| CAMPAIGN LEADERSHIP |
| General Campaign Chair John Mulligan |
| Development Council Co-Chairs David A. Christensen Sylvia R. Henkin Charles Kearns Lyle E. Schroeder |
| Advance Division David S. Birkeland Gary G. Olson |
| Leadership Division Dan L. Kirby Kevin T. Kirby |
| Pacesetter Division Calvin E. Willemssen |
| Special Division Linda K. Barker |
| Medical Division Lyle E. Schroder Fred Slunecka |
| Development Foundation Roger Hainje |
| Chamber of Commerce Evan Nolte |
Years: 1992 - 1996Campaign Chair: John Mulligan
Campaign Goal: $2 million
Amount Raised: $2.18 million
About the Program
The first program showed that a strong development plan gets results. Forward Sioux Falls II was developed to build on the success of the first program. The second campaign, launched in 1991, enhanced the marketing program established in the first program and initiated programs for local business retention and expansion, workforce expansion and education, and government affairs to create productive relationships between business and government.
Research showed that for every $1 invested, there was an $83 return in the expansion of local businesses and the attraction of new businesses.
Goals/Program Highlights
We wanted to update and enhance the ongoing programs and objectives from the first FSF program:
- Improve, expand and diversify the economy of South Dakota and Sioux Falls.
- Attract expansion and relocation of firms that can benefit from Sioux Falls area assets.
- Increase employment opportunities and generate additional payrolls for area citizens.
- Expand the tax base of local governments by causing increased capital investment in the Sioux Falls area.
- Continue the dominance of Sioux Falls as a medical and retail center.
- Increase job retention activities supporting existing industry and assist in creation of new business.
- Money magazine rated the Sioux Falls economy No. 1 in the nation in 1992, 1993, and 1994. Sioux Falls was named the “ Best Place to Live in America” in 1992.
- FSF was significantly involved in the development and realization of the new Sioux Falls Convention Center and Washington Pavilion projects.
- New marketing materials were developed for the Sioux Falls Convention & Visitors Bureau to promote and market the city of Sioux Falls as a regional destination city for conventions and meetings, special events and other visitor business.
- The Chamber’s Public Affairs program and staff were expanded to provide continuous monitoring of local governmental issues and a strong and effective lobbying presence for the Sioux Falls area business community during the legislative session held each year in Pierre.
- FSF II co-sponsored the Business Industry and Government (BIG) Job Fairs as well as other job fairs designed to attract skilled and semi-skilled employees. Business- Education partnership programs were expanded and FSF conducted and co-sponsored three high school job fairs attracting 40 businesses and 500 students.
- FSF II initiated and funded the Sioux Falls Tomorrow community-based planning process, which was completed in 1994 and developed a vision and goals for Sioux Falls in 2015.
- Sioux Falls had an unemployment rate of 2.6 percent in 1992.
- Sioux Falls Tomorrow developed a vision and goals for Sioux Falls through 2015
- Conducted research and provided information regarding the adverse impacts of Dakota 1, a property tax limitation measure that would have affected the economy and educational system; was narrowly defeated in the November 1994 general election.
- Sioux Falls was named the No. 1 Place to Live in America by Money magazine in 1992.
- Biz magazine, published by Dow Jones & Co. and American City Business Journals, put South Dakota at the head of the list of states that are “best for business” (1995).
- Redbook magazine named Sioux Falls one of the 10 Best Cities in the U.S. for Working Mothers, based on factors such as local job markets, commuting ease and day care availability (1996).
