Sioux Metro Growth Alliance Growing Places—Vol. 1/ Issue 2 (April 2023)

Photo courtesy of Marmen Energy of Brandon.

Story on page 18.

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ABOUT US

The Sioux Metro Growth Alliance (SMGA) is a nonprofit economic development organization that works to improve the economy and advocates for business development and quality of life in the communities around Sioux Falls. SMGA advocates on behalf of Baltic, Brandon, Canton, Centerville, Colton, Crooks, Dell Rapids, Garretson, Harrisburg, Hartford, Humboldt, Lennox, Salem, Tea, Valley Springs, and Worthing. All of these communities provide rewarding places to live and to work.

CONTACT US

Sioux Metro Growth Alliance

196 E. 6th St., Suite 200 Sioux Falls, SD 57104

605.679.7149

info@siouxmetro.com

www.siouxmetro.com

EXECUTIVE BOARD

Jay Buchholz, Chair, Sioux Valley Energy

Robert Baker, First National Bank

David Doxtad, ISG

Joan Franken, Costello Companies

Sharese Ihnen, Lennox Area Development Corp.

Mike Jaspers, East River Electric

Heather Kranz, TrioTel Communications

Dennis Olson, retired

Chad Ronshaugen, City of Dell Rapids

Mike Wendland, Grant Park Capital

STAFF

Jesse Fonkert, President & CEO

Ryan Solberg, Economic Development Specialist

Lisa Zens, Economic Development Specialist

Sheldon Jensen, Economic Development Specialist

Miranda Basye, Director of Engagement

MEMBERSHIP ADVISORY BOARD

City of Dell Rapids Chad Ronshaugen, Chair

City of Baltic Deborah McIsaac

City of Brandon Patrick Andrews

City of Canton Jeff Tanner

City of Centerville Jared Hybertson

City of Colton Monte Koopman

City of Crooks Mark Harstad

City of Garretson Jessica Fueston

City of Harrisburg Derick Wenck

City of Hartford Amy M. Farr

City of Humboldt Kelly O’Gorman

City of Lennox Dr. Britney Mower

City of Salem Mitch Rayman

City of Tea Aaron Otten

City of Valley Springs Carl Moss

City of Worthing Scott DeWitt

Lincoln County Joel Arends

Minnehaha County Dean Karsky

Alliance Comm. Paul VanDeBerg

Bluepeak Lucas Peterson

East River Electric Eric Fosheim

Golden West Greg Oleson

Midco Andrew Curley

MidAmerican Energy Sam Wagner

NorthWestern Energy Paul Mantz

Sioux Valley Energy Brandon Lane

Southeastern Electric Todd Nelson US Bank Eric Krouse

Xcel Energy Joe Anderson

“Growing Places” magazine is published quarterly by AGE Media & Promotion in partnership with the Sioux Metro Growth Alliance.

PUBLISHERS Garrett and Mindy Gross, 605.690.4071

EDITOR Bob Fitch, 712.551.4123, bob@agemedia.pub

AD SALES Garrett Gross, 515.231.9367, garrett@agemedia.pub

© AGE Media & Promotion All rights reserved. Content in this magazine should not be copied in any way without the written permission of the publisher. Content in articles, editorial and advertisements are not necessarily endorsed by AGE Media & Promotion. www.agemedia.pub

When I joined the board of the Minnehaha County Economic Development Association (MCEDA) in 2020, I didn’t know what to expect and had many questions. What is regional economic development? What does MCEDA do for its members? How can we help with success? Since that moment, I feel like both MCEDA, now SMGA, and I have grown together in our understanding of economic development and its practice across the Sioux Metro. Now, I am honored to serve as the chair of the Executive Board for 2023.

As I look at the year ahead, I am excited for several things that will help grow our region. First, we are thrilled to welcome Centerville as the first Turner County community to join the SMGA. We hope to connect with more Turner County communities in the near future and invite them to join our organization.

Second, Miranda Basye, our new director of engagement, will be making a big impact on the team. Thanks to her expertise and passion, SMGA’s events, programming, and fundraising efforts will be enhanced and the benefits to the membership improved. If you haven’t had a chance to connect with her yet, please reach out to her at mirandab@siouxmetro.com

Lastly, our economic development management service continues to help transform economic

development in the communities using it. While we’re almost two years into this new innovative program, we expect results to be amplified in the coming years as new ideas take root.

Economic development requires partnerships and long-term planning. We’re lucky to live in a great region where cooperation between entities and groups is at work. I feel privileged to chair this organization and look forward to watching both staff and members work together for even greater growth in 2023.

