SFDF News & Information

South Dakota . . . Top 10 Again!	04/11/2008
The Chicago-based Pollina Corporate Real Estate firm named South Dakota one of the “Top 10 Most Business-Friendly States” for 2008! South Dakota, the sixth best pro-business state, moved up from the 7th best in 2007. "A strong standing in the areas of low taxes, a well-educated work force and low workers' compensation costs helps keep South Dakota in the Top 10," according to Pollina.
Sioux Falls to become headquarters for VeraSun Energy Corp.	04/11/2008
VeraSun has chosen Sioux Falls as the location for their new corporate headquarters. The company, which completed their purchase of US Bio Energy Corp. (based in St. Paul) on April 1, announced that it would move its headquarters to Sioux Falls from Brookings.
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Sioux Falls is great place to live and launch a business.	04/17/2008
Sioux Falls recently was recognized by the CNN Money Web site as one of the 100 best places to live and launch a new business. The site ranked Sioux Falls as number 45 on the list. CNN Money credited South Dakota’s business-friendly tax structure as a plus, stating that it costs about 45 percent less to open a business here than in New York. The site also touted the city’s arts scene and highly educated work force. Number one on the list was Bellevue, Washington. Sioux Falls ranked between Oro Valley, Arizona and Madison, Wisconsin.
Homestake selected as DUSEL by National Science Foundation	08/06/2007
The Sioux Falls Development Foundation congratulates the State of South Dakota and the community of Lead as well as all of the individuals and organizations involved in the effort to attract the Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory (DUSEL).
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Sioux Falls is in the News!	08/13/2007
Sioux Falls is making news again! A number of online and print publications are talking about Sioux Falls being a great place for business and how economical it is as well. Check out the following articles to see what is being said:
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Once Again . . . South Dakota Named a Top 10 Pro-Business State!	03/27/2007
South Dakota has been named to the list of "America's Top Ten Pro-Business States" in "Keeping Jobs In America: Pollina Corporate Top 10 Pro-Business States 2007," a comparative evaluation of the job creation and retention efforts of all 50 state governments and the Federal Government.
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BERGQUIST Expanding to Brandon	03/27/2007
PIERRE, S.D. – The Bergquist Company will expand its operation into Brandon, South Dakota, a move which will result in the creation of 40 jobs and more than $11 million in capital investment. Ground will be broken on a 45,000 square foot facility later this year.
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South Dakota One of the Best States for Business	10/12/2006
Once again, South Dakota has been named one of the most business-friendly states in the nation in a new study released by the Tax Foundation. South Dakota was ranked #2 in the 2007 State Business Tax Climate Index.
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Sioux Falls . . . #1 AGAIN!	05/09/2006
You heard right! Once again, Forbes Magazine has ranked Sioux Falls as the #1 Small Metro for Business and Careers for 2006. Sioux Falls bested a number of regional cities including: #3 Fargo, #7 Rochester-MN, #91 Eau Claire and #103 Sioux City. Check out http://www.forbes.com/2006/05/03/06bestplaces_best-places-for-business_land.html?partner=daily_newsletter to learn more.
Sioux Falls is Governor’s Community of the Year!	04/14/2006
Governor Mike Rounds recognized Sioux Falls as one of the state’s outstanding communities at the Governor’s Economic Development conference held Wednesday, April 12 in Pierre. The city was named 2006 Large Community of the Year, with Governor Rounds pointing to the economic development success of Sioux Falls during the past year.
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South Dakota Makes Top 10	03/22/2006
A Chicago-based real estate firm has named South Dakota one of the "Top 10 Most Business-Friendly State" for 2006!
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Foundation Helps Attract FORTUNE 500 Company!	11/04/2005
Fortune 500 company Automated Data Processing is constructing a $50 million, 185,000 square foot disaster recovery center in Sioux Falls.
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185 Acres Acquired for New Development Park	11/04/2005
Looking for a new corporate address? We've got a site for you! With the community booming and growing in all directions, the Sioux Falls Development Foundation purchased an additional 185 acres near I-90 and I-229 for future commercial and industrial development.
