Growing Places (Sioux Metro Growth Alliance)
Explore every episode of Growing Places
| Pub. Date | Title | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 08 Feb 2022 | Business Attraction, Retention, and Small Business Success | 00:20:43 | |
The team at SMGA discusses the ins and outs of business attraction and retention to rural communities and characteristics of successful small businesses. | |||
| 15 Feb 2022 | South Dakota Development Corporation and 504 Lending | 00:24:12 | |
Hear from staff with a certified development corporation here in South Dakota, South Dakota Development Corporation, about all things SBA 504 lending. | |||
| 22 Feb 2022 | Economic Development Champion - Kris Frerk | 00:24:42 | |
Meet the SMGA Regional Economic Development Champion from 2021, Kris Frerk from Garretson SD. Hear about Kris' involvement in a plethora of projects over the years including the Garretson food pantry and future expansion of the nonprofit daycare, the Blue Dragon Academy. With Kris involved, Garretson has a great future ahead. | |||
| 01 Mar 2022 | Community Innovation - City of Lennox | 00:24:52 | |
Lennox SD is poised for exponential growth. Hear from Nate Vander Plaats, city administrator, and Sharese Ihnen, president of the Lennox Area Development Corporation, about all things economic development and why Lennox was deserving of the SMGA Community Innovation Award. | |||
| 08 Mar 2022 | Business Partner of the Year - Grant Park Capital | 00:23:40 | |
Grant Park Capital has made big moves in the community of Baltic including creating a housing development, only the third one in 60 years, and donating the land for a brand new high school. Hear from Brian Hefty, CEO of Hefty Seed Co, and Mike Wendland who have both been instrumental in these projects and in the community of Baltic throughout the years. | |||
| 15 Mar 2022 | Dell Rapids - The Art of a Thriving Small Town | 00:29:19 | |
Hear from Ward 3 Alderman, Chad Ronshaugen, and LaDelle & 4th Coffee owner, Aaron Delgado, about all things Dell Rapids, owning a small business, and being involved in the local community | |||
| 22 Mar 2022 | Growing Places Conference | 00:10:47 | |
Hear all about the upcoming Sioux Metro Growth Alliance Grow Smarter Conference. The conference will be held on April 11-13 in Harrisburg SD. Register online at the link below and we look forward to seeing you there. | |||
| 05 Apr 2022 | Harrisburg School District - Workforce Development | 00:23:32 | |
Travis Lape is the Innovative Programs Director and Breanne Lynch is the Career and Technical Education Coordinator at the Harrisburg School District. Together they work with business and students to combine student passions and skills with the needs of the greater community. | |||
| 12 Apr 2022 | Nuts & Stuff | 00:20:31 | |
Baltic resident, small business owner, and Baltic Area Development Foundation President, Zach Nebben teaches all of us something about black walnut and why hobby businesses are important for a community. | |||
| 10 May 2022 | Internships & More | 00:14:57 | |
Hear from our intern Molly on her last day. The SMGA reminisces on memories from the last 8 months and talks about future plans. | |||
| 16 Jun 2022 | Lisa Zens, SMGA's Newest Staff Member! | 00:16:42 | |
SMGA is THRILLED to introduce Lisa Zens as our newest EDS to the Sioux Metro. She will be serving the communities of Harrisburg and Worthing. Tune into to this episode of "Growing Places" to learn about Lisa and what she hopes to accomplish alongside these cities! Also, the team provides a brief round-up of summer festivals throughout the Sioux Metro. | |||
| 12 Jul 2022 | Patrick Andrews and Development in Brandon | 00:22:58 | |
From working as a lawyer for the NBA Player's Association to serving as Brandon, SD's Director of Planning and Development, Patrick Andrews has led an interesting life! Tune into this weeks episode of Growing Places to hear Patrick's story and catch up on all the development going on in Brandon! | |||
| 19 Jul 2022 | The Art of Listening in Economic Development - Steve Watson, ISG | 00:29:37 | |
