SEDC Announces New Board Members

The SEDC Board of Directors is pleased to announce the results of the recent Board Election.  Ken Meirose (Black Hills Energy) was re-elected to a 3-year term on the Board of Directors. New board members Rod Bradley (The Hotel Sturgis) and Chris Bergman (Scooptown Carwash) were also elected to serve a 3-year term.

The other 2023 SEDC voting board members are: Paul Bisson, JD Williams, Ryan Aldren (Rasmussen Mechanical Services), Tessa Gunderson (Black Hills Rally & Gold), Jesse Blakeman (Iverson Construction), Mark Schmidt (Monument Health Sturgis Hospital), Britton Blair, Rick Bush (City of Sturgis) and Gary Deering (Meade County). Ex-officio non-voting members are: Kevin Forrester (City of Sturgis), Rhea Crane (Meade County), Veronica Grosek (Sturgis Area Chamber of Commerce) and Amanda Anglin (SEDC).

Thank you to Scott Sabers (Sabers Insurance Agency) and Karen Simmons (Simmons Accurant) for your service to SEDC and your time with the Board of Directors.  

Here is a little bit about our new board members:

CHRIS BERGMAN
SCOOPTOWN CARWASH

Chris Bergman has lived in Sturgis his whole life and is a 2007 graduate of Sturgis Brown High School. After high school, Chris attended Western Dakota Tech where he received an associate degree in business management and marketing. In 2011, Chris moved to North Dakota and started a career in the oilfield. He worked for a few different companies before starting his own business in 2013, focusing on oilfield maintenance.  When the company first began, Chris traveled to Texas, Colorado, Oklahoma, and finally settling back in North Dakota until 2023 when he decided to sell the business.

In 2018, Chris married Tylea Tierney who is also a Sturgis native and 2009 graduate of Sturgis Brown High School.  Tylea graduated from the University of Jamestown with a Doctorate in Physical Therapy. Chris and Tylea have three beautiful children, Bailey Mae (3 1/2), Harlie Ann (2), and a new baby boy Chet Jeffrey (3 months). They attend church at Lifespring Wesleyan and plan to raise their children in Sturgis.

In May of 2020, Chris and Tylea opened Scooptown Car Wash in Sturgis.  In September of 2020, they purchased a Rapid City car wash and rebranded it into The Flying Pig Car Wash.  In February of 2023, they opened Clean Freak Car Wash in Spearfish. Chris also owns a small excavation company called Bergman Construction. 

Chris states, “I want to be a part of SEDC because I enjoy business and want to see continuous growth in Sturgis. I feel it is important to keep thinking ahead and planning for our kids future. I believe Sturgis has a lot of untapped potential and I hope to be a part of it.”

ROD BRADLEY 
THE HOTEL STURGIS

Rod grew up in Sturgis and graduated from Brown High School before obtaining finance and accounting degrees from Northern State University and the University of Nebraska Omaha.  After several years working in the corporate world, he moved home to help with the family businesses.  Currently, Rod and his wife Cassie run the day-to-day operations of multiple businesses in Sturgis and have taken on a few local development projects.  Rod has served terms on the Sturgis Common Council and Meade County Commission which included being an ex-officio member of the SEDC Board.  

Rod states, “SEDC is an integral part of the growth and development of Meade County, and I would like to continue being a member of the board of directors that puts so much effort into making the place we live a better place.”   

Sturgis Chamber hosts Dolan Creek Senior Living ribbon cutting ceremony

STURGIS — The Sturgis Area Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony on Thursday for the 50 unit Dolan Creek Senior Living that officially opens June 1.  Dave Gustafson, president/owner Heavy Constructors Inc., along with Teresa Henderson cut the ribbon and welcomed everyone in for a tour and lunch. 

The first floor, has 14 assisted living units and the second and third floors together have 36 independent senior living units.  There are still two assisted living units remaining and several apartments on the second and third floor that are available to rent. 

Gustafson said the project was a long time coming. 

“We are just excited that the new facility has opened, with 50 rooms, has been a long time coming for the city of Sturgis.  We made it through COVID, and through many challenges, we had a wonderful team to work with, the city and staff, Teresa (Henderson), and my superintendent, the investors are excited to be part of the Sturgis community and see this open up today,” said Gustafson.                 

Henderson, executive director of Aspen Grove and Dolan Creek Senior Living, said she is excited to provide the services to the community.

“Finally, we are so excited, we have two apartments left on the first floor for assisted living, and several openings on the independent living floors.  If anyone is looking for a place or needing services, please give us a call,” said Henderson. “I started at Aspen Grove ALF nine years ago and we were told we would be opening a facility next door in the very near future, and nine years later here we are.  On second and third of the facility, there are eight – two bedroom unit and the rest are one bedroom, and on the first floor, there are 12 one bedroom and two – two bedroom apartments.  I want to give a huge shout out to the boards of SEDC and Greater Sturgis LifeCare Foundation, Gustafson’s and Paul Bisson.  Bisson was so instrumental and the reason we are here today.”