Jay Buchholz, Sioux Valley Energy Chairman of the Executive Board Sioux Metro Growth Alliance

Jay Buchholz

WINNING THE RACE WITH NO END IN SIGHT

Economic development in the Sioux Metro isn’t idling nor is it just chugging along. The communities of the Sioux Metro are racing ahead, passing one milepost after another. Here’s a city-by-city road report on recent checkered flag accomplishments:

BRANDON

Henkel is investing $30 million in expansion. Lloyd Companies plans to build an 80,000 square foot manufacturing space and office building for Engineered Truss Systems.

CANTON

Building towards a housing boom and filling its industrial park.

CENTERVILLE

SMGA’s newest member has a new housing development on the way.

COLTON

Making strides towards increasing its housing supply thanks to the newly created Colton Economic Development Group.

CROOKS

In the works are multiple housing developments, a new industrial park, and a new school for the Tri-Valley School District.

DELL RAPIDS

Laying the foundation for significant projects to be announced this year or next. A new building is on its way for Dell Rapids Dental.

HARRISBURG

New retail, new Sanford and Lewis, new bakery, Showplace is expanding, and Dairy Queen is coming soon. Harrisburg builds schools faster than Silverstar can put up car washes.

HARTFORD

New Dairy Queen; the state’s first medical cannabis dispensary; and big projects by Black Tie Components and Eagle/Talon’s.

HUMBOLDT

First Manufacturing is significantly expanding.

LENNOX

Wilson Trailer pulled a nearly $18 million building permit for an expansion while Nielson is building homes quickly. A new event hall will open this spring or summer.

SALEM

New community center in the works. New owners for the steakhouse and gas station.

TEA

Striving to expand its retail and day-time job population. A new Starbucks is on the way. Ruffland Kennels and Thornton’s have expanded. Huge growth is forecasted for Bakker Landing due to the future 85th Street interchange. Orthopedic Institute is investing in business enhancement.

WORTHING

Working with area brokers to list the industrial park and redevelop core areas. Exploring the feasibility of wastewater regionalization.

We’ve enjoyed helping Baltic and Garretson re-create their economic development organizations and are excited to be working more closely with Valley Springs going forward.

The best news is the finish line is never in sight. This list is ever-changing and ever-expanding! Sioux Metro Growth Alliance is proud to help you rev your engines!

Jesse Fonkert President & CEO

Jesse Fonkert

COMMUNITY SERVICE IS A GREAT WAY TO HAVE A VOICE, GIVE BACK AND MEET PEOPLE

Sharese Ihnen is a Realtor at Hegg, REALTORS and the president of the Lennox Area Development Corporation. Her husband, Heath, is a lender for a local credit union. They have three children: Quincy, 22, who is a senior at the University of South Dakota; Isabel, 20, who is a junior at Dakota Wesleyan University; and Porter, 17, who is a junior at Lennox High School. They also have two pets, Remi and Ruby, who actually “run the show.” Sharese has lived in the Lennox community for over 40 years. Her parents and her sisters and their families also live in Lennox, as does her husband’s family.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR CAREER

I am a Realtor at Hegg, REALTORS. Along with my mom, Sandy Poppenga, I lead a team of seven agents called The Select Team. We primarily sell residential real estate in the greater Sioux Falls area and outlying communities but also cooperatively assist with some commercial real estate transactions.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR COMMUNITY SERVICE

I serve on the Lennox Area Development Corporation board and am currently the elected president. I also serve on the Lennox Library Board, Love INC board, plus am a member of the Lennox Lions Club and Lennox Commercial Club. I’m also an adult mentor of our local FCA group and am active in the Sioux Metro Growth Alliance.

WHAT LED YOU TO ENGAGE IN PUBLIC SERVICE?

I enjoy being involved in my community, church and school activities as well as professional organizations. It is not only a good opportunity to stay up to date and knowledgeable, but it is also a great way to meet other people, give back and be a voice.

WHAT SETS LENNOX APART?

The greatest strength our community is the passion of our residents. Because of that passion, we see lots of involvement in committees and groups in efforts to improve and promote our community. Lennox is famous for the Old Fashioned 4th of July and the community is always excited to show off who we are and what we have/ are striving towards during this event.

WHAT CHALLENGES DOES LENNOX FACE?

I think that growth, the potential for growth and actual current growing pains are all challenges. It affects not only our city, but our school, our current and future residents and businesses. I feel like this is also a regional challenge however, so there are many resources and other community leaders that we can collaborate with.