As one of South Dakota's leading Economic Developers over the past 20 years, Steve Watson has developed a wealth of knowledge. The team at SMGA was lucky enough to sit down and talk with Steve during this week's episode of "Growing Places." We chat with Steve about his time at Augustana University, the Governor's Office of Economic Development, and how he continues to promote South Dakota as a Development Strategist with ISG. | |||
| 26 Jul 2022 | What's Happening in Hartford?!? with Amy M. Farr | 00:15:51 | |
Amy M. Farr is the director of the Hartford Area Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Foundation. In today's episode, she sits down with SMGA staff to share all about the happenings in Hartford. Tune in to hear about ice cream, manufacturing, housing, and more. | |||
| 02 Aug 2022 | The Wonderful World of Worthing | 00:20:39 | |
Tune in to hear from the Mayor of Worthing, Crystal Jacobson! Crystal shares her background, and gives a great update on the community of Worthing. Crystal is joined by her daughter Maggie and you will not want to miss the banter back and forth with our SMGA hosts! | |||
| 09 Aug 2022 | How about Humboldt? Ft. Primary Manufacturing | 00:35:21 | |
In today's episode, the SMGA Crew sits down with Ladd and Jacob from Primary Manufacturing. Primary is a world class additive manufacturing company based on Main street in Humboldt. They provide wonderful insight into their technical business, the model train industry, the Humboldt community, and SO MUCH MORE! | |||
| 16 Aug 2022 | Moving to the Metro - Ft. Rhiannon Israel | 00:34:46 | |
Today, Sheldon and Jesse sit down with Rhiannon Israel from the Relocation Companion and Welcome Sioux Falls. Rhiannon shares her family's relocation story from Tennessee to Harrisburg, SD. After their move, Rhiannon started a business dedicated to assisting employees, employers, and communities in the relocation process. Tune in to learn more! | |||
| 23 Aug 2022 | Business Across Borders - Ft. Rock Nelson and Luke Lindberg | 00:40:32 | |
More Sioux Metro businesses rely on international trade than one might think! Tune into hear from South Dakota International Trade Officer Rock Nelson and Luke Lindberg from the South Dakota District Export Council. Rock and Luke share about how to start importing and exporting, the current and future state of international trade for our region, and so much more! If you know Rock, you probably are not surprised this is our longest episode yet! | |||
| 30 Aug 2022 | Sioux Metro on the Farm - Ft. Kyle Peters | 00:26:43 | |
This week the SMGA team sits down with Kyle Peters to talk agriculture in the Sioux Metro. Kyle is a Business Development Representative with A1 Development Solutions. A1 is a full-service firm focused on attracting Agricultural development to South Dakota. Kyle shares information about the ag market, why the Sioux Metro is seeing an explosion of dairy operations, and so much more. | |||
| 06 Sep 2022 | Great Faces, Great (Growing) Places - Ft. Secretary Jim Hagen and Calvin Bloemendaal | 00:30:55 | |
South Dakota's Secretary of Tourism Jim Hagen and Industry Relations Representative Calvin Bloemendaal stop by the Sioux Metro offices this week for an engaging conversation about all things tourism in the Sioux Metro and South Dakota as a whole. They focus on the department's new strategic initiatives including the Great Finds Passport Program and how our communities can best attract tourists to stop on down. | |||
| 13 Sep 2022 | Sharing Salem's Story - Ft. Mitch Rayman and Matt Alley | 00:35:46 | |
This week Councilmember Mitch Rayman and Superintendent Matt Alley swing by for a conversation sharing the story of Salem, SD. Salem is SMGA's newest member community and this episode features a great overview of what the community has to offer, why it is unique in the metro and why the future looks bright! | |||
| 20 Sep 2022 | Understanding Electricity - Ft. Jay Buchholz and Ben Pierson | 00:24:07 | |
This week Sheldon sits down with Jay Buchholz and Ben Pierson from Sioux Valley Energy. Jay and Ben provide an overview of our power grid, electrical utiltities and the gradual shift to renewable energy. Sioux Valley Energy is hosting an Electric Vehicle Drive event on Thursday, September 29th at the Sioux Empire Fairgrounds. Learn more about this event by listening to our conversation! | |||
