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Mitchell Chamber and Dakota Heartland report growth in membership, housing projects and industrial development
Summary
The Mitchell Area Chamber, Convention & Visitors Bureau and Dakota Heartland reported increased membership, tourism marketing activity, housing developments, business recruitment and a major rail financing transfer to a new soybean plant.
Representatives from the Mitchell Area Chamber of Commerce, Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB), Mitchell Area Development Corporation (MADC) and Dakota Heartland provided the council a combined quarterly update covering membership, tourism, workforce and development activity.
The Chamber reported 11 new members this quarter, eight ribbon cuttings, multiple networking events and leadership programming. The CVB said peak-season tourism marketing is underway using Google and social channels and cooperative advertising with Bridal South Dakota; staff reported 2025 hotel occupancy and entertainment tax collections are up compared with 2024. The Chamber also reported a Mitchell Summer Internship Program that offered $250 scholarships and placed 13 students from 17 applicants.
On housing and development, the MADC said a Ridgeview/Foster project on donated land aims to place up to 60 new homes long term; Southlake Estates saw the first two model homes placed; the housing rehab program has delivered nearly $800,000 in grant assistance to help low-income qualified residents remain in their homes. The MADC reported it recently closed on just under 20 acres for an industrial park to position Mitchell for business growth.
Dakota Heartland highlighted business park development in Corsica (24 acres) and Parkston (40 acres), new industrial activity such as Basin Woodworking and a large agri-services investment in Parkston. The update also noted a $12,600,000 transfer from the Davidson Regional Rail Authority to High Plains Processing, a low-interest loan supporting a new soybean plant and construction of a seven-mile rail loop.
The presenters did not request council action; they asked the council and public to note progress and upcoming events and thanked city staff for event and infrastructure support.