WHAT’S ON THE HORIZON FOR LENNOX?

We are continually looking at the need for small business as well as industrial growth in our community in order to be a more ‘self serving’ community. Along with that need and potential growth comes the ongoing need for housing. We are actively working on some promising options in all of these avenues and are excited to see those start to come together. //

Heath and Sharese Ihnen with their children,

Heath, Sharese, Porter, Isabel and Quincy Ihnen.

POWERING

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YOUR COMMUNITY. BUSINESS. LIFE.

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SMALL WINS LEAD TO BIG THINGS

CENTERVILLE, SOUTH DAKOTA

Founded 1883

Mayor Kent Austin

Population 922

SCHOOLS

Centerville School District

AMENITIES

Three City Parks

Athletic Complex

Swimming Pool

Bike/Walking Trail

Art Gallery and Museum

Disc Golf Course

Camping

“Fall-O-Ween” has become a popular event in Centerville the past several years. Photos courtesy Jared Hybertson, Centerville Development Corporation.

Community and business leaders in the region participate in weekly podcasts presented by the Sioux Metro Growth Alliance. This article is adapted from a recent Growing Places podcast and has been edited for clarity. Use the QR code to subscribe.

One of several murals which help brighten up downtown Centerville.

The city of Centerville, S.D., is the newest member of the Sioux Metro Growth Alliance. Located about halfway between Sioux Falls and Yankton, the town’s name reflects the fact that it is centrally-located between many communities.

Jared Hybertson is the economic development director for the city of Centerville and the executive director of the Centerville Development Corporation. He’s a native of Viborg, a graduate of Dakota State University and serves as a Turner County commissioner. His wife, Christie, is a native of Wakonda and works at One American Bank in Centerville. They have three children: Hogan, 13, Hadisyn, 9, and Henley, 7.

In a conversation with Sioux Metro Growth Alliance team members Sheldon Jensen and Miranda Basye on the February 14th Growing Places podcast, Hybertson outlined Centerville’s economic and community development story.

CENTERVILLE’S GROWTH MODEL

We don’t want to change what Centerville is; we just want to expand on it. It’s about a calculated, slow, strategic growth. We don’t want to grow too big, too fast. We spend a lot of time and emphasis on our downtown, keeping it clean and creating opportunities for entrepreneurs to start businesses. And we’ve seen a lot of that.

In a small town of 900, I often say it’s just as much about community development as economic development. When you’re somewhat of a bedroom community, you want to have the quality of life amenities. So we focus a lot on parks and recreation. One of the first projects I was a part of was a bike path built to connect our two largest parks. You can go from the downtown park (where there’s the pool and disc golf and camping) to the park on the edge of town (where there is a nature area and another camping area along the Vermillion River).

We want to make Centerville an inviting community for people to visit and hopefully live in someday. We’ve

been building a great fall festival over the last three years and we have a fun Fourth of July celebration. For me, economic development is about those small wins – those small wins lead to big things. If can continue to work on small wins day to day, things snowball and can really make an impact on your community.

A DOWNTOWN DESTINATION

I think it’s fantastic we’re seeing people from Sioux Falls coming down and shopping in Centerville since it’s typically been the opposite. People do want to get out of the big city once in a while and find hidden gems and unique shopping experiences in small towns.

What we have downtown is pretty remarkable. We’ve got a clothing boutique, bowling alley, and a fantastic Mexican restaurant. We’ve got a coffee shop and eatery; and our steakhouse is fantastic. Believe it or not, we’ve got a new tattoo shop, the first in the county as far as I’m aware. It’s bringing new clientele into the community who have never been to Centerville and it’s opening their eyes to how cool our community is.

The Royal Bakery is probably what people know most about Centerville. People drive hundreds of miles to get the Original Zebra Donut.

I split my time between City Hall and our visitor center where we’ve got an art gallery and museum. People come in on a Friday afternoon and it’s just fantastic to hear them say, “I never thought I’d be spending a Friday afternoon shopping in Centerville.” I think we are slowly turning downtown Centerville into a destination.

NEW HOUSING DEVELOPMENT

We try to do one or two housing projects a year, whether it’s a new spec home or rehab project. We’ve partnered with the South Dakota Housing Development Authority quite often on our housing projects and they’ve been a great partner to help us leverage resources and funding.