| 27 Sep 2022 | All in the Family - Ft. Peter Hauck | 00:29:48 | |
Peter Hauck is the Assistant Director of the Prairie Family Business Association. This week Sheldon and Jesse sit down with Peter to discuss the vital role PFBA plays in the Sioux Metro's entrepreneurial ecosystem. PFBA provides a variety of resources for family businesses including retreats and peer groups. Peter is also a small business owner himself. Learn about Peter's business, his love for Caesar Salads and more by tuning in! | |||
| 11 Oct 2022 | Welcoming Women's Businesses - Ft. Sadie Swier | 00:34:25 | |
This week Sadie Swier with the SDCEO Women's Business Center East stops by the office for a conversation about her organization, how she ended up in her position, and the amazing programming SDCEO provides our region. Tune in to hear about the power of connection, a supportive ecosystem, and so much more. | |||
| 18 Oct 2022 | Harrisburg's Exponential Explosion - Ft. Carrie Bell | 00:31:46 | |
This week, Carrie Bell, Executive Director of the Harrisburg Chamber of Commerce sits down for a conversation with Sheldon about the explosive growth seen by the community. The Harrisburg Chamber supports the business community of Harrisburg and South Sioux Falls connecting members together through regular events and networking opportunities. | |||
| 01 Nov 2022 | Brandon's Booming Businesses | 00:23:42 | |
This week Rachel Neiman, Executive Director of the Brandon Valley Area Chamber of Commerce stops by to talk with Jesse and Sheldon about the Brandon Community. Tune in to hear about their Pizza Battle and the future of SMGA's largest community. | |||
| 08 Nov 2022 | Catching Up with Klatt: A Minnehaha County Conversation | 00:28:26 | |
This week Tyler Klatt, Assistant Commission Administrator with Minnehaha County swings by to provide SMGA with an update from the county. Our discussion focuses on the potential for a new county juvenile detention facility and the new highway department building under construction. | |||
| 22 Nov 2022 | Brewing Up Success - Ft. Buffalo Ridge Brewing's Callie Tuschen | 00:32:02 | |
This week Callie Tuschen Co-Owner of Buffalo Ridge Brewing in Hartford, SD sits down with the SMGA team to share about her business and downtown Hartford. Buffalo Ridge Brewing started in 2018 and recently celebrated its 4th Anniversary. Tune in to hear about exciting plans for the future of downtown Hartford and a great story of entrepreneurship! | |||
| 10 Jan 2023 | A 2023 Preview with the SMGA Team | 00:22:11 | |
In this episode, the entire SMGA team (Jesse, Lisa, Ryan, and Sheldon) come together and provide a retrospective look at 2022 and share goals and predictions for what 2023 has in store! | |||
| 17 Jan 2023 | Understanding the Numbers - Ft. Dr. Jared McEntaffer with the Dakota Institute | 00:31:46 | |
This week Ryan and Sheldon sit down with the Dakota Institute CEO Dr. Jared McEntaffer. They learn about the resources this new organization will provide the region including business consulting and economic analysis. Dr. McEntaffer provides a unique look at what conditions our communities will face over the next few months. | |||
| 07 Feb 2023 | Miranda Basye - SMGA's Newest Team Member | 00:14:27 | |
This week the SMGA Team sits down to learn more about their newest teammate, Miranda Basye! Miranda is joining SMGA as the Director of Engagement working on Marketing, Events, and Fundraising. Tune in to learn more about her, why she is excited for this role, and a story about why Minnows lead to strong marketing! | |||
| 14 Feb 2023 | Celebrating Centerville - Ft. Jared Hybertson | 00:32:08 | |
This week Miranda and Sheldon sit down with Jared Hybertson and discuss Sioux Metro Growth Alliance's newest municipal member: Centerville, SD! Jared is the executive director of the Centerville Development Corporation. In our conversation, we hear about the history of Centerville, the unique retail opportunities the community offers, and the city's new housing development. | |||
| 21 Feb 2023 | Xcel Energy: Powering Communities with Electricity and Grant Opportunities | 00:23:23 | |
