SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — Jeffery Tanner, Executive Director of the Canton Economic Development Corporation (CEDC), was the winner of the Sioux Metro Growth Alliance (SMGA) Regional Economic Development Champion award.
SMGA said in its release that the award “goes to an individual living in or working in the region that has shown active support for community development through recent or cumulative past service to economic development and community enhancement.”
“It’s one of those awards where it’s not really just your award,” said Tanner, speaking Friday with KELOLAND News. “That award is really a team award.”
Tanner said the people of Canton are integral to the success of the city, and that winning left him feeling inspired and energized.
One of the key accomplishments that was mentioned in the SMGA release was the development of Canton’s industrial park.
“Our industrial park was stagnant,” said Canton mayor Sandi Lundstrom in the release from SMGA. “Since Jeff has been here we’ve added three new businesses and we are almost out of land already, so we’re looking into expanding our industrial park now.”
Tanner said these businesses are an industrial equipment provider, a multinational agricultural science company, and a row of contractor shops.
Together, these businesses have brought around 40 jobs to the community. While that might not seem like a lot, to a community of around 3,000, those jobs go a long way.
Tanner also noted that these are not low-wage jobs. “These are $20/hour plus jobs that I’m referencing to you here,” he said. “And there are probably in the neighborhood of 10 jobs that will be in the six-figure range.”
On area where Canton stands out as unique, in Tanner’s estimation, is the gap between its employment and its population.
“For a small community, we have about 3100 people, but we have over 4,000 jobs, which is really unusual for a community,” said Tanner.
While there is a gap between the population and the workforce, Tanner says the city is in the early stages of putting up a new housing development on the east side of town.
This development, said Tanner, is a 64 acre development that will bring over 80 single family homes to the city, as well as twin homes, row homes and townhomes.
Momentum was a word that Tanner ended on. “I was the one asking for meeting with the developers and such, you know, three-four years ago,” he said. “Now we’re at a place where developers will call me and ask for a meeting, and that’s just a really neat place to be.”