Jared Hybertson

It’s just as important to have conversations with our local landowners. Sometimes it can be hard in small towns to shake loose a piece of ground to develop. Building relationships with a landowner and others was instrumental for us. We’re really excited this spring to be breaking ground on the 14-acre, 22-lot Harvest Pointe Housing Development. There are people who want to live in Centerville, so we want to get housing opportunities for them.

Nothing against Sioux Falls, but it tends to be pretty densely-packed. We went with a little bit larger lots – there are half-acre and three-quarter acre lots. A number of backyards in these lots will be next to a cornfield or beanfield, which will give them a rural setting.

A UNIQUE SUCCESS STORY

The Centerville Development Corporation was actually the owner and operator of our nursing home for a few years. Good Samaritan was closing their doors and gave us about six months’ notice. Economic development and the city tried to find a buyer and nobody was willing. So our economic development organization actually stepped in to own it and manage it for about five years. The community’s leaders saved the largest employer in town. We ended up selling it to a management group and the sale gave the Centerville Development Corporation a nice nest egg to work with. It gave us an opportunity to leverage funds that we wouldn’t have had otherwise. We turned what could have been a horrible situation into a very, very successful one.

HOMETOWN CENTERVILLE

My wife and I grew up in small towns and we knew we wanted to raise our kids in a small town and in a small school system. So we started looking and landed in Centerville. That was in 2013. I commuted back and forth to my job in Sioux Falls. About a year after we moved here, I got approached and encouraged to apply for the economic development director role.

Our kids are four blocks away from school and they’re two blocks away from the park and the pool. They can ride their bikes and we don’t have to worry. That’s kind of a throwback to simpler times and we really like that. We have wonderful connections with our neighbors and friends. Having all three of our kids in the same building for K-12 is nice. It’s a tight knit group.

If you want to live in a small town, get that small town feel, that small town school system, there are a lot of things in Centerville that are a draw for any young family. Maybe your spouse works in Vermillion or you work in Sioux Falls – our proximity to so many job opportunities is unique.

ON THE HORIZON

The next 10 years for Centerville looks really bright. We’ve got a lot of positive momentum right now. Ten years out, I would love to see our housing development fill in and then have the problem of “Where will the next housing development go?” But economic development isn’t just about growing, it’s about being able to thrive. We want to have a thriving downtown and a thriving school system. //

Christiana Ostrem, right, is one of the founders of The Seed Coffeehouse & Eatery in downtown Centerville. At left is Shania Rozeboom, owner of Rainy Day Coffee Co., the coffee roaster for The Seed.

The Royal Bakery in Centerville is the home of the famous Original Zebra Donut.

MEET JEFF SMITH

JEFF SMITH

TELL US ABOUT YOUR JOB.

I am a Journeyman Licensed Plumber. I started in the industry in 1984 and it’s been on-the-job training since day one. I was an apprentice for 4 years prior to getting my Journeyman’s card. Then in 1990, I started with Krohmer Plumbing and 33 years later I’m still going strong.

HOW HAS THE INDUSTRY CHANGED OVER THE YEARS?

The evolution of material, tools and equipment has made it much easier on the worker. The PVC we use is much better and our equipment is more efficient. We always have the challenge of finding qualified workers to help with the projects. In order to keep the good workers we have, Krohmer Plumbing takes good care of the guys. They offer Apprentice School in-house and they are treated like family within the company.

WHAT DOES YOUR AVERAGE DAY LOOK LIKE?

We always have a schedule for the week. But every day is different depending on timeline demands and goals and then the schedule of the trades involved on the job. Being flexible and able to adjust is important.

WHAT’S MOST REWARDING ABOUT YOUR JOB?

The most rewarding part of my job is driving by the completed job site. Sometimes, even years after the job is complete, I drive by with pride, knowing it is one of “my buildings.” That part is fun. It is also great to hear feedback from other trades that they like working with me and my guys. It is good to hear that from other people.

ANY JOBS YOU’RE EXTRA PROUD OF?

We have done a lot of work in the area, but the Grand Living Assisted Living Complex on Lake Lorraine is one I’m proud of. That was a large project that took a lot of time and planning.

WHAT MESSAGE WOULD YOU SHARE WITH HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS?

I would tell them that there is long-term security in this industry. No machine can come in and take my job. There is no robot that can do what we do. Over the course of my career there have been some changes, but I can say we have always been busy. In the Sioux Metro area for sure, there will be no shortage of opportunities in the plumbing industry. //

KROHMER PLUMBINGJOURNEYMAN PLUMBER

PARTNERS IN PROGRESS HONORED

The City of Salem, DGR Engineering and Mike Geraets of Dell Rapids were each honored with a Partner in Progress award on March 15 at the Sioux Metro Growth Alliance (SMGA) annual meeting.