This week Sheldon sits down with Eric Pauli, Community Relations Manager for Xcel Energy. Eric shares his background from serving as a lineman to moving into the corporate side of the utility world. Eric also speaks on different grant opportunities Xcel offers our community members. Tune in to hear about the future of the electric utility world as well! Eric would love to connect via phone at (605) 321-6006. | |||
| 07 Mar 2023 | Falling in Love with Frosting - Sugar Palace by Emily Studemann | 00:27:44 | |
Owner, Founder, and lead cake lady at Sugar Palace by Emily, Emily Studemann joins SMGA's Miranda Basye and Lisa Zens on this week's Growing Places. Emily shares her story of falling in love with frosting, gaining baking experience, and ultimately knowing she wanted to open up her own bakery since the age of 16. Tune in to hear more about Harrisburg's newest sweet spot! | |||
| 14 Mar 2023 | Tourism in Our Own Communities with Travel South Dakota | 00:32:52 | |
Travel South Dakota's Erin Weinzettel joins the Growing Places Podcast to discuss South Dakota's Passport Program highlighting the hidden gems across our state, many of which are located in small communities. We also discuss some community marketing strategies and the Marketing Assistance Program offered to communities. | |||
| 20 Mar 2023 | A Man of the Community - Rapid Fitness's Matt Beukelman | 00:39:56 | |
Owning a gym let alone two wasn't the original plan for Rapid Fitness owner and founder, Matt Beukelman. And yet, here he and his wife, Margo, are, leading the charge for healthier living in two Sioux Metro Communities - Brandon, SD and Dell Rapids, SD. | |||
| 28 Mar 2023 | Meet the Mayor: Harrisburg's Derick Wenck | 00:40:28 | |
Every community, organization, and business needs leadership. The right kind of leadership is essential in a growing community. This week's guest, Harrisburg Mayor, Derick "Digger" Wenck discusses his path to mayoral duties, community involvement, and of course the origination of the coolest nickname in local government, Digger. | |||
| 04 Apr 2023 | Salem's Exponential Growth with Jeremy Grady | 00:29:36 | |
At each annual meeting, SMGA recognizes the accomplishments of businesses, people, and communities from the prior year. Honored for Community Innovation was the City of Salem. Jeremy's Hidden Gem - https://www.mccookcountryclub.com/ | |||
| 11 Apr 2023 | Expansion, Growth, and a Rich History - Marmen Energy | 00:45:45 | |
Marmen Energy's presence just to the north of I90 near the Brandon exit is hard to ignore - where ginormous wind towers are carefully and expertly constructed. Yannick Laroche, one of the original Marmen leaders assigned to constructing and getting the Brandon location up and running, continues to call the Sioux Metro his home, noting he found love here. Join Yannick, Miranda, and Ryan in this episode of Growing Places for a bit of Marmen Energy history, education, and vision casting. | |||
| 18 Apr 2023 | 504 Loans and Small Town Roots with SDDC's Vice President of Lending, Brad Jankord | 00:46:28 | |
The South Dakota Development Corporation (SDDC) team is more than good office mates. The small-but-mighty team at SDDC is making small business owner dreams come true every day! Brad Jankord, Vice President of Lending, joins Miranda Basye to discuss the ins and outs of 504 loans, his personal passion for finance and way too many hidden gems to count! | |||
| 25 Apr 2023 | Sioux Metro Housing Needs Supported by the SD Multi-Housing Association | 00:43:19 | |
As our region looks to increase housing options to give our growing workforce and families a place to call home, it's not always single family homes that help fulfill those needs. Denise Hanzlik, Executive Director of South Dakota Multi-Housing Association joins SMGA's Miranda Basye and Sheldon Jensen to discuss the pillars of advocacy and education. Denise also supports the Dell Rapids, SD community in her role as a city councilor. | |||
| 02 May 2023 | 2023 Excellence in Economic Development Awarded to Jesse Fonkert | 00:30:47 | |
Each year the Governor's Office of Economic Development (GOED) highlights an individual who has excelled in economic development over their careers. This year, GOED honored two, one of which was Sioux Metro Growth Alliance (SGMA) President & CEO, Jesse Fonkert! | |||
