Supporters of economic development will be back to square one when the South Dakota legislature opens in January. Democrats referred the Governor’s large economic development fund to the ballot this fall, where it was defeated by voters. Dave Owen, President of the South Dakota Chamber of Commerce and Industry was one of the organizers pushing for approval of the incentives. He says supporters have to come up with an acceptable proposal…
Owen says democrats who opposed the measure said they approve of economic incentives, just not the funding source…
While local development efforts can be successful, the state has to be involved to push the bigger projects…
Owen is undertaking a pre-legislative tour of local chambers.