Regional Economic Development–Mitchell area
Nov. 16, Shelly Knutson, Tiffany Hoffman, Dawna Van Overschelde, Mary Ackman from Letcher, Doug Nurnberg-Forestburg, and Harry Everhart-Artesian met with David Lambert and Bryan Hisel from the Mitchell Area Development Corporation (MADC). This was an exploratory meeting to see if there is enough interest from the Artesian, Forestburg, and Letcher communities to join a Regional Development Corporation (RDC) being formed by MADC.Avera Health Systems has donated $50,000 for the next three years as seed money for the RDC. David Lambert has been hired as director for the RDC. Parkston has signed a letter of intent with money and is the first community on board. Tripp, Plankinton, Woonsocket, Artesian, Forestburg, and Letcher are in the exploratory and informational stage.
RDC will have the support of the MADC office and resources to promote economic development in each community.
District III Planning District from Yankton and the Kelly Entrepreneurial Center at Dakota Wesleyan University were discussed as other resources. David Lambert will work exclusively for the RDC.
The RDC will ask each community for a three year commitment and a yearly assessment of $10/capita at this time. This $10 assessment could come from the town, banks, utilities, county,etc.
Bryan Hisel discussed some of the current projects of the MADC, answered questions with David Lambert about how the RDC will be administered, and explained how some of the past successes of MADC in having businesses relocate or begin in Mitchell.
We felt this was a very positive meeting and that Sanborn Central communities should pursue this opportunity.
November 24th, 2007 at 8:14 pm
After meeting with Bryan Hisel and David Lambert, I feel it would be beneficial for our communities to join the regional development association. Individually we would not be able to hire an economic development director, but this association would make it possible for our communities to receive economic development assistance. The association will encompass communities within a 35-mile radius of Mitchell and, as Harry stated, they already have received a 3-year commitment from Parkston and have gotten approval from Avera Health for a $150,000 3-year investment. What are your thoughts??
Dawna
December 8th, 2007 at 10:47 am
I truly believe that this would benefit everyone. As Bryan pointed out - a business doesn’t have to be huge. A business employing 5-20 people needs to start someplace. Economic development is just a part of a circle that makes a community grow.