Greater Sioux Falls Chamber Of Commerce

Programs: Convention & visitors bureau (cvb) - the cvb is responsible for selling sioux falls as a visitor destination in order to advance economic development throughout the community. The cvb booked 71 conventions, meetings, and events involving 59,730 people over the next several years. The cvb distributed 95,514 visitor guides via mail, direct mail, reader response, downlaods and view. The total number of visitors to sioux falls estimated by the cvb is 1,652,710. The cvb prints publications such as sioux falls visitor guide (225,000 copies); sioux falls visitor map (150,000 copies); and falls park brochure (30,000 copies).

member services - member services consists of committees such as the ambassador committee (provides a stable source of income via dues by securing new chamber memberships); diplomat committee (maintains membership strength in the sioux falls area chamber of commerce); military and veterans affairs committee (improves the quality of life for all active, guard, reserve, retired and disabled military personnel and their families). The diplomat committee sponsors the following events: 12 membership mixers (average attendance of 250 professionals); good morning sioux falls (inform members of important issues affecting our community and state- 2 events with average attendance of 233); operation thank you (300 individuals hand deliver community guides and personally thank business members); two new member mixers to welcome and orientate new members on chamber programs and events (attended by 60 people each); and three chamberhood events to bring business owners and their employees together to learn about development in their area of the city and the chamber (attended by 80 people each). Morning mingle provides a networking opportunity for members (35 attendees).

agri-business - the agri-business division works to advance and promote the sioux empire as an agricultural center. This division holds events such as the sioux empire farm show (attracts 30,000 people annually); ag appreciation day (provides free gate admission and lunch for 4,000 ag producers); livestock shows; and regularly scheduled meetings.

public affairs & communications - public affairs & communications consists of the following committees: education & workforce development committee (promotes the expansion and quality of workforce by enhancing the contributions of education providers and education/business partnerships in the sioux falls area); issues management council (is proactive in identifying issues that impact the chamber membership-business community and recommending policy positions that help preserve and enhance our business climate in the sioux falls area and south dakota); military task force (informs sioux falls community of ongoing training and missions of area military installations); community appeals committee (provides for coordinated planning for fund raising for community wide capital projects); and sports and recreation committee (promotes quality sports and recreation opportunities in our community through participation and volunteerism). The public affairs and communications department also holds the following events: sioux falls day at the legislature (100+ chamber members visit the state capitol), candidate forums (100+ people), inside washington series (luncheon with south dakota's congressional delegation with 125-250 chamber members in attendance) and legislative coffees (public forums for issues discussions with 150-200 people in attendance). Printed and electronic communication by this group includes chamber news (monthly printed magazine), the chamber advocate (weekly email communicating local/state/federal government and school district activities); quickly (weekly email communicating chamber activities), membership app, community guide, and annual report. The public affairs and communication department also manages several websites and social media outlets to disseminate information related to chamber activities, local events, community history, business development and visitor information. Leadership development - this classification includes the groups described below. Leadership sioux falls is a community leadership development program designed to meet the need for active participation of informed and dedicated community leaders. Thirty individuals are selected each year and are informed, challenged and motivated by being provided information on community resources, identification of community concerns, interaction with community leaders, and a sense of community trusteeship. The community appeals committee qualifies and provides orderly scheduling of capital fund drives and has a responsibility to discourage unnecessary or overlapping drives, to assess funds available in the sioux falls community, and to provide input on realistic capital campaign goals. The business leadership council promotes and enhances business and corporate responsibility in the sioux falls area. The young professionals network (ypn) (involving 975 participants) is a leadership program designed to promote and develop informed and involved young professionals in the sioux falls area. The ypn creates business opportunities, supports community involvement, and promotes an investment in the future of the sioux falls area. Ypn activities are designed to provide opportunities for young professionals to develop the talents and skills needed to succeed in their chosen career and to engage and introduce young professionals to the region's resources and possibilities. Small business - small business council sponsors the following programs: business sense workshops (17 one-hour workshops on a variety of topics designed to provide assistance and support responsive to the needs of business owners and their employees, average attendance-44).