The Vermillion Area Chamber & Development Company is pleased to announce that historic downtown Vermillion will once again be the festive backdrop for this season's annual Stand-Still Parade of Lights on Thursday, November 29th, 6-6:45 pm. A great community event for all ages, visitors can expect creative parade entries, warm drinks and treats, great giveaways, and much more.
Individuals and community groups are encouraged to enter this year's Parade of Lights event. Entries will be due by Tuesday, November 20th, and can be submitted online here, by phone at 605.624.5571, or via email to Chamber Director Katherine Heine at Katherine@VermillionChamber.com.

The Vermillion Area Chamber and Development Company is slated to begin occupying their permanent home at McVicker Plaza, 2 E. Main Street, in the coming weeks. The historic building, which dates to 1884, has undergone a monumental renovation to preserve its structural integrity, resurrect its original façade, and prepare it to serve a wide range of purposes. The renovation paves the way for the VCDC to launch the first collaborative co-working space in Vermillion, as well as to expand their base of operations for meeting the goals and priorities of serving the region. A noticeable and practical addition to the VCDC operations will be a welcoming Visitors Center at the entrance of the building. Additionally, the street-level space will create a new, long-term home for Charlie's, USD's retail store.

"The re-imagining of the McVicker Plaza at 2 E. Main Street will catapult Vermillion's entrepreneurial eco-system into a new era," says Nate Welch, President & CEO. "The Vermillion community and the University community continue to fortify many layers of our relationship, and our project here is a great example of that at so many levels. As we continue to strive to improve the quality of life in Vermillion, our efforts are greatly enhanced by this strategic and collaborative investment in our dynamic downtown."

The public is invited to save the date for the McVicker Plaza's Grand Opening & Ribbon-Cutting on Friday, September 21st. Plans are underway for concurrent public workshops in economic development, pilot programs for the collaborative co-working space, and more. Further details on these events will be released in the coming weeks via the media and at www.LiveVermillion.com. VCDC staff continue to be reachable via email at vcdc@vermillionchamber.com and via phone at 624-5571. Any mail for VCDC staff can now be directed to 2 E. Main Street, Vermillion, SD 57069.

In addition to the awarding of those honors, VCDC President & CEO Nate Welch also revealed during his 'State of the VCDC' speech that Vermillion has been selected to host the Special Olympics South Dakota Summer Games for 2019 and 2020. The VCDC Sports Authority has been working hard in recent months to craft the winning event bid, and the community is sure to benefit greatly from the presence of these games. "It's no coincidence that the 2019 games will mark the 51st year of Special Olympics SD, and that SOSD started right here in Vermillion in an office on the campus of USD," shares Welch. "Our community is incredibly honored to have the start of the second half of a century of Special Olympics South Dakota back where it started. Like the track competition, Special Olympics would be making the turn toward another 50-year lap!"

After a thoughtful search, Katherine Heine will join the VCDC staff on August 1st as the new Chamber of Commerce Director. Heine, a Wakonda, South Dakota native, has over seven years of experience in administration and customer service. After graduating from Irene-Wakonda High School in 2008, Heine earned her bachelor's degree from Morningside College in 2012. She currently serves as the University of South Dakota's Media & Journalism Department senior secretary, where she manages department and student media affairs. An active volunteer in the community, Heine first became involved with the VCDC as a member of the special events committee.

VCDC President and CEO, Nate Welch, is thrilled to have Heine on board to drive the Chamber of Commerce's efforts. "Our team is small at the VCDC, but the abilities of each of our staff, along with our members, is what enables Vermillion to be able to accomplish so much!"

Heine says, "It was easy to see that the VCDC was a force for Vermillion and has great plans for this city's success. I was drawn to this team because there is such a love for Vermillion and a real drive for growth and improvement." She adds, "Vermillion is special to me because it holds so many childhood memories; visiting family, competing in 4-H and horse shows or taking part in National Youth Sports Program. It's important for me to be a part of this community and give back all that it has given to me. I couldn't imagine living anywhere else and I'm so happy to now be a part of this great team at the VCDC."

Additionally, the VCDC will welcome entrepreneur and author Tony Kellar as the new Economic Development Manager. Kellar brings fresh insight to the team, having spent a number of years developing and running restaurants, food trucks, and catering businesses and travelling extensively. Kellar grew up in Yankton and attended the University of South Dakota while working as a kayak guide on the Missouri River. He published a cookbook in 2004, which led to a stint as a wilderness chef and kayak guide in Glacier Bay, Alaska. He recently returned to the Missouri River Valley with his wife and has continued his work as a consulting chef for startup businesses.