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SIOUX FALLS NAMED ONE OF 100 BEST FOR YOUNG PEOPLE	09/27/2005
Out of 700 communities competing for the honor, Sioux Falls was named one of the 100 best communities for young people! America's Promise Alliance (started by former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell) announced the honor as a salute to healthy, friendly and safe cities. . . the result of businesses, volunteers, school and agencies working together to meet children's needs and encourage their growth. Congratulations Sioux Falls!
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Sioux Falls - One of Golf's Finest Cities	07/08/2005
Out of the top 330 metro areas in the country, Sioux Falls ranks 13th on Golf Digest's list of golfing communities . . . beating out legendary golf meccas such as Myrtle Beach! The ranking was based on factors such as access, weather, value and quality. (Golf Digest, August 2005)
Forbes ranking puts Sioux Falls #1 - - again	07/22/2005
Sioux Falls ranks FIRST among US cities with populations between 50,000 and 177,000 as the best place for business and careers, according to this year’s survey in Forbes magazine—for the third year in a row. Sioux Falls came in at or near the top in most categories in the national magazine’s rankings. The study rates communities on job growth and earned income, plus a measure of activity in critical technologies that foster future growth. According to Forbes, no community in the United States is a more economical place to do business than Sioux Falls, making Sioux Falls the best place in America to make a profit.
South Dakota Ranks #1 in Tax Foundation Survey	10/19/2004
South Dakota has the "Most Business-Friendly" tax climate: The national Tax Foundation has issued their annual ranking of the fifty states, revealing which have the most business-friendly tax climate. For the second consecutive year, South Dakota ranks number one, having the tax environment most favorable for business.
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SIOUX FALLS - 8TH LOWEST IN ANNUAL TAX SURVEY	08/03/2004
The July 2004 issue of Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine placed Sioux Falls 8th best in their annual tax survey. Results were based on a family of four with an annual income of $90,000. The survey calculated the family's total tax bill in each state and Washington D.C. Sioux Falls placed 8th overall with a tax bill of $3,585. Rapid City place 11th.
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South Dakota - 2nd Lowest Tax State in the Nation	05/21/2004
The US Census Bureau released a report that ranks South Dakota second lowest among states in per capita tax collections and Minnesota third highest in per capita tax collections.
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Sioux Falls Named the #1 BEST SMALL PLACE FOR BUSINESS & CAREERS	05/10/2004
In Forbes 6th Annual Survey of the Best Places for Business and Careers, Sioux Falls was named #1 overall in the Best Small City category. Sioux Falls rated high in the magazine's Cost of Doing Business Index - #4; Job Growth - #19 and Income Growth #3. Visit www.forbes.com/bestplaces for vital statistics on Sioux Falls' ranking and the 167 other small metro areas.
WAUSAU SUPPLY COMPANY TO BUILD IN CORSON DEVELOPMENT PARK	04/01/2004
Wausau Supply Company announced plans to construct a 75,000-95,000 square foot warehouse distribution facility on 20 acres in the Corson Development Park, eventually expanding to over 200,000 square feet in the future.
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Sioux Falls - One of the Top Small Cities For Doing Business in America	03/03/2004
Inc. Magazine (March / 2004) "If you're looking for cities large, medium, and small where job growth is robust and economies are strong, head to the ones on this year's Top Cities list" . . . including #5 (small city) SIOUX FALLS!
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Top Ten lists include Sioux Falls	03/08/2004
Sioux Falls and South Dakota keep consistently placing on national lists of Top Ten places to do business. National publications and surveys, using a wide variety of business criteria, have again placed Sioux Falls among the best cities in the United States for operating a business.
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Technology Business Center Accepts First Tenants	01/28/2004
The South Dakota Technology Business Center has opened for business with two client tenants. DocuTap and PrairieGold Venture Partners are both working from the center. In addition, an anchor tenant, the South Dakota Enterprise Institute, has taken up residence in the facility.