COMMUNITY INNOVATION AWARD | CITY OF SALEM

The Community Innovation Award honors a Sioux Metro Growth Alliance member community that has demonstrated successful new ideas in community development or achieved a community goal through partnership and community effort. The City of Salem received the award for 2022. After devastating losses to the community from the derecho storms of May and July 2022, the Salem community re-energized its local Economic Development Corporation; rallied together to fundraise nearly $250,000 for local economic development work; launched an industrial park; started building a new community center; and has future housing plans in the works. “The work of the Salem community over the past year is awe-inspiring,” said Jesse Fonkert, president and CEO of SMGA. “We are proud to partner with Salem to support their efforts, and really look forward to their continued growth trajectory.”

Salem Mayor Glenda Blindert, Jeremy Grady of First Dakota National Bank and City Administrator Lori Heumiller accepted Community Innovation Awards on behalf of the community of Salem.

BUSINESS PARTNER OF THE YEAR | DGR ENGINEERING

The Business Partner of the Year award is awarded to a company, enterprise, or entrepreneur doing business in the SMGA region that has shown outstanding community development support or regional economic development partnership activity during the preceding year. DGR Engineering was honored for its collaboration with area cities in critical infrastructure, city maintenance, economic development and future planning. DGR Engineering has long-standing relationships with Sioux Metro communities including Dell Rapids, Salem, and Crooks. DGR’s approach to partnership and community involvement shines in its work with municipalities. DGR’s team was praised for always striving for perfection in its plans and specifications.

REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CHAMPION

MIKE GERAETS, DELL RAPIDS

Dell Rapids citizen-leader Mike Geraets was named as the 2022 Regional Economic Development Champion. This honor is awarded to an individual living in or working in the region who has shown active support for community development through service to economic development and community enhancement. Mike has earned a reputation for his solution-oriented approach to community challenges, his servant leadership and positive perspectives. As one of the city’s biggest advocates, Mike served on the City Council and Economic Development Corporation, plus has supported other area growth through organizations such as SMGA. “We need more people like Mike Geraets in public service,” Fonkert said. “He’s the first to volunteer when something needs to be done and is a true advocate for growth and process, not just in Dell Rapids but in our broader region. We’re thankful for his genuine care for his community and the broader Sioux Metro area.”

Jacob Morris, Jesse Morris, Trent Bruce and Riley Rinehart accepted the Business Partner of the Year Award on behalf of DGR Engineering.

Mike Geraets was honored as the Regional Economic Development Champion.

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WORTHING COMMUNITY LOOKS TO THE FUTURE

By Megan Raposa, Sioux Falls Simplified | www.sfsimplified.com

As Worthing looks to grow, city leaders are asking for residents’ input on what the priorities should be for the city and its citizens. Here’s a look at what’s come out of recent community meetings.

Worthing’s partnership with the Sioux Metro Growth Alliance (SMGA) is fueling renewed efforts toward attracting new businesses to town, including getting the city’s economic development board up and running again, Mayor Crystal Jacobson said.

As they seek out new businesses, Jacobson said she wants to know the community’s thoughts and preferences.

It’s also important to have community support for any needed infrastructure improvements in the city that would pave the way for more development.

“I think that’s a huge thing in this town – people aren’t afraid to tell anybody what they want or what we need,” Jacobson said. “It’s always been an open community.”

MEETINGS DIG INTO THE OPINIONS OF RESIDENTS

Worthing has had two community engagement sessions in the last few months in an effort to better understand what the residents of Worthing want to see in their town. Lisa Zens, SMGA economic development specialist, said meeting attendees were asked four basic questions:

What should economic development be working on?

What can be done to make Worthing stronger?

What are Worthing’s community strengths?

What are Worthing’s weaknesses?

WORTHING, SOUTH DAKOTA

Founded 1879

Mayor Crystal Jacobson

Population 927

SCHOOLS

Worthing Elementary School is part of the Lennox School District.

AMENITIES

Olde Town Dinner Theatre

Free Disc Golf Course

Worthing Days

Summer Cruise Nights

Volleyball League

Camping

“Worthing is a growing community, and it’s important to have these conversations to understand what we can do as an economic development group to ensure continued growth and support from the community,” Zens said.

THE WORTHING WISH LIST

Infrastructure was a big one, Jacobson said.

