A Message from Our

Campaign Co-chairs

For over three decades, this city has shown how collaborative efforts driven by Forward Sioux Falls have propelled us forward

For over three decades, this city has shown how collaborative efforts driven by Forward Sioux Falls have propelled us forward—from nationwide marketing efforts to business expansion and recruitment programs, from Good Earth State Park to Foundation Park—the impact of Forward Sioux Falls on this community can be seen everywhere. Every resident and business in this community, in some way, has been positively impacted by Forward Sioux Falls. When you can say that about a program—that’s powerful.

Mayor Paul TenHaken

City of Sioux Falls, Honorary Co-chair

Working Together. Growing Together.

Over 30 years ago, forward-thinking community leaders established a vision for a prosperous, dynamic region to be achieved through bold and intentional economic development efforts. Critical to that vision was a public-private platform for setting agendas and executing strategies in pursuit of long-term objectives but aligned with near-term needs and opportunities.

This platform—Forward Sioux Falls—has become nationally recognized for creating decades of economic growth and corresponding quality of place enhancements that have made Sioux Falls the envy of communities across the Midwest and throughout the United States.

Every five years, Forward Sioux Falls engages the business community and civic leaders to design a freshly imagined program of work. We’ve launched the 2026 campaign to propel our region forward in a collaborative, data-driven way. Much of this work is accomplished through the Sioux Falls Development Foundation and the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce; however, other community partnerships are also leveraged to maximize our resources in an efficient and effective manner.

The 2026 campaign encompasses five initiatives: workforce development, business retention and expansion, innovation and entrepreneurship, business advocacy and program management. Working together, these initiatives are projected to create a huge impact including nearly 10,000 jobs, $600 million in income and $2 billion in economic output.

Sioux Falls area businesses, as well as our public partners, understand the importance of working together. Competitors put their differences aside for the collective benefit of our community through a unified effort to grow and diversify our economy. And the results continue to exceed expectations!

We appreciate the commitment from our 400+ investors and we ask for your continued engagement. We also encourage organizations considering a first-time investment to join the effort to elevate our region’s economy as Forward Sioux Falls 2026 continues to build on our momentum.

Thank you for your support.

Dave Flicek
Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center

Paul Hanson
Sanford Health

Dave Rozenboom
First PREMIER Bank

Forward Sioux Falls’ highly intentional process ensures business leaders that their investments will help the city address its opportunities and challenges and deliver results. And each time a program delivers, it encourages additional leaders to join in the next effort.