Greater Huron submits site information for state men’s prison RFI; commission hears timeline and concerns

Greater Huron Development informed the Huron City Commission on May 19 that it submitted a response to the South Dakota Department of Corrections’ request for information (RFI) for potential sites for a new men’s prison being considered near Sioux Falls.

Ted Hader of Greater Heron Development Corporation outlined the RFI submission and said the Vantage Business Park was among the sites Greater Huron offered. Hader described the project as a long shot but noted that, if selected, the facility could mean an $800 million investment and roughly 400 permanent state jobs and several years of construction activity.

Commissioners and members of the public asked questions about site suitability, workforce housing and the decision timeline. Hader said the RFI requested information on utilities, staffing plans, security and economic impact; he asked the commission to provide public input to be included with the city’s RFI response. Hader said the deadline to submit feedback to the governor’s office was Friday, May 30.

A questioner asked whether the state work group or another body would make the final siting decision; Hader said he did not know the final decision‑maker and that a work group would make recommendations to the Department of Corrections. Commissioners noted comments that the task force had suggested a facility be sited within about 20 miles of Sioux Falls to address staffing concerns, though Hader said Huron is more than 20 miles from Sioux Falls and that proximity could make Huron a long shot.

City staff said they had received a full set of plans for review and that the building inspector had begun an initial review. Rob Reager (city engineering) told the commission he reviewed the water and sewer quantities and was confident the system could handle the volumes mentioned in the RFI; during discussion Reager and others referenced roughly 250,000 to 300,000 gallons per day as the scale of water/wastewater capacity being considered.

Commissioners and business‑development representatives discussed housing supply in Huron, noting limited apartment vacancies and about two dozen single‑family homes listed for sale. Hader and staff discussed the possibility of follow‑on housing studies and development incentives but said the RFI did not include explicit state workforce‑housing assistance or grant language.

Hader offered contact information and invited public comments to be submitted before the RFI deadline. No formal city action was taken that night to endorse or oppose the RFI response; staff said any future steps (such as short‑listing or proposals) would require coordinated planning with engineers, planning staff and the commission.