The town needs updated sewer and water pipes in the old part of town, she added, and residents know the work has to happen.

On the business side, folks want to see more conveniences like a grocery store and other amenities. They also expressed interest in more gathering places for the community, as well as more space for activities for children.

In addition, the community shared a desire to see more growth in Worthing’s industrial park.

“We have all of this land out there that we can grow, and we want to see it grow,” Jacobson said.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Worthing leaders are taking what they’ve learned from recent community input sessions and bringing that to conversations moving forward with the economic development board. City leaders are also working with SMGA to look at ways to attract more businesses both to town and to the industrial park. //

The Olde Towne Theatre in Worthing is an iconic community theatre in southeast South Dakota.

TOTAL BUILDING PERMIT VALUATION

“The Safest City in South Dakota” as named by security company Safewise

Adjacent to Interstate 90 and a very short distance to I-29 and I-229

Close to the Sioux Falls Regional Airport

Aspen Park is home to the municipal swimming pool and five softball fields plus First National Bank Field for baseball

Big Sioux Recreation Area

McHardy Park includes soccer fields and outdoor hockey

4 other parks: Pioneer, Stone Ridge, Tallgrass and VanBuskirk

Municipal golf course

Tennis courts

Huset’s Speedway

The City of Brandon broke ground on a new water treatment plant in August 2022. Photo courtesy Brandon Valley Journal.

The Corson Industrial Park at the Brandon/Corson exit on the north side of I-90. Included in the photo are Marmen Energy, Henkel’s Adhesive Technologies, Viaflex, Leeco Steel LLC, Wausau Supply Co. and CHS. This photograph is from 2021 and several businesses have been added since then. Photo from Sioux Metro Growth Alliance.

MARMEN ENERGY THE COMPANY’S VALUES DEFINE THE QUALITY OF ITS PRODUCTS

By Bob Fitch

Marmen Energy is one of the largest manufacturers of wind towers in North America. Like most manufacturers today, the company is always on the lookout for skilled labor, including welders, painters, assemblers, blasters, electricians, crane operators and many more positions. When Marmen Energy is hiring, the first thing it looks for in prospective employees is not a skill set, but rather: Do they share the company’s values?

“Our mission and our values – we live by them. We’re looking for people who are going to embrace those values as part of the team,” said Yannick Laroche, production manager at Marmen Energy’s facility in Brandon. He said Marmen Energy’s values define the quality of its products and the way team members interact with each other, the suppliers and the customers. Those values are pride, innovation, teamwork, commitment and honesty.

Plant manager Danny Lueders said, “We will hire people who fit our values, and we’re able to train them in what we call our ‘Learn to Be’ program … as in learn to be a painter or learn to be a welder. So even if you don’t know how to weld or know how to paint, if you fit our values and you have the right attitude, we are more than willing to work with you and train you to be what you want to be and make your career here.”

10 YEARS IN BRANDON

The year 2023 marks the 10th anniversary of Marmen Energy opening its plant in Brandon. Laroche said, “We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished here in the past 10 years. Now we’re expanding and we’re adding more jobs. We’re increasing our weekly production to meet the demand of the market.”

In 1972, Marmen started as a small machine shop founded by Fernand Pellerin in TroisRivières, Quebec, Canada, located northeast of Montreal. It is still a family-owned company.

From the small machine shop, it became an internationally recognized manufacturing partner for some of the largest OEMs (original equipment manufacturers). It specializes in providing high-precision machining, fabrication and mechanical assembly of parts of any size. In the wind energy sector of the company, it manufactures the actual towers, while the rotor and hub (including three blades), the nacelle, and the generator are built by other companies.

Marmen entered the energy sector in 2002. In 2005, it built a second plant in Matane, Quebec, Canada. Why choose the next expansion to be in Brandon, South Dakota?

An important part of the cost of installing wind energy is transporting the mammoth components to the site, Laroche said. Those sites stretch from Texas in the south up through Montana, North Dakota and Minnesota in the north. The city of Brandon is adjacent to the intersection of Interstates 29 and 90, giving it excellent access to large parts of the mid-section of the U.S.

Production Manager Yannick Laroche and Plant Manager Danny Lueders.

Marmen Energy is always on the lookout for skilled labor, including welders, painters, assemblers, blasters, electricians, crane operators and many more positions. Photos courtesy Marmen Energy.

