Join the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce

PROGRESS LOVES COMPANY

WE’RE HERE FOR YOUR BUSINESS

The Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce is a dynamic membership organization of businesses, organizations and individuals working together to improve the community.

THE CHAMBER IS COMPRISED OF:

REPRESENTING MORE THAN 80,000 INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYEES

NEARLY 2,000 BUSINESSES

SMALL BUSINESSES LARGE BUSINESSES NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS

INDIVIDUALS ENTREPRENEURS

The Chamber seeks to advocate, educate, equip and inform members. A membership in the Chamber gives you opportunities like these and many more:

Information and training that can help your business grow

Knowledge about issues that affect your business

Access to elected officials at all levels of government

Tours and information about your fellow Chamber members

Opportunities to connect with other members across all industries

When you choose to invest in the Chamber, you add your voice to leading our region’s development. The stronger our membership, the stronger our community and economy. In other words, a strong Chamber is good for your business.

We have been driving economic growth, advocating for businesses, leadership development and working to improve the quality of life in our region for more than 100 years. Progress is everyone’s business.

WE’RE HERE FOR YOUR COMMUNITY

Investment in the Chamber is much more than just investing in an organization. You’re investing in our community. Chamber programs and activities support initiatives that make the Sioux Falls area a better place by improving the quality of life and advancing the economy.

We focus on efforts to develop and strengthen the local workforce in order to meet the needs of member businesses. Working together, we are molding and creating a workforce that is prepared and ready to lead—both on the job and in the community.

LEADERSHIP & DEVELOPMENT

Training tomorrow’s leaders is part of the Chamber’s role in the community. We have designed programs to meet leadership needs—both now and in the future.

The Evan C. Nolte Leadership Sioux Falls program educates current and future leaders on different aspects of the community, with a goal of helping participants identify ways they can engage in active service in the future.

The Young Professionals Network (YPN) promotes an overall investment in the future of the community by building connections and helping educate young professionals. YPN members are invited and encouraged to participate in all Chamber activities.

FORWARD SIOUX FALLS

Forward Sioux Falls is a successful joint venture for economic growth and development between the Chamber and the Sioux Falls Development Foundation. The program is designed to keep Sioux Falls ahead of increased competition from major cities across the country.

Since its formation in 1987, Forward Sioux Falls has produced and facilitated dramatic increases in the rate of job creation, earning power, capital investment, entrepreneurial support and other economic indicators.

AGRIBUSINESS

Agriculture is South Dakota’s largest industry and has a major influence on the Sioux Falls economy. The Chamber’s Agribusiness Division works to promote the industry and recognize farmers for their contributions. The annual Sioux Empire Livestock Show draws thousands of visitors from around the nation to Sioux Falls to show, buy and sell livestock.

COMMUNITY APPEALS

The Chamber’s Community Appeals Committee helps vet and schedule capital fund drives, streamlining requests to businesses while ensuring that funds are going to sound, qualified causes. Since 1953, we’ve helped fund more than 100 successful projects.

You can be confident that charitable donations are going to valuable causes that improve quality of life. And your impact is maximized with our business community working together for the common good.

PARTNERSHIPS

In addition to our primary services, the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce works closely with a variety of partner organizations to address the diverse needs and interests of business and the community at large.

Start Up Sioux Falls was founded in 2002 as a product of Forward Sioux Falls. Start Up Sioux Falls fosters the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Sioux Falls, supports start ups and connects entrepreneurs to the resources they need to be successful.

Our healthy business environment draws interest from companies outside of our region. The Sioux Falls Development Foundation recruits new businesses and new workers to greater Sioux Falls, which helps support the continued growth of our community.

Housing is a primary need for any growing community. The Sioux Empire Housing Partnership promotes increasing the supply of housing for moderate income buyers and provides education and resources for those seeking to purchase or rent.

GREATER SIOUX FALLS

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

THE CHAMBER AT A GLANCE

As the leading local business advocate, we represent our members by building consensus and creating strategies that advance and promote the economic health and quality of life in the region.

Nearly 2,000 CHAMBER MEMBER BUSINESSES employ more than 80,000 PEOPLE

Nearly 1,000 YOUNG

PROFESSIONALS are members of YPN

Celebrate new businesses, expansions, and member milestones at 100+ RIBBON CUTTINGS. Connect with other members at more than 25 NETWORKING EVENTS throughout the year.

1900+ SERVICE CALLS AND VISITS completed by Chamber volunteers.

Recognize the importance of agriculture through events like the SIOUX EMPIRE LIVESTOCK SHOW and AG APPRECIATION DAY.

Interact with ELECTED OFFICIALS and COMMUNITY LEADERS at events like Inside Washington and Good Morning Sioux Falls.

Track and report on an average of 100+ LEGISLATIVE BILLS each year.