| 09 May 2023 | Engineering in the Sioux Metro with DGR Engineering | 00:41:42 | |
DGR Engineering's Trent Bruce joins Miranda and Sheldon for this episode of Growing Places. We're thrilled to celebrate DGR Engineering as the 2022 Business Partner of the Year! | |||
| 16 May 2023 | Local Tattoo Artists Find Success in Centerville, SD | 00:57:16 | |
It's not often a town of 900 sees a tattoo artist setup up shop on main street. Catalyst Tattoo owners, Stephan and Dan are enjoying life in small town South Dakota and finding success in their craft. | |||
| 23 May 2023 | Small Town Storytelling with AGE Media | 00:48:17 | |
Garrett Gross and Bob Fitch know a thing or two about storytelling. Add Mindy's technical expertise, and you've rounded out the skill set of one of the leanest, most impactful media teams in our region! | |||
| 30 May 2023 | SMGA Welcomes Summer Intern, Lauren Teller! | 00:23:58 | |
SMGA is thrilled to welcome Lauren Teller to the team as our 2023 Summer Intern! She's already made an impact to our work. As a Sioux Falls native and senior at Augustana University studying English, Government/International Affairs, and Spanish, Lauren hits the ground running with policy work, writing, and research. | |||
| 06 Jun 2023 | SD Department of Labor and Regulation - Labor Market Trends & StartToday SD Apprenticeship Program | 00:46:39 | |
SD Secretary of Labor and Regulation, Marcia Hultman, and the Apprenticeship Program Manager, Tara Bartekoske join SMGA's Miranda Basye and Ryan Solberg in discussing SD's labor market trends, the StartToday SD Apprenticeship Program and of course their favorite hidden gems in the metro. PLUS, catch some data points about SD's work ethic and productivity trends! | |||
| 13 Jun 2023 | The Heart of Harrisburg with Adam Walsh and Lisa Zens | 00:47:46 | |
"Heart of Harrisburg" is a five-year initiative laying the foundation for a booming community future. Join Adam Walsh, Harrisburg Economic Development Corporation board chair, and Lisa Zens, Director of Economic Development to learn how Harrisburg continues to intentally grow. There's ample land, and the "Heart of Harrisburg" program provides for land use planning, and economic development that will complement business, educational, residential, and recreational activities that will position Harrisburg for a well-rounded economy in the decades to come. | |||
| 20 Jun 2023 | Coffee and Community with Zook's Coffee Bar owner Linda Kokenge | 00:48:32 | |
Linda Kokenge, founder and owner of Zook's Coffee Bar in Tea, SD joins Miranda Basye in this week's Growing Places. Linda shares her story of entrepreneurship, her love for marketing, her passion for the community of Tea, and what might be next in the Zook's coffee owner's business ventures. | |||
| 18 Jul 2023 | Perfect Partnership leads to Lennox Lumber Company Groundbreaking | 00:42:05 | |
Lennox, SD located just 15 minutes from the Sioux Falls Scheels boasts a desirable small-town charm and the buzz of growth. SESD Rough Sawn Lumber's owner and operator, Chris DeHann begins his journey of taking his 8-year venture to the next step of expanding his space and services to feature a full-service lumber yard with a ceremonial groundbreaking on July 10th. | |||
| 25 Jul 2023 | The Past, Present and Future of Growth with Brandon Historical Society | 00:37:57 | |
Happy 50th Birthday Brandon, SD! In honor the city's milestone, we welcomed Jeremy Risty, President of the Brandon Historical Society and Social Studies teacher at Brandon Valley High School, as a guest in this week's episode. | |||
| 08 Aug 2023 | Intern Insights: Navigating Economic Development with SMGA | 00:33:15 | |
SMGA's Ryan, Sheldon, and host Miranda join Intern Lauren Teller in discussing her internship, her impressions of economic development, and her plans for the future. Members of the SMGA team also offer pieces of sage professional advice and reflect on their own experiences as interns and young professionals. | |||
| 29 Aug 2023 | A Fonkert Farewell - Concluding SMGA's Jesse Fonkert Era | 00:40:30 | |