"The opportunity to work as part of the VCDC team is very exciting. I am really looking forward to meeting more business owners and entrepreneurs in the area," says Kellar. "Vermillion is such a fantastic community; it's great to be able to be part of its continued growth and development."

"Tony is prepared to inject an enterprising spirit to the Economic Development role, to the management of the new co-working space at 2 E Main Street, and to cultivating and recruiting exciting new businesses for our community," shares Welch. "The addition of Katherine and Tony to our current team, coupled with the amazing asset of the new, centrally-located building, means a dynamic start to the next generation of the VCDC."

The Vermillion Area Chamber and Development Company is slated to begin occupying their permanent home at 2 E Main Street by early August. The staff will be gearing up for a public Grand Opening & Ribbon-Cutting slated for Friday, September 21st. Further details will be released in the coming weeks.

Vermillion will welcome another exciting new business to town in 2018. Beginning May 1, 2018, the office that currently houses the Vermillion Area Chamber of Commerce and Development Company (VCDC) will have a new tenant for years to come. 116 Market Street will now be home to Heartland Psychological Services. Having operated their current business in Yankton for a number of years, this move represents an expansion of their services. "Heartland provides psychological services to individuals, families, couples, and groups that are struggling with mental health issues," shares Danelle Pennock, Director. "Heartland has a strong positive reputation for helping others by meeting our mission to help people in distress relieve their suffering, restore their hope, and reach their potential in an environment of encouragement, compassion, and respect with highly qualified staff committed to effective services. We're looking forward to serving the Vermillion community."
Currently located at 904 W. 23rd St., Suite 101 in Yankton, Heartland Psychological Services provides counseling and psychological services with encouragement, compassion, and respect with a highly qualified staff. They also provide psychiatric services and evaluations. Services include counseling for: Individual, Family, Group, and Couples as well as psychiatric services and evaluations for ADHD, OCD, Depression, Anxiety, Anger management, Stress management, Parenting issues, Sexuality issues, and Grief or loss.
Meanwhile, the VCDC has announced they will conduct mobile operations during summer 2018, while the remodel of their new building at 2 E. Main Street is being completed and they make room for the incoming business in the Market Street Building. Upon completion, 2 E. Main Street will not only be the new offices of the VCDC but will also house Charlie's retail store and a state-of-the-art, collaborative co-working space with public meeting rooms and more. The project, funded by a USDA Rural Development loan, and Vermillion NOW! 2 investments has created the opportunity for an historic space to serve the multiple priorities of the VCDC. "Not only are we honored to be able to restore a beautiful, historic, downtown building but we are beyond excited to bring our community a new and dynamic space for creative collaboration, with a focus on economic development and tourism." says Nate Welch, President & CEO of the VCDC.
Beginning May 1st, the VCDC will begin their mobile operations for the duration of the renovation. VCDC staff will still be reachable by phone at (605)624-5571, by mail at the current mailing address: 116 Market Street, #103 Vermillion, SD 57069, and by email at their existing email addresses. Any general communication or questions can continue to be directed to vcdc@vermillionchamber.com. Business Operations for the VCDC will be located inside City Hall at 25 Center Street. For visitor information or the purchase of Vermillion Bucks, a special request form has been centrally placed on the VCDC website homepage: www.livevermillion.com. As always, community members can expect to find all the latest information at the website and on the community calendar. Those subscribed to the Monday Messenger will continue to receive this weekly communication, as well as any further special communication about VCDC business.
"Our goal with this move is to continue to support the growth and progressive momentum of Vermillion," says Welch. "This final move is precipitated by the incredible growth and opportunities Vermillion has seen. We have an agile staff, and I'm proud their ability - as well as our community's - to work together and push ourselves to always be better tomorrow than we were yesterday."

Local Vermillion Chamber members are now offering benefits to other Chamber members. Check out the great deals and learn how to offer your own great benefits!

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Vermillion was named Large Community of the Year by Gov. Dennis Daugaard on Tuesday evening in Sioux Falls at the Governor's Economic Development Conference. Mayor Jack Powell, USD President James Abbott, and Vermillion Area Chamber and Development Company (VCDC) President Gerry Tracy accepted the award on behalf of the community. "We greatly appreciate Governor Daugaard's recognition of Vermillion. Our partnership with the Governor's Office of Economic Development has been a key factor in our community's success," said Tracy.

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We are a community that encourages innovation
and progressive thinking. Vermillion has the
infrastructure to sustain growth and expansion
and the flexibility to accommodate the future.
Those doing business here find a quality,
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