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Sioux Falls Garners National Attention	01/26/2004
Magazines from Forbes to Nature Biotech direct business attention here!
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Sports Illustrated Names Sioux Falls South Dakota's Sportstown	01/06/2004
Sports Illustrated has named Sioux Falls South Dakota's "Sportstown" in honor of their 50th Anniversary. Fifty "Sportstowns" are being honored, one from each state, in a yearlong celebration marking the 50th anniversary of the magazine.
South Dakota is Named SBSC's Most Entrepreneur-Friendly State	02/11/2004
Washington, D.C.— The Small Business Survival Committee (SBSC) released its eight annual rankings of the states according to their respective policy climates for small business and entrepreneurship in the “Small Business Survival Index 2003.” South Dakota was ranked #1!
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Sioux Falls Named the #1 BEST SMALL PLACE FOR BUSINESS & CAREERS	05/13/2003
In Forbes 5th Annual Survey of the Best Places for Business and Careers, Sioux Falls was named #1 overall in the Best Small City category. Sioux Falls bested regional neighbors #2 Iowa City, IA; #4 Lincoln, NE; #5 Fargo, ND; #6 Rochester, MN; #8 Rapid City, SD; and #10 Cedar Rapids, IA for top honors. Sioux Falls rated high in the magazine's "Cost of Doing Business Index" - #3; "Housing Affordability Index" - #9; Job Growth - #15 and Crime Rate - #18.
Groundbreaking held for Technology Business Center Accelerator	05/14/2003
Ceremonies were held May 12, 2003 for the 38,000 square foot South Dakota Technology Business Center that will assist new and early-stage technology businesses develop and grow in Sioux Falls. The Center is scheduled to open in December, 2003.
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Sioux Falls One of the BEST PLACES for WORK	05/14/2003
CNN/Money Magazine reported unemployment figures for the top and bottom 20 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) in the U.S. based on The Bureau of Labor Statistics March 2003 unemployment rates. Sioux Falls made the Top 20 list coming in at #9 with a 2.9% unemployment rate. The Top 20 metro areas ranged from 1.9% in Bryan/College Station, TX; to 3.3% in Bloomington, IN and Champaign/Urbana, IL. Metros in the Bottom 20 had unemployment rates ranging from 8.9% to 18.1%.
LUVERNE TRUCK IN BRANDON EXPANDING	04/28/2003
Luverne Truck Equipment of Brandon is expanding to meet market demand. The company will construct a new warehouse facility 3/4ths the size of a football field creating 40 new jobs over the next three years.
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South Dakota: A TAX-FRIENDLY STATE	04/11/2003
CNN/Money reported that based on research by the Tax Foundation, South Dakota tied for the 7th best tax-friendly state in 2003. The study compared the average taxpayer's total state and local tax burden in each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia
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MINNESOTA MANUFACTURING COMPANY MOVES TO SIOUX FALLS AREA	11/25/2002
WARE MANUFACTURING CHOOSES LENNOX FOR WORKFORCE, PROXIMITY TO SIOUX FALLS Ware Manufacturing, Inc., a 58-year old New Hope, Minnesota, firm specializing in the forming and shaping of metal for companies such as Toro, has announced plans to relocate to Lennox, South Dakota. The company is building a $2.4 million, 68,000 square foot facility in the community after examining a number of midwestern sites. According to Dave Robertson, Ware Manufacturing president, "the combination of Lennox and Sioux Falls came out with more pluses" than the other locations the manufacturing firm examined. Within three years, the company expects to employ 125 workers in Lennox, Robertson said. Some of Ware's 56 current employees will relocate to Lennox, but most of the new employees will be hired from the Sioux Falls area. "We're excited about Lennox and the surrounding area because we feel we can find the right work ethic to create a team atmosphere and be successful," Robertson said. Ware Manufacturing worked with the Lennox Area Development Corporation, Lincoln County Economic Development Association and the Governor's Office of Economic Development in making the decision to locate the growing company in southeastern South Dakota.
