It will be the first of its kind in South Dakota. It's such a good deal on the day of reveal, the first client is already willing to take part.

Energy filled a packed Starlite Room at the Downtown Holiday Inn City Centre for the announcement involving the Sioux Falls Development Foundation Governor’s Office of Economic Development, the City of Sioux Falls and Forward Sioux Falls teaming together to create Foundation Park. The megasite will reside in northwest Sioux Falls at the intersection of Interstates 90 and 29.

Foundation Park will comprise of approximately 800 acres of land that will be easily accessible by the adjacent highways, the Sioux Falls Regional Airport and BNSF railroad. With the available infrastructure in close proximity, a multitude of options await the site. The first announced entry into Foundation Park is Sioux Falls-based Logistics Buddy which wants to build an office, warehouse and distribution center.

“Worldclass companies require global connectivity,” said Slater Barr, president of the Sioux Falls Development Foundation. “With high capacity utility and communication infrastructure in place and the transportation options this site offers, we can appeal to some of the largest projects in the country.”

“The magnitude of the project, in acquiring this much land and developing it for our state’s largest potential new businesses, required the cooperation of all of our active economic development partners,” Barr said. “From the beginning of the concept, the Governor and City officials were engaged in the process and enthusiastic supporters of this site.”

The genesis of Foundation Park began three years ago, when the Development Foundation was working to recruit a very large international manufacturing firm that required a site of several hundred acres with rail service. SFDF optioned acreage and Sioux Falls was a prime contender for the company, until the project went on indefinite hold. The Governor’s Office of Economic Development and SFDF recognized the potential of the location for future large projects, and, with the addition of other contiguous land, the state’s first megasite was born.

Foundation Park allows for maximum economic advantage by spreading infrastructure development costs over a large footprint. Phase I of the development is zoned for larger manufacturers, many requiring rail service, while Phase II is reserved for a single mega-project.

Mayor Mike Huether envisions a great reward for the hard work and praised the determination among several entities to bring the park to fruition. “This will truly create an economic development and job creation juggernaut for generations to come. It didn’t come easy, but the effort was worth it. It’s a case study for all of America on how government can get stuff done.”

South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard highlighted the state’s involvement which included millions of dollars of support. “Location, opportunity and partnerships are what have made this reality. This has led the state to commit $11.5 million into making Foundation Park a reality.” Most of the funding, specifically $8.5 million will come in the form of a REDI loan which is specifically to economic development. The other $3 million is courtesy of a grant from the state.

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