Amanda Anglin, executive director of Sturgis Economic Development Corp (SEDC) said this facility has been in the planning stages for years.  “SEDC has been involved in the planning of this facility for 10 or 20 years, it has been a labor of love for the community for a long time and it is great to see it finished and have people ready to move in.  We have had many great partnerships along the way with Dave Gustafson and his family, the staff at EmpRes, the City of Sturgis, the Greater Sturgis LifeCare Foundation and the entire community has just came together to make this possible.  This is a great step in our housing journey to provide housing for all stages of life and hoping this will open up some single family homes within the community so we can continue to grow our population,” said Anglin. 

The residents can be as active as they want with some common activities that include:  on-site movies, seasonal holiday celebrations, current events discussions, religious and worship services, summer and weekend barbecues, outdoor events, bingo and games, and they organize plenty of special events throughout the year.

Reprinted Courtesy of Tim Potts, Black Hills Pioneer

The Sturgis Area Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony for the Dolan Creek Senior Living facility on Thursday in Sturgis.  Dave Gustafson, President/Owner Heavy Constructors Inc., along with Teresa Henderson, Executive Director of Aspen Grove and Dolan Creek Senior Living, cut the ribbon with investors and community members attending.  Pioneer photo by Tim Potts

PRESS OFFICE

Release Date: April 27, 2021             Contact: michele.arends@sba.gov; www.sba.gov/sd  

Release Number: 21-18                        Follow us on Twitter @SBA_SouthDakota

SBA Administrator Guzman Announces Application Opening for $28.6 Billion Restaurant Revitalization Fund

Fund prioritizes direct relief to women, veterans, and socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, and includes $9.5 billion in set-asides for smaller businesses

SIOUX FALLS- SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman today announced the U.S. Small Business Administration will begin registrations on Friday, April 30, 2021, at 9 a.m. EDT and open applications on Monday, May 3, 2021, at noon EDT for the Restaurant Revitalization Fund. The online application will remain open to any eligible establishment until all funds are exhausted. 

“Restaurants are the core of our neighborhoods and propel economic activity on main streets across the nation. They are among the businesses that have been hardest hit and need support to survive this pandemic. We want restaurants to know that help is here,” said Administrator Guzman. “The SBA has focused on the marketplace realities of our food and beverage businesses in designing the Restaurant Revitalization Fund to meet businesses where they are. And we are committed to equity to ensure our smaller and underserved businesses, which have suffered the most, can access this critical relief, recover, and grow more resilient.”

Established under the American Rescue Plan, and signed into law by President Biden on March 11, 2021, the Restaurant Revitalization Fund provides a total of $28.6 billion in direct relief funds to restaurants and other hard-hit food establishments that experienced economic distress and significant operational losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This program provides restaurants with funding equal to their pandemic-related revenue loss up to $10 million per business and no more than $5 million per physical location. Funds must be used for allowable expenses by March 11, 2023. 

“There are many restaurants and bars in urban and rural areas across South Dakota that may benefit from the Restaurant Revitalization Fund,” said Jaime Wood, SBA South Dakota District Director. “Eligible applicants should immediately start preparing to apply, so that when the program opens, the entire process – including application, approval, and funding – goes smoothly.”   

The SBA recommends qualifying applicants familiarize themselves with the application process by:

• Registering for an account in advance at restaurants.sba.gov starting Friday, April 30, 2021, at 9 a.m. EDT.
• Reviewing the official guidance, including program guide, frequently asked questions, and application sample.
• Preparing the required documentation.
• Working with a point-of-sale vendor or visiting restaurants.sba.gov to apply when the application portal opens. [Note: If an applicant is working with a point-of-sale vendor, they do not need to register beforehand on the site.]
• Attending a live recorded virtual training webinar.
  • Tuesday, April 27 | 2:30 p.m. EDT | Register here
  • Wednesday, April 28 | 1 p.m. EDT | Register here
  • Wednesday, April 28 | 2:30 p.m. EDT | Register here
    

During the first 21 days that the program is open, the SBA will prioritize funding applications from businesses owned and controlled by women, veterans, and socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. All eligible applicants are encouraged to submit applications as soon as the portal opens. Following the 21 days, all eligible applications will be funded on a first-come, first-served basis.

“Recognizing the great urgency to help restaurants keep their doors open – and with a clear mandate from Congress – the SBA worked at a breakneck speed and is excited to launch this program,” said Patrick Kelley, SBA Associate Administrator, Office of Capital Access. “From day one, we engaged with diverse stakeholders in the food industry community to make sure we built and delivered the program equitably, quickly, and efficiently.”

Consistent with the legislation and the intent of Congress, the SBA continues to take steps to ensure the equitable distribution of relief, particularly for the smallest businesses, by creating a $9.5 billion set-aside: $5 billion for applicants with 2019 gross receipts of not more than $500,000; $4 billion is set aside for applicants with 2019 gross receipts from $500,001 to $1,500,000; and $500 million for applicants with 2019 gross receipts not more than $50,000.

Wood added that the SBA network of Small Business Development Centers, Women Business Centers, Veterans Business Outreach Centers, and SCORE mentors provide free and confidential assistance to small businesses seeking SBA’s COVID-19 resources.

For more information, visit sba.gov/restaurants or in Spanish at sba.gov/restaurantes.

###

About the U.S. Small Business Administration

The U.S. Small Business Administration makes the American dream of business ownership a reality. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start and grow their businesses. It delivers services to people through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.