The inclusion solution: Sioux Falls grapples with diversity as workforce woes mount

Jeremy J Fugleberg

Jason Ball stepped up to the microphone before the downtown Rotary Club last month and delivered a strong message calling for Sioux Falls to come into its own.

“We have to begin to get okay with becoming a major metro area," said the president and CEO of the Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce,

The metro area now includes more than 250,000 people, he reminded the crowd.

"We’ve got to grow into the community we need to be," he said. "And I think that’s going to begin here, with us not only just valuing the diversity that exists in this community but finding ways to celebrate it."

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St. Pete Economic Development Corporation lures marketing firm MXTR to town

• Times Staff

St. Petersburg Economic Development Corporation has lured its first big catch to St. Petersburg — MXTR Automation. The digital marketing company announced Wednesday that it will fill 20 "high-wage" creative positions within the next 18 months, as well as open an office in downtown St. Petersburg this year.

It's easy to sell this place," Chris Steinocher, CEO of the St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce, said Wednesday. It's unclear what incentives were tied to the expansion.

This will be the Williamsport, Pa.--based company's second location.

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Consultants considered for city economic development

Claire Kowalick, Times Record News

Wichita Falls is checking off another item on their “to-do” list by gathering a team to explore increased economic development for the area.

Two resolutions are under consideration at the Wichita Falls City Council meeting Tuesday to approve funding for a comprehensive economic development strategy from Market Street Services Inc. The cost of the study will be split 50/50 between the Wichita Falls Economic Development Corporation (4A) and the 4B Sales Tax Corp., or $91,750 from each group.

At a goal development meeting earlier this year, the council chose “accelerating economic growth” as one of their top goals. The council urged the 4A and 4B boards to work collectively on an economic strategy for the city. Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Henry Florsheim began the process, thoroughly investigating more than 20 firms to guide the process. The group was narrowed to four, then two, and finally Market Street and its CEO Mac Holladay were chosen.

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Chamber: Vision study underway

The Mercury

Area officials will receive the final report of a recently initiated community and economic development analysis early next year.

The Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce sent Market Street Services, an Atlanta-based consulting firm, data and studies from Manhattan, Riley County, K-State and Fort Riley.

Lyle Butler, president of the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce, told county commissioners Thursday morning that the consultants are gathering data as they start to study the region.

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Editorial: Capital Crossroads' wish list requires your work

The Des Moines Register

It would be tempting to think of Capital Crossroads’ priorities — including a downtown sports stadium, an indoor farmers market and a new airport terminal — as a wish list that some Santa will fulfill in the next five years.

That’s not how the vision plan works, and that’s not how central Iowa works. Improving the region takes pushing and lifting by many hands — hundreds of elves, you might say.

Nearly 700 volunteers have worked to identify and implement projects in the first round of Capital Crossroads. The result has been more trails and improved parks, more job opportunities, new attractions in downtown Des Moines, among other accomplishments.

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Capital Crossroads 2.0 unveiled

Perry Beeman, Senior Staff Writer Des Moines Business Record

Capital Crossroads 2.0’s five-year blueprint for Central Iowa emerged Wednesday night at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden.

If you think the area could use better housing options, a new downtown sports stadium, an indoor soccer venue, better skywalk access, improved mobility and a higher education needs assessment that could include the debate over a downtown university campus, you’ll like what you see. The report includes calls for local option sales taxes, a more regional airport authority, improved mass transit, and a hub for refugee and immigrant entrepreneurs, along with water trails, a new airport terminal, a regional council of governments and remodeling of Drake Stadium to help lure the Olympic trials.

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Columbus leaders unveil 5-step plan to reduce poverty, spur economic growth

Alva James-Johnson
Columbus Ledger-Enquirer


A group of prominent Columbus leaders — representing various sectors of the community — unveiled a plan Friday to spur economic growth and increase prosperity in the region.

The initiative, called Columbus 2025, was presented during a news conference at the Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce. The plan focuses on five action areas: targeted economic growth; talented and educated people; enterprising culture; vibrant and connected places; and cohesive image and identity. Committees have been set up to implement each segment of the plan, and the results will be evaluated based on a series of baseline, best-practice metrics.

Those unveiling the initiative Friday were Billy Blanchard, partner and board member of Jordan-Blanchard Capital; Audrey Tillman, executive vice president and general counsel at Aflac; Jackie Lowe, a retired Georgia Power executive; and Jimmy Yancey, retired chairman of Synovus.

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