Yankton News and Info

Yankton Residents Can Influence Policy Through Polls

Tuesday, July 30, 2019

Civic participation is integral to maintaining an effective democracy that truly represents the people. But according to a recent poll, only 12 percent of Americans reported having attended a meeting in their community in the previous year. Finding easy ways for busy citizens to participate in matters that affect them is a priority for the City of Yankton and Yankton Area Progressive Growth (YAPG). That’s why we’ve partnered to test out an online platform to help gauge public opinion. Polco is an independent website and mobile app that integrates with social media. The civic participation technology platform educates citizens about current initiative...

New Apprenticeship Opportunity in Yankton

Wednesday, June 05, 2019

There was a time when students could work their way through college without having to take on much debt. But the price of a four-year degree doubled between 1989 and 2016, and wage gains in that same period were sluggish. For students seeking a path to a good career that doesn’t include being saddled with debt, apprenticeships offer an attractive alternative. Apprenticeships are also an effective way for companies to recruit and retain a workforce, which is imperative as the labor market continues to tighten. A renewed emphasis on apprenticeships is helping businesses meet their increasing demand for skilled workers as technolog...

Beer Industry Contributes $925 Million Annually to South Dakota's Economy

Friday, May 24, 2019

New Study Shows 7,227 Jobs in South Dakota Linked to Strong Beer Industry ALEXANDRIA, Va. /PRNewswire/ -- Just ahead of Memorial Day, which marks one of the top beer selling holidays of the year and the start of the summer beer selling season, a new economic impact study shows America's beer industry contributes $925 million annually to South Dakota's economy and supports 7,227 jobs in the state. Jointly commissioned by the National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) and the Beer Institute, the study shows that the 7,227 jobs impacted by the beer industry in South Dakota account for $260 million each year in wages and benefits. The industry also generates $129 million annually in business, personal and consumption taxes. The beer industr...

Avera Ranked first in nation for long-term care resident experience

Thursday, May 23, 2019

Avera has ranked first out of the top 20 organizations that earned a 2019 Customer Approved Award from NRC Health, a Lincoln, Nebraska based healthcare intelligence firm. According to a news release, the award recognizes senior-care organizations across the country for creating an outstanding care experience for their customers. Only 20 independent living, assisted living, or skilled nursing organizations earned this distinction. Winners were selected according to the results from NRC Health’s 2018 resident and family experience survey. To qualify, organizations must have a high percentage of respondents willing to recommend their locations to friends and family. This measure is know...

State of the Community Video

Monday, May 20, 2019

Watch Nancy Wenande, our CEO, present at the Yankton Area Chamber of Commerce's State of the Community. Nancy's presentation begins around 30:15!

New commissioner lays out changes in S.D. economic-development plan

Wednesday, May 08, 2019

PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) -- The new head of state government's efforts to boost jobs says South Dakota missed on millions of dollars in agricultural projects in 2018. That's because some county government officials didn't support various proposals, Commissioner Steve Westra of Sioux Falls told the state Economic Development Finance Authority. To help counter that, Westra said, the Governor's Office of Economic Development plans to directly reward counties that approve state-backed projects. Read full article.

Tim Jurgens to Speak at YAPG Quarterly Meeting

Monday, May 06, 2019

Yankton Area Progressive Growth is pleased to announce that Tim Jurgens, Executive Director of Lutheran Social Services for New Americans, will be the speaker at the YAPG Quarterly Meeting to be held May 14th. Mr. Jurgens will discuss how a community should plan to successfully welcome a growing and diverse population. All YAPG members and investors are invited to attend the Quarterly Meeting. For more information on the event or to become a YAPG member or investor, contact the YAPG office by calling (605) 665-9011 or emailing christine@yanktonsd.com.

Travel And Tourism Benefit Yankton

Monday, May 06, 2019

May 5-11 is National Travel and Tourism Week. Each year, during the first week in May communities nationwide unite around a common theme to showcase travel’s contributions to the economy and American jobs. This year, the travel industry is coming together to celebrate why “Travel Matters” to American jobs, economic growth and personal well-being. Let’s take a closer look at why travel matters right here in Yankton. Read full article.

Recognizing Economic Developers in May

Wednesday, May 01, 2019

May 6-11 is International Economic Development Week (EDW). It’s an opportune time to reflect on the importance of local economic development efforts to building a vibrant and sustainable community. The International Economic Development Council created EDW in 2016 to help raise awareness for the profession. Economic development organizations are often misunderstood because their activities happen behind the scenes, outside of the public eye. The Yankton Area Progressive Growth (YAPG) is an economic development organization that provides a comprehensive range of critical services geared towards building the local economy through area job development, private investment and wealth generation. It works in partnership wit...

