April 13, 2021

This paid piece is sponsored by the Sioux Metro Growth Alliance.

Gather and “grow smarter” with other area economic development professionals at the inaugural Grow Smarter Conference put on by the Sioux Metro Growth Alliance.

Registration is limited for the event that begins with a banquet at 5:30 p.m. April 28 and continues through 1:30 p.m. April 29 in downtown Sioux Falls.

We learned more about the conference from Jesse Fonkert, executive director of the Sioux Metro Growth Alliance.

This is the first time you’ve held this conference, so let’s start with why. What are you hoping to deliver for attendees? Why do this?

First it started as a joke during a Dakota Resources virtual coffee break session with other economic development professionals statewide. We’re all desperate for some “in-person” networking, and we joked that we’ll host everyone for happy hour and create a conference as an excuse to get together. Well, some jokes actually become reality!

The Sioux Metro Growth Alliance is passionate about equipping its investors with the tools to create successful economic development strategy. We felt that with the Governor’s Office of Economic Development conference being held in Sioux Falls this year, it would be a good time to capture other economic development professionals from across the state and connect them with each other as well.

What did you consider in putting together the program and choosing your speakers?

Economic development is simple at its face but complex the further deep you go. The goal of the Grow Smarter Conference is to help shed light on some of that complexity so that folks walk away with a few more tools. This conference is also designed to test a new initiative we are considering to launch this fall: an economic development leadership program.

Some of the major challenges impacting economic development professionals include public relations, wastewater management, leadership development and public financing. Our conference touches on each of those issues, and we’re excited to host Mayor Paul TenHaken for a discussion on urban versus rural economic development challenges.

Who is a good fit for attending the conference?

Anyone living in the Sioux Metro looking to learn more about economic development. Furthermore, anyone statewide that serves as an economic development professional or looking to become involved as a board member for an economic development organization.

What do you hope attendees are able to take back to their communities after attending?

We hope attendees walk away with at least two things:

The motivation, courage and tools to lead their organizations in their own communities.

Better connections with their economic development colleagues from the Sioux Metro and across the state.

The conference comes at an interesting time for these communities as many are experiencing record or near-record growth. What are you hearing about their needs in 2021?

For the Sioux Metro communities, the biggest need we’ve identified is in housing. Of the 13 municipalities we serve, all of them face housing-supply shortages with no decrease in demand in sight. Demand ranges from workforce-housing apartments to $1 million homes.

Will the conference also include time for them to network? What value do you see in that?

Huge value in networking! We’re designing the conference around a networking event on Wednesday night at Chef Dominique’s. We hope that attendees make connections at our banquet and even adventure downtown to a brewery or cocktail bar to create meaningful connections through conversation and shared experiences!

Is registration limited? Is there a virtual option? How has the response been so far?

Registration is limited to 50 attendees, but we’ve already been asked to expand it to 75 since we hit capacity at the beginning of April. The Sioux Metro Growth Alliance is not offering a virtual option as we feel this information is best gained in person, face to face.

We’re also extremely thankful for the help of our sponsors in making this event possible!

• East River Electric
• Sioux Valley Energy
• Southeastern Electric
• Rural Electric Economic Development (REED) Fund
• Xcel Energy
• MidAmerican Energy
• NorthWestern Energy
• Dakota Resources

Registration costs $53. If you are a municipal investor of the Sioux Metro Growth Alliance, reach out to Jesse Fonkert at [email protected] for special registration information. Click here to register and learn more.