For nearly four years Jesse Fonkert has been at the helm of Sioux Metro Growth Alliance. After leading SMGA through unprecedented organizational growth, program expansion, and increased staff, Jesse joins the Growing Places Podcast in his final week serving SMGA before joining the Governor's Office of Economic Development as the Deputy Commissioner. Jesse and your host Miranda Basye discuss Jesse's passion for economic development throughout the progression of his career thus far, lessons learned along the way, and of course a plethora of hidden gems in the metro. | |||
| 10 Oct 2023 | Basye Bits & Miranda's Memorandums | 00:49:57 | |
It's not very often these days the whole Sioux Metro Growth Alliance team huddles around the mics for a podcast episode. In this bittersweet discussion, Ryan, Sheldon, and Lisa reminisce with stories, celebrations, and lessons with Miranda Basye as she exits the the organization. Carrying much of SMGA's marketing, communications, events, and business relationships over the course of the last 8-9 months, listen to a few insights behind the process and planning of that work. | |||
| 25 Oct 2023 | Reinvesting into Downtown Dell Rapids with Jason Uphoff | 00:37:56 | |
Jason and Amber Uphoff moved to Dell Rapids three years ago and have began the journey of restoring one of the communities many historic buildings! Tune in to hear what drew their family to Dell Rapids, how they are renovating their building, and what the future of Downtown Dell Rapids has in store! | |||
| 07 Nov 2023 | Passing the Torch to Tordsen with SMGA CEO Tyler Tordsen | 00:24:02 | |
Tune in to this episode and meet Tyler Tordsen SMGA's new President/CEO. Hear what excites him about this organization, how he got to this role, and why he chose to serve in the state legislature. | |||
| 25 Sep 2024 | Fresh New Faces; Still Growing Places | 00:28:22 | |
Join us for this episode of Growing Places and meet some of the new SMGA staff. Learn about their new roles and the highlights of SMGA's 2024 event season. | |||
| 10 Oct 2024 | Fresh New Faces, Still Growing Places - Part II | 00:25:51 | |
Part II of the newest season of Growing Places where you get to know the other half of the SMGA team in longtime regional advocate Karen Ruhland and Pukwana MSA's very own Bryce Healy! Learn more about their roles and experience working for the Sioux Falls MSA. | |||
| 25 Oct 2024 | Breaking Down the Ballot Measures with Casey Crabtree | 00:44:59 | |
Director of Economic Development of Heartland Energy and SD Senate Majority Leader Casey Crabtree sits down with SMGA President/CEO Tyler Tordsen to discuss the 2024 General Election. In this episode of Growing Places, get to know more about Senator Crabtree's background, thoughts on economic development while serving in Pierre, and a breakdown on everything you need to know about the seven ballot intitiatives and constitutional amdendments which voters will decide on Tuesday, November 5th. | |||
| 26 Nov 2024 | Mayor Roundup: A Tale of Two Cities | 00:33:55 | |
On this episode of Growing Places SMGA CEO Tyler Tordsen sits downs with Mayor Casey Voelker of Tea and Mayor Danny Fergen of Lennox. | |||
| 04 Dec 2024 | Growth Summit Preview with Troy Larson (LCRWS) | 00:37:34 | |
In this episode of Growing Places, SMGA CEO Tyler Tordsen sits down with Executive Director of Lewis and Clark Regional Water System - Troy Larson! Tune in for a discussion covering Troy's background, Sioux Falls eateries, and SMGA's 2024 Growth Summit on water. | |||
| 05 Feb 2025 | Mayor Round Up: Eli Seeley of Beresford | 00:46:08 | |
In this episode of Growing Places Sioux Metro Growth Alliance President and CEO Tyler Tordsen and Economic Development Specialist Joshua Chase sit down with Eli Seeley, the Mayor of Beresford, South Dakota. Mayor Seeley's Hidden Gems: Creme and Sugar, Wake & Bake, Rainy Day Coffee Co., Kava Rose Brewhouse, Klassix, and Bertz and Bertz Beer Garden. Visit us here to learn more about Sioux Metro Growth Alliance. | |||
| 31 Jan 2022 | What is SMGA? | 00:14:58 | |
Our economic development team talks about all things Sioux Metro Growth Alliance: what we do, how we got here, what we might see in the future and more! Tune in to hear all about economic development in the Sioux Falls Metro Area. | |||