Noem laid out several priorities in her first days as governor. Here’s where they stand.

Thursday, April 18, 2019

Gov. Kristi Noem said at the beginning of her tenure that she wants to be the governor for the next generation. She called for more resources to battle the state's meth epidemic, opening up access to broadband internet in rural areas of the state, and boosting outdoor activities and civics education during her first State of the State Address in her first week as governor in January. The Legislature's final 2020 budget aligned with the priorities she outlined at the beginning of session, Noem said after the Legislature wrapped up in March. The budget will "invest in some important priorities for the next generation,"...

How South Dakota Hopes to Give Businesses Better Access to Resources

Tuesday, April 16, 2019

Kristi Noem has given the team at the Governor’s Office for Economic Development a directive – make South Dakota an easier place for businesses to do business. Among the first places she asked them to start – the state’s workforce development website. Check out the changes for yourself here at sdreadytowork.com. And learn more about what officials hope to provide you access to, in the interview with Joe Fiala, below. Read original story.

Entrepreneurs are key to reigniting the Heartland’s economy

Thursday, April 11, 2019

Most of the fastest growing metropolitan areas are located on the coasts. What do they have in common? Almost always, the most successful cities excel at entrepreneurship. As a group, such metro areas have found ways to foster job creation for their residents by amassing entrepreneurs and the early-stage financing that supports the process of company formation and scale-up. Which is why the recent State of the Heartland Factbook, published by Brookings and the Walton Family Foundation, looks closely at Heartland states’ and metro areas’ current shares of employment at young firms (five years old or less) as a core indicator of economic vitality...

South Dakota: A state with huge manufacturing potential

Tuesday, April 09, 2019

When people visualize the next hot-spot for a high-tech manufacturing boom, a small rural state such as South Dakota might not be what be comes to mind. But it should. In South Dakota, a symbiosis of leaders in education, business and state and local governments is harmonising to educate the next generation of savvy high-tech leaders and connect this eager talent pool to a new breed of companies that are changing the face of technological and manufacturing industries. The South Dakota School of Mines & Technology (SD Mines) provides a talented group of hard-working scientists and engineers. Founded in Rapid City, S.D., in 1885...

A New Aquatic Facility

Wednesday, March 20, 2019

YANKTON, S.D. - Summer may be long gone, but a new aquatic facility is in the future for Yankton. As we told you back in December, a majority of Yankton voters said yes to an opt out election to help pay for the nearly $15 million center. While warmer days may be a few months away, soon, the Fantle Memorial Pool will be back open to the public for one final summer. Read full article.

GROW SD Awarded Grant to Address Veterans, Homelessness

Monday, March 18, 2019

GROW South Dakota will be able to expand its pilot program to support low-income veterans and veterans at risk of homelessness in South Dakota with various housing-related services thanks to a recent grant. The Bring Them HOMES Veterans Initiative of the National Equity Fund supported the creation of the program with a 2017 grant and added additional funds in early 2019. The grant was funded by the Citi Community Development. Read full article.

Firm OK’d For Apprenticeship Program

Tuesday, June 04, 2019

A Yankton manufacturer is adding a new tool to an already robust toolbox for helping students discover a new career. This spring, Applied Engineering was approved by the state to begin offering an apprenticeship program. Applied Engineering General Manager Justin Schramm told the Press & Dakotan that the program adds to the opportunities already offered by Applied Engineering through Lake Area Tech and Build Dakota scholarships. Read the complete article here!

State Of The Community

Monday, May 20, 2019

Workforce and social media presence are ongoing issues, but downtown Yankton is still seeing a continued rebirth. These were among the topics discussed Thursday during the Yankton Area Chamber of Commerce’s State of the Community address. Yankton Area Progressive Growth (YAPG) CEO Nancy Wenande said one of the biggest challenges facing the city remains workforce. "It really comes to us getting more people to come to Yankton," she said. "That is the only way we’re going to (fill vacant jobs)." Read the complete article here!

LSS Director Addresses Foreign Labor

Wednesday, May 15, 2019

With many cities in the state facing mounting workforce shortage issues, communities are stepping up exploration of bringing in labor from beyond the state — and the country’s — borders. On Tuesday, Lutheran Social Services (LSS) executive director Tim Jurgens addressed the Yankton Area Progressive Growth (YAPG) quarterly meeting at the Avera Professional Pavilion about how that process could look. LSS helps with refugee resettlement within the state of South Dakota. Read the complete article here!

