Happy Friday! Megan here.
Weather check: Windy (don't start fires)
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This week, it's been a mercifully slow week in local government (a welcome reprise after the legislative session). And, with a little more time on my hands, I got a chance to catch up with Midwest Street Medicine, a nonprofit that's providing medical care to unhoused folks in the community. Plus, catch some construction news, meet a local economic development pro and get all of the March Madnesses (Marches Madness? Like attorneys general?? )
And now, news:
COMMUNITY
This group is connecting unhoused folks with medical care
Simplified: Medical care can be quite complicated, but it can also be as simple as grabbing a backpack of supplies and hitting the streets to see who needs help. That's exactly what the folks over at Midwest Street Medicine are doing for the most vulnerable people in Sioux Falls.
Why it matters
- Dr. Shannon Emry and Dr. Melissa Dittberner founded Midwest Street Medicine in the summer of 2023. The two doctors had met on a zoom call after being connected by a mutual friend, and they instantly bonded over a shared desire to advocate for social justice and provide medical care in an innovative way.
- Midwest Street Medicine now has a dozens of medical professionals who volunteer to walk around the streets of Sioux Falls and offer help where they can.
- The nonprofit not only provides medical care, but they're also looking to connect people with existing community resources related to mental health, addiction and even cultural healing.
"We’re a conduit," Dittberner said. "We don't pretend like we can do everything because we know better. We’re resource dealers."
Tell me more
SIMPLIFIED PRESENTS
Meet this year's champion for economic development
This is a paid piece from the Sioux Metro Growth Alliance.
Jeffery Tanner is the executive director of the Canton Economic Development Corporation, and he was recognized this week for his work as a leader in promoting growth in the metro. Tanner received an award from the Sioux Metro Growth Alliance as the 2024 Regional Economic Development Champion during the organization's annual meeting Wednesday evening. He sat down with Sioux Falls Simplified to talk about his work, recent wins for Canton and the teamwork that's making it all happen.
Answers are edited for length and clarity.
What's your background, and how did you find yourself working in economic development?
Tanner: My emphasis is state and local government, and I've always found myself around everything public service. I have served in that capacity for multiple communities in southeastern South Dakota, and I resigned from my last city manager post in 2015.
I then spent two years in the army and have been in the South Dakota Air National Guard since 2018. During that process, I started doing contract work with local governments both in- and out-of-state. That led me to the Canton Economic Development Corporation (CEDC), where I started part-time the summer of 2020.
I've always felt like Canton's had a ton of potential, and it just needed to have some assistance to unlock that potential.
Can you talk a little about what growth in Canton looks like right now and share any projects you're particularly proud of?
The development corporation was directly involved with adding Decker Sales and Equipment into our industrial park with a 30,000-square-foot build out.
- That was just under a $5 million capital expenditure, and it added about 15 jobs to our community.
We've also added contractor shops into the community which have added another seven to 10 jobs.
Dakota Specialty Solutions is another agri-science business in the Canton industrial park which will employ about 15 people. That's also about a $5 million capital expenditure.
In just a short amount of time, we've added significant job growth into the community, and I think the part we're proudest about as a development corporation is that we've done it in not the most ideal economic conditions.
I'm also very proud of our 64-acre housing subdivision project we broke ground on this past fall. That will bring over 80 single-family homes, as well as a significant amount of multi-family housing that will cater to a lot of different income demographics.
Honestly, I think all of us – community leaders, and specifically the CEDC board – really believe that it's the tip of the iceberg, and the best is really yet to come.
See the full interview here
TL;DR
Super Simplified Stories
- March Mad-ish. Want to rank things but don't care about basketball? There are a handful of local businesses doing their own version of the famous bracket, including Mash Madness downtown, a local retailer "shop-hop," and even brackets within individual businesses like Terra Shepherd and Sunny's Pizzeria.
- Side note: Have an actual March Madness bracket and want a place to watch the games? Gateway Lounge and Gibs Sports Bar both have quite a few specials during the games.
- The two seasons: Winter and Construction. And we already did winter. City officials in Sioux Falls this week talked about the major road construction projects that'll be kicking off soon. These include a reconstruction of the intersection at Arrowhead Parkway and Veterans Parkway, improvements to 12th Street from Ellis to Marion Roads and various overlay projects across town.
- The city is also partnering with the state for reconstruction of the interchange at Cliff Avenue and Interstate 229, as well as a new diverging diamond interchange at 85th Street and Interstate 29.
- Plus, work continues this summer on South Veterans Parkway between Cliff Avenue and Sycamore Avenue.
- Wanna know how this'll impact you as a driver? Learn more here.
- Speaking of road construction... Work on the Arrowhead Parkway and Veterans Parkway intersection will kick off next week. That'll mean closures east of Arrowhead Parkway and Veterans Parkway down to one lane. The construction is expected to take two years. Here's a look at detours/alternate routes you can take:
THIS AND THAT
What I'm falling for this week:
*Denotes a paid listing.
ICYMI
More Simplified Stories
Megan Raposa
Megan Raposa
Megan Raposa
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