Team members are hired based on a commitment to the shared values of pride, innovation, teamwork, commitment and honesty. The Midwestern work ethic, including the simple mentality of showing up to work on time, played in South Dakota’s favor, too. Marmen has also valued the quality of the local medical community, the strong retail sector, the Sioux Falls Regional Airport, and the safe nature of area towns and cities. From the very beginning, positive relationships were built with leaders from the city of Brandon, the Sioux Metro Growth Alliance and the state of South Dakota. “The Brandon community has been extremely good to us,” Laroche said.

Marmen invests in summer employment and internships, only partially for the short-term labor benefits, but more so as a long-term investment in workforce development. Lueders said the connections have all been positive with local high schools and the technical colleges at Sioux Falls, Mitchell and Watertown. Marmen Energy is also a partner in the Build Dakota scholarship program.

DEMAND-DRIVEN GROWTH

Ten years ago, Marmen Energy started out with 75 team members in Brandon. That’s grown to 250. This spring, the company will break ground on an expansion that is expected to add another 50 employees. High pressure systems of inflation or recession may be impacting other industries, but the wind energy

business continues to blow the right direction, Lueders said. Customer demand is expected to continue to drive Marmen’s growth for the next decade. In fact, the Brandon plant is completely booked until 2025.

Demand is driven by private sector requests for renewable energy; wind energy is less expensive than traditional energy sources; and older wind farms must be re-built with upgraded technology, Laroche said. Towers have gone from being 200 feet high to 400. Yet, highway overpasses haven’t gotten any higher in 20 years, which means the diameter of the base still may only measure 14 feet, 9 inches. While being restricted to the same diameter, taller towers are made of thicker steel to support the extra weight of the structures above.

“We like to do big parts that are complex, that are hard to do and are a challenge,” he said.

One of the biggest hurdles for employees coming from out of the immediate area has been finding “ready and affordable” housing. “Sometimes we have team members who cannot start right away because they can’t move here fast enough – they’ve been shocked by the cost of real estate or the price of places to rent. More housing and more childcare options would benefit our team members and improve the community in general,” Laroche said. //

BRANDON VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT

5,015

ENROLLMENT (ECH-12)

VISION

CORE OPERATING PRINCIPLE

Our business is the creation of learning environments that result in success.

MISSION STATEMENT

$60,825

We will prepare our students to be life-long learners and productive citizens through a positive learning environment with the cooperation of students, educational staff, parents, guardians, and community.

TEACHER SALARY 1 1 1 5

HIGH SCHOOL INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL MIDDLE SCHOOL ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

Brandon Valley Lynx boys basketball. Photos by Wilma Kirkeby.

The Brandon Valley Marching Lynx.

High fives all around for the Brandon Valley Lynx volleyball team. The Brandon Valley Middle School fall musical was “Honk.”

Celebrating graduation from BVHS.

A WIN-WIN SCENARIO FOR STUDENTS AND EMPLOYERS

Students and local employers are enjoying a win-win scenario in a growing internship program at Brandon Valley High School.

Seniors from BVHS are exploring careers all the way from high tech research to getting down-and-dirty in a mechanic shop. With the highest number of participants ever – 107 –the program gives students an inside look at careers they’re interested in, said Brady Olson, internship coordinator and personal finance teacher at BVHS.

“For some of the students, it’s an affirmation and inspiration that they’re on the right track,” Olson said. “For others, they find out ‘This is not what I thought it was.’” Making such a discovery gives students a chance to make a course-correction for their post-graduation college or career plans.

About 50 businesses in Brandon, Sioux Falls and other local cities are taking part in the BVHS program. An internship is typically defined as a professional learning experience offering meaningful work related to a student’s career interest. Internships offer employers the opportunity to bring new ideas and energy into the workplace, develop talent and potentially build a pipeline for future full-time employees. It’s an investment in the student, the school, the community and their own business, Olson said. “With today’s competitive labor market, businesses are discovering it’s more important than ever to showcase their company and career paths to young people.”

Some of the participating businesses are even fortunate enough to discover someone who becomes a good part-time or summer employee, or someone who might even be a future long-term employee. “The internships can give a business a foot in the door with some very talented young people.”

Before students head out the door, they take part in 10 hours of class covering real-world expectations and decorum in the workplace. The students also complete reflections, an interview, and have two feedback forms that supervisors complete based on their soft skill development and hard skills for the specific jobs they are doing.

Students can choose to pursue an internship in either the fall or spring semester. In most cases during the course of an internship, Olson checks in with a student’s supervisor plus makes two in-person observations of the students. “It’s cool to see them in action.”