Sales and Use Tax Rebate Programs Available for Livestock Development

Tuesday, May 14, 2019

In an effort to encourage more livestock development, the sale and use tax rebate programs (South Dakota Jobs Grant and Reinvestment Payment Program) are now available for that purpose. Last year, South Dakota counties turned down millions of dollars in capital investment related to livestock development. With the increased focus on agriculture at the Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) with the Ag Development division relocating into the agency, the GOED saw an opportunity to address this very important issue. The GOED recognized that there was an opportunity to utilize two existing programs within the agency that have existed for severa...

A Week To Laud Development

Monday, May 06, 2019

Along with April showers turning into May flowers I hope you are celebrating National Economic Development Week! Yes, get out your party hats and whoop it up with all your friends and family to celebrate our diverse and growing economy in Yankton. You hear me constantly talking about collaboration and partnerships and how together we can create greater momentum. Within the realm of economic development, it isn’t one organization (such as City, County, MMC, YSD, YAPG) working independently to strengthen the economy. We all may have separate strategic plans and mission statements, but the overall vision for the community is wha...

Fighting For Cybersecurity

Friday, May 03, 2019

Like. Double-tap. Send. Retweet. It’s second-nature for us. Every day, a typical American will spend more than 11 hours interacting with media. On average, we check our phones every 12 minutes — immersing ourselves in screens more than 80 times per day. You hardly need me to point out the ever-increasing dependency on connected technologies in our everyday lives. But while the connectedness of our networks and devices bolsters convenience in an astounding way, that convenience brings heightened vulnerability. Read Gov. Noem's complete article here!

'House Of Peace'

Wednesday, May 01, 2019

‘House of peace.’ That’s how Fr. Valerian Odermann equated Tuesday afternoon’s groundbreaking and naming ceremony for a new athletic fieldhouse at Mount Marty College and the institution’s Benedictine values. Odermann, the college’s chaplain, provided the blessing for the ceremony to kick-start the $15 million, 100,000-square-foot facility that will be named the Ruth Donohoe First Dakota Fieldhouse. Dirt work recently began on the complex that is set to be completed next summer. Read the complete article here!

Nancy Recommends: Opportunity Zone Podcast

Wednesday, May 01, 2019

If you're looking for a resource to learn more about Opportunity Zones, then YAPG CEO Nancy Wenande recommends checking out The Opportunity Zones Database's weekly podcast on opportunity zones. Past episodes are available on their website or find their podcasts on Apple or Spotify. Explore the podcast here!

South Dakota is one of the cheapest states to live in according to a new study

Friday, April 26, 2019

A new study from HireAHelper.com shows that South Dakota ranks #3 for lowest dollar-for-dollar tax burden or $2,112 annually and #5 for effective tax rate or 5.18%. Read the complete story here!

Hands On: RTEC Holds First Manufacturing Career Day

Thursday, April 25, 2019

Area high school kids were given a unique opportunity to learn about manufacturing careers in Yankton and highlight some of their skills this week. On Wednesday, the Regional Technical Education Center (RTEC) held its first Manufacturing Career Day. RTEC President Josh Svatos told the Press & Dakotan 68 area high school students participated in the event. Read the complete article here!

PROGRESS: New Oat Plant Completed in Yankton

Thursday, April 25, 2019

From an elevator to an oat processing plant, Yaggies Inc. has seen a lot of change since the late 1960s. After being purchased by Frank Yaggie, the do-it-all value-added ag facility housed both a feed mill and an oat processing plant under one roof. As of this year, the oats have finally moved out. Yaggies recently finished construction of a $3.5 million oat processing plant at the edge of town that would allow them to double their processing capacity while updating their equipment. Read the complete article here!

YAPG Rolls Out New Community Engagement Tool

Monday, April 01, 2019

Yankton Area Progressive Growth (YAPG) is excited to announce the launch of Polco, an innovative engagement platform where community members can directly provide input to the local decision-making process. By using Polco, YAPG is making public participation easier for residents by meeting them where they are. Questions will be posted every couple of weeks to community members on Polco’s app and website, where locals can answer and comment directly on the questions. YAPG is asking residents for their input on our community’s quality of life. We want to learn more about what community members think about current housing and career developmen...

What's An Opportunity Zone?

Friday, September 28, 2018

The South Dakota Governor's Office of Economic Development team traveled to Yankton on September 21st. Here's their presentation about what opportunity zones are, what they can do for our state, and how to leverage them as a development tool. (Disclaimer: This information is made available for educational purposes, not to provide specific business advice.) Watch the full presentation below - please contact the YAPG office for copies of the PowerPoint.