Кандидат в губернаторы Южной Дакоты призывает перенаправить инвестиции из крупных компаний в поддержку малого бизнеса

Democratic gubernatorial nominee Dan Ahlers says South Dakota needs to invest more in small businesses Ahlers questions the return on a $69 million state economic development investment in a single Sioux Falls company RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) - Dan Ahlers, South Dakota’s Democratic nominee for governor, said the state lacks sufficient programs to support small businesses and called for a shift in how economic development dollars are spent. Ahlers, himself a small business owner, sat down to discuss his campaign, the recent Republican gubernatorial runoff and his approach to keeping small businesses in South Dakota. Ahlers said the state’s entrepreneurial small business sector drives the economy but receives little investment in return. He pointed to a $69 million state economic development expenditure directed at a single company in Sioux Falls as an example of misplaced priorities. “We don’t have a lot of incentives or programs that support small businesses, and it’s that small business entrepreneurial spirit that actually helps drive the economy in this state, and we need to start thinking about investing in ourselves,” Ahlers said. “I think of an investment that was made using some economic development, state economic development money — $69 million, I believe it was — into one company in Sioux Falls. It brought in a couple hundred $18 an hour jobs. Well, let’s think about that for a second. For that $69 million investment, you got $18 an hour jobs, which is about what you get paid to work at a fast food joint in Sioux Falls. So tell me what you gained from that $69 million when you can’t even fill those $17 and $18 an hour jobs that you already have in the town.” Ahlers also challenged the argument that the investment generated property tax revenue. “They’ll say, ‘Well, we got property taxes from it,’ and I will turn around and say, ‘I can build an affordable housing neighborhood that will generate more property taxes than that one building. So then again, tell me what you got for that $69 million investment,’” Ahlers said. See a spelling or grammatical error in our story? Please click here to report it. Do you have a photo or video of a breaking news story? Send it to us here with a brief description. Copyright 2026 KOTA. All rights reserved.