The Huron City Commission on Jan. 5 heard a detailed update from the Downtown Huron Committee about plans to boost activity in the city’s core.

Heather Burns, a member of the Huron Community Foundation and co-chair of the Downtown Huron Committee, told the commission the committee has invited about 120 downtown businesses to two working workshops this week and is offering a complimentary custom digital marketing report to businesses that RSVPed by Dec. 22. "We continue to focus on downtown based on feedback from the community that downtown should be a priority," Burns said.

The committee said the first workshop is an evening session (6–8 p.m.) and the second is a morning session (9–11 a.m.) to accommodate different business schedules. Anne Edelman, who participates with the committee and the Deltona Improvements Association, said the sessions are designed as working meetings for business owners to identify collaborative opportunities and customer-service improvements. "This is a working session for businesses themselves," Edelman said.

Committee leaders outlined two signature-event goals for 2026: a refreshed version of the "Dusting off Dakota" event and a parade followed by a stationary, lit-floats winter celebration to encourage downtown strolling and music. The committee also plans to sell another round of projecting signage, install brass commemorative plaques honoring downtown businesses as funds allow, and work with library archivists to select plaque honorees. Burns said the group will also pursue artwork for existing pedestals and collaborate with the South Dakota Arts Council in research and selection.

The committee said fundraising will begin in January to support the events and projects; the scale of the year's programming will depend on funds raised. The committee also raised a maintenance issue: removing concrete residue on downtown window glass, which will require coordination with city staff.

Commission members thanked the volunteers and asked the committee to provide materials the city could post online. The committee confirmed the workshops will be held upstairs at the old Huron Welding Building (referred to in the meeting as "the warehouse").

The commission took no formal action on the committee’s update but moved on to the consent agenda after the presentation.