200 small metro areas examined!

This is an enviable position to be in since the survey takes so many factors into consideration that are important not only to those of us who live here, but also to prospective new residents as they consider their options during these turbulent economic times. It reaffirms what we have all known for a long time — Sioux Falls is truly a great place to live, learn, work and play.

With that said, we all understand that this is no time to rest on our laurels. As the economy improves, we are competing with cities and towns all across America for businesses to locate and grow here, as well as for talented workers that will be needed to fill the jobs of today as well as the jobs of tomorrow. It will take all of us working together, like we have done countless times in the past, to ensure the continued success of our community and region in the years to come.

It is with this kind of cooperative spirit and collaborative effort that your Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce joined forces last fall with the Sioux Falls Development Foundation, Forwards Sioux Falls, the City of Sioux Falls, Minnehaha and Lincoln counties, the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation and the Sioux Empire United Way to embark on a visionary economic development strategic planning process for our region, called Future Sioux Falls.

We are nearing completion of this comprehensive planning process that has spanned the past seven months. During this time, it has become evident to all involved that we cannot simply rely on the strategies of the past to ensure our success in the future. The world around us continues to change, and so must we.

Last week, the Future Sioux Falls Steering Committee held a Community Stakeholder meeting to provide an update to community leaders and constituents on the progress that has been made to date. Future issues of Chamber News will highlight the results of the research that has been completed, the strategies that have been developed, and the implementation plan that will be put in place — along with the necessary benchmarks and performance measures to ensure that we are staying on track. In the meantime, I invite you to visit the Future Sioux Falls website at www.futuresiouxfalls.com to stay abreast of activity on this very important initiative for our community and region.

One of the key goals that has been identified in the Future Sioux Falls strategic plan is to enhance the Sioux Falls region's capacity to benefit visitors and residents through the hosting of a diverse variety of events, conferences and conventions. This issue of the Chamber News is dedicated to highlighting the great work already being done by our Convention & Visitors Bureau. Please take a moment to be informed on the important role the visitor industry plays in our local economy as well as the promise that it holds for our future.

Thank you for your continued involvement and investment in the Sioux Falls Area Chamber. Remember, progress is everyone's business!