Happy New Year!

Looking Back

Having said good-bye to 2019, we thought we would take a look back over the past year:

1. Removal of the old and installation of our new city playground. Ice rink and skateboard ramps set up.
2. Childcare shortage issue has been resolved.
3. Some of the new events that were successfully introduced to our community: Annual Parade of Lights and International Festival.
4. Seasonal dance classes for our kids are now available in Wall.
5. Successful developer search for the lot on Glenn St.
6. One more Committee was started this year is Healthy Hometown Committee. Healthy Hometown helps community implement health and well-being initiatives such as improving access to healthy foods, making the community more walkable and bikeable, and enhancing social connections and volunteerism.
7. And most of all WEDC was happy to play a part in our local  “Beef to school” program and connect the dots. “Beef to School” was started earlier this year as a pilot program in Wall School District. And it became sustainable. As a result this program got a boost by other schools in our region and was recognized multiple times by our state government authorities.

December was month of greetings

Moments: Rural Giving Challenge.

On Giving Tuesday, December 3,2019 Executive Director of Economic Development, Liliya Stone participated in Rural Gives Challenge, organized by Dakota Resources. Dakota Resources works primarily with communities with a population of less than 5,000 to develop leadership, community and economic development capacity.

The Rural Gives campaign was open to Economic Development Organizations from across South Dakota. Throughout the day there were three different challenges held on Facebook. Liliya Stone won $ 500.00 in one of them. She had to record a short video on what initiative Wall Economic Development has planned for the year of 2020. In her video she shared the biggest goal of Economic Development Corporation for the year of 2020 was to designate Industrial park area. Liliya explained that manufacturing Industry was a target Industry for the state of South Dakota. Therefore, having sites that are zoned for industrial use is one of the key components to attract companies.

This campaign was started to create awareness, build relationships, and celebrate rural philanthropy and generosity.

Events: Parade of Lights.

 On December 5th Wall Economic Development Corporation held Second Annual Parade of lights. Parade started at the Wall School parking lot, continued through South Blvd, Glenn Street, 4th Avenue and Main street being a last street. Streets were full of spectators. There were 17 floats presented by: the City of Wall, Girls Scouts, Dakota Sky Stone , the St. Patrick’s church, Old McDonald Brigade, Cedar Butte Challengers 4H club,4th Avenue floral, Methodist Church Youth Group, Wall Meat Processing/Red Rock, Wall Building Center, First Interstate Bank, M&M Sales, Miss Pre Teen Black Hills International 2020, Golden West Telecommunications, Wall Drug Store, West River Electric, Coby Shearer and the girls. After the Parade everyone had a chance to warm-up with the bowl of chili, organized by the Creative Community Concepts. During the chili feed judging team announced the Best Float and Best Dressed Crew awards. Decision was made following the judging criteria of overall experience, construction quality, originality, costume enhance the float theme and etc. The Best Float award was presented to Wall Meat Processing/Red Rock Restaurant with “Farm to table” theme and Best Dressed Crew was presented to Wall Building Center with “Elf on a shelf” theme. Girl Scouts were the winner of the People’s Choice award. Thank you everyone for making our Second Annual Parade of Lights memorable.

Stock Show

Wall will be represented at the 2018 Black Hills Stock Show Cinch Trade Show, January 31 through February 9th. Wall Economic Development Corporation looking for volunteers to staff the booth.

New year…. New goals……

New Year inspires us to define our new goals. It motivates us to make new commitments, encourages us to live up to our promises.

The Economic Development Corporation biggest goal for the year of 2020 is to designate Industrial park area. Manufacturing is the target industry for the state of South Dakota. Having sites that are zoned for Industrial uses one of the key components to attract companies in manufacturing industry.

Wishing you a Wonderful Happy New Year!!!

Thank you to our members for believing in our organization and supporting us.

Sincerely, Liliya Stone

Executive Director of WEDC

(605)279-2658