Host member-led presentations at BUSINESS SENSE WORKSHOPS on practical topics for businesses. Secure your business against cyber threats through the annual CYBERSECURITY CONFERENCE led by experts in the field.

More than 30 STUDENTS complete Leadership Sioux Falls each year, joining more than 1,100 GRADUATES of the program.

Over $68 MILLION RAISED for economic development through Forward Sioux Falls since its inception in 1987.

LEARN INVEST

Facilitate programs that ATTRACT and RETAIN young professionals to the Sioux Falls area.

Improve quality of life in the area by supporting

100 CHARITABLE PROGRAMS through Community Appeals.

WE’RE HERE AS YOUR ADVOCATE

What happens in government—whether it be city hall or Washington D.C.—can have a huge impact on your business.

YOU’RE REPRESENTED

So you can concentrate on running your business, the Chamber will represent you at all levels of government:

Chamber staff attend every City Council, School Board and Minnehaha County Commission meeting

The Chamber has a lobbyist in Pierre full-time during the legislative session to represent our membership

We add context and educate members on issues that are most significant to the business community and our future

We research and write detailed briefs on many public policy issues as part of our efforts to educate and inform members

The Chamber gives members access to decision-makers and political officials through a variety of events and activities, including Inside Washington events and candidate forums

HOW WE MAKE AN IMPACT

The issues we weigh in on range from broad business policies to laws narrowly targeted to certain types of business or industry. A few recent examples:

Ensuring employees are able to find work is a key component of workforce development. To that end, the Chamber spearheaded a large coalition to support SB 70, authorizing Spanish to be used in the process of issuing non-commercial driver licenses. In 2020, the bill passed with broad support and was signed into law by the Governor.

The Chamber regularly advocates on bills pertaining to education and workforce development. We recently helped defeat several bills that would have reduced funding and access to dual credit classes for high school students. The dual credit program, which ensures students have access to college and technical courses, is a valuable tool for our state’s workforce development efforts.

Strong post-secondary programs are critical to meeting our state’s workforce demands and maintaining a strong economy. The Chamber has been instrumental in legislation that supports higher education. Recent wins include securing $15 million to construct a new biomedical innovation facility at the USD Discovery District, which will attract highpaying jobs and innovative new businesses; gaining approval for DSU’s Applied Research Laboratory in Sioux Falls, which will bring hundreds of six figure jobs to our community; and a $4.5 million appropriation for a health sciences clinical simulation center at Southeast Technical College, which will help address the increasing demand for workers in critical health care career fields.

Sioux Falls is a community that is open for business, but we need to have houses for working families to live here. In the 2022 legislative session, the Chamber helped secure a once-in-a-lifetime investment of $200 million for statewide workforce housing. This investment will ensure continued success for our businesses and the next generation of South Dakotans.

WE’RE HERE FOR ALL BUSINESSES

When the local economy does well, your business does well. The Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce works to advance and promote the economic health and quality of life for all industries in our city and region.

FOR THE HOTEL, MOTEL, RESTAURANT OPERATOR

Strong businesses and a variety of entertainment and recreation options draw visitors to our city. The dollars spent while they eat, sleep, shop and play turn over multiple times within our local economy.

FOR THE RETAIL OR SERVICE ESTABLISHMENT

Driving economic growth is part of the mission of the Chamber, and the retail and service industries play a key role in a strong economy. More than five thousand new residents call Sioux Falls home each year, which means additional customers and revenue for your business.

FOR THE HOME AND PROPERTY OWNER

The Chamber initiates and works cooperatively with organizations to create a quality of life that is second to none. We embrace diversity in our community and welcome the opportunity to learn about new cultures. The Chamber works in partnership with the Sioux Falls School District to ensure a quality education system and a prepared workforce.

FOR THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICE PROVIDER

In partnership with the Sioux Falls Development Foundation, we work to recruit businesses and industry to our community who provide competitive wages and progressive education opportunities.

FOR THE MANUFACTURER AND WHOLESALER

Over the past several years, the Chamber’s lobbying efforts have been instrumental in the reduction of state-mandated workers compensation insurance rates. Through Forward Sioux Falls, we are leading workforce development initiatives to address the need for skilled workers through education, recruitment and retention programming.

FOR THE REAL ESTATE, CONSTRUCTION, INVESTMENT AND INSURANCE FIRM

In collaboration with the City of Sioux Falls, we work to grow infrastructure, road development and maintenance. We welcome potential residents with relocation information about our community, including a list of current commercial and residential realtors, apartments and property management companies who are Chamber members.

FOR THE FARMER AND RANCHER

The Chamber’s Agribusiness Division works to advance and promote the Sioux Empire as an agricultural center. Annually, we sponsor the Sioux Empire Livestock Show to provide higher visibility of the farming industry and enrich the economic stability of the rural population and those associated businesses involved with agriculture.