Wells Fargo Education Financial Services to Create 175 New Jobs	11/15/2002
Wells Fargo Education Financial Services announced it will create 175 jobs during the next three months to handle the increased volume of student loans. The center currently employs 500 people. The new positions will be in the customer service area of the loan department's call center, as well as in collections and other loan processing areas.
Pockets of Prosperity	10/30/2002
Business Week named Sioux Falls one of the "Dazzling Dozen" Pockets of Prosperity where the economy is still humming, in their October 14, 2002 issue. The article goes on to say that "growth remains healthy" in Sioux Falls and "the national economy is sputtering, but some metroplitan areas still have tight labor markets and growing economies". Others on the list include: Rapid City, Des Moines, Bismarck, Fargo, Madison, Iowa City, Bangor & Portland (Maine), Charlottesville (Virginia), Fayetteville (Arkansas) and Bryan/College Station (Texas).
Japanese Scientist Chooses Sioux Falls as Research Base	09/27/2002
Yoshima Kuroiwa, a bio-tech research scientist with the pharmaceutical division of Kirin Brewery Company, Ltd. of Tokyo, has chosen to pursue his research on the genetic production of human antibodies in Sioux Falls.
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State Ranked Most Entrepreneur-friendly in Nation	07/31/2002
South Dakota ranked #1 in the "Small Business Survival Index 2002", a study compiled by Washington DC-based Small Business Survival Committee. The study, which ties together 20 major government-imposed or government-related costs that affect small businesses,ranked South Dakota 1st in three tax-rate categories: personal income, capital gains and corporate. Rounding out the top five were: Nevada, Wyoming, Texas and Florida. Nebraska was 34th, North Dakota 35th, Iowa 44th and Minnesota 48th.
Sioux Falls named among FIVE-STAR METROS	05/30/2002
Sioux Falls was named among the FIVE-STAR METRO areas in a feature story entitled "Great Places to Enhance Your Quality of Life" in the May 2002 issue of Expansion Management Magazine.
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Sioux Falls - One of the Top 25 Metro Areas for Software Employment	03/20/2002
The Software & Information Industry Association named Sioux Falls among the Top 25 Metro Areas for Software Employment in 2000.
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Sioux Falls Among Top Cities in Ladies' Home Journal Comparison	03/22/2002
The April issue of Ladies Home Journal compares 200 communities ranking the "best cities for women in 2002". Sioux Falls placed #21 overall, #2 for both the highest employment rates and the economy, #9 for spiritual centers, #10 for available jobs, #12 for lifestyle and scored high in seperate ratings for low crime and child care. Sioux Falls was also named the third LEAST stressful city in the US.
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Sioux Falls Bests Twin Cities as a High-tech Location	02/01/2002
The Twin Cities area no longer has a cost advantage when it comes to deciding where to locate a high-tech company, according to John Boyd, president of The Boyd Company, a New Jersey-based corporate site-location company.
Sioux Falls is a fine place for women to live	04/01/2001
Health is one reason why the magazine rates the city 7th in its list of the 10 best cities for women. --- Ladies Home Journal-April issue (reported in the 3/16/01 Argus Leader)
Entrepreneurial Hot Spot	03/01/2001
Sioux Falls ranked #3 in their list of the top 25 small metro area "Entrepreneurial Hot Spots". --- Cognetics study as reported in Site Selection Magazine
The Simpler Life	03/01/2001
Smaller cities such as Sioux Falls, SD hold new charm for restless IT professionals who want a change from high-pressure jobs and high costs of living. --- Computerworld.com
Winds of Change	03/01/2001
Sioux Falls' growth offers lessons for Duluth. "One Upper Midwest city has mastered economic development and offers some examples of what it takes to lure and retain new jobs and investments. . . . Sioux Falls shucked its agricultural image to become an economic engine and Midwest success story." --- Duluth Budgeteer News (1st in a 3 part story)
Sioux Falls leads the way	03/01/2001
Sioux Falls leads the way - South Dakota metro brings five-star power to the Plains. Sioux Falls is one of America's economic powerhouses and received a 5-star rating in February for the 7th straight month. --- Demographics Daily