The two most popular career fields are education and nursing/medical; but BVHS students are interning in a plethora of career fields: marketing, nutrition, welding, electrical installation, physical therapy, veterinary science,

A student participating in an internship with Sanford Research in a lab focused on bone cancer research. Photos courtesy of Brandon Valley High School.

By Bob Fitch

nonprofit management, accounting, diesel mechanics, finance, engineering, and even the ministry. In a case such as social media marketing, a student might offer valuable insight on upcoming trends for younger demographics. While a field like physical therapy may limit the tasks interns are able to perform, in other situations, students have been handed the keys, so to speak, and told to run with it, he said.

By the time they are seniors, most students have enough flexibility in their class schedule to be able to work at their internships for three or four hours in either the morning or afternoon. Some interns in the medical field have even asked to work 12-hour shifts so they can see if they like that part of those careers.

In a case where a student discovers through an internship that a career is not for them, Olson helps them process what they’ve learned; and he can help them fill in the gaps by coordinating job-shadowing experiences so the student can see there are other career options for them to consider.

He said a neat culmination at the end of the semester is a session where students gather to share information about their internship experience – which itself can be an inspiration for their fellow students who did something else.

Last month, students organized and hosted a program called “Feeding the Future.” Businesses were invited to the school to learn about the BVHS Career & Technical Education program, including internships.

“It’s amazing how our business partners have stepped up to the plate to make an impact on the life of a young person,” Olson said. “And students have returned from their experience with new confidence in themselves. I got an email from one student’s parents saying their child was so thrilled with the experience they couldn’t stop talking about it.” //

Businesses that want to learn more about partnering with the BVHS internship program can contact Brady Olson at: 605-582-3211 or Brady.Olson@k12.sd.us.

A student performing maintenance while at K&J Trucking for a diesel mechanic internship.

Students participating in a respiratory therapy simulation during an internship hosted by Sanford Health.

A student intern assisting a veterinarian at Horizon Pet Care.

COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ENHANCES QUALITY OF LIFE

The Brandon Community Foundation was created by and for local citizens to improve the quality of life for its citizens. Gifts to the endowment grow over time thanks to the benefit of a pooled investment through the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation. The investment generates long-term asset growth.

ENRICHMENT FOR ALL AGES

In 2022 alone, the Brandon Community Foundation presented more than $55,000 in grants to local nonprofits. The grants were awarded during the annual Oak and Vine event and recipients included nonprofits serving youth, mature adults, recreation, education and more. Over its lifetime, the foundation has awarded grants totaling $315,000. The foundation has improved and enriched the quality of life for people of all ages in the Brandon area through investments in:

Arts

Recreation

Health

Education

Public safety

DONATE

There are several options to make philanthropic gifts have the greatest desired impact, plus strategic based upon your personal circumstances. Options include:

Planned gifts, estate gifts

Appreciated stock, mutual funds and other securities

Real estate

Grain or other commodities

Farmland

Qualified retirement plans such as IRAs or 401Ks

Life insurance policies

Other complex, non-cash assets

Oak and Vine event sponsorships

Jimmie Fjerestad Memorial Golf Tournament sponsorships

Cash or check

To learn more about the best way to share your resources with the Brandon Community Foundation, schedule an appointment with Mary Kolsrud, vice president for philanthropy at the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation. //

Photos courtesy of the City of Brandon.

SIDE-BY-SIDE IN THE SIOUX METRO SCHOOL DISTRICTS

DATA SOURCES

1. SD Department of Education “2022-23 Fall Enrollment Census, Public Districts – By District and Grade Level.” Note regarding “Total Schools” column: Some districts may have one building with three schools (elementary, middle, high school) under the same roof, while others may have multiple elementary school buildings and, in the case of Harrisburg, two middle school buildings.

2. SD Department of Education “District Report Card 2021-22.”

3. SD Department of Education “2021-2022 School District Profile Data File.”

4. SD Department of Education “History of Average Teacher Salary & Compensation - FY 2017 to FY2022.”

5. SD Department of Education “FY2022 Fund Balance as a Percent of Total Expenditures.”

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SIDE-BY-SIDE IN THE SIOUX METRO

2022 YEAR-END SALES TAX RECEIPTS | DATA SOURCE: SD DEPT OF REVENUE

SIDE-BY-SIDE IN THE SIOUX METRO

2022 YEAR-END BUILDING PERMITS | DATA SOURCE: INDIVIDUALLY FROM EACH MUNICIPALITY

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