Wall Economic Development progresses, addresses housing need

    The Wall Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) has made significant progress in the past seven months and is looking forward to the future of economic development.
    The WEDC received an official Certificate of Incorporation from the South Dakota Secretary of State, Shantel Krebs, on Monday, April 11.
    “Receiving our official Certificate of Incorporation is a tremendous step for our economic development corporation,” Executive Director Cheyenne McGriff said. “This puts us one step closer to becoming a tax exempt non-profit organization. It opens several doors.”
    Becoming officially incorporated is not the only step the WEDC has taken recently. WEDC received $2,500 from a South Dakota Housing Development Authority cost-sharing incentive program to conduct a housing needs study. The City of Wall will provide the additional $2,500 matching funding. WEDC will work with Community Partners Research, Inc. of Faribault, Minn., who will conduct the study. WEDC hopes to begin the study in early May.
    According to the South Dakota Housing Development Authority, the study will assess present and future unmet housing needs to aide community decision makers and the public in developing a meaningful sense of the market in Wall as well as an understanding of key housing issues. The study will address projected economic, employment and population change throughout the next two to 15 years. It will make recommendations for short-to-mid-term housing demand, long-term housing demand, new construction, rehab, senior housing, family housing, rental and homeownership. The study will provide a platform based on solid research that WEDC can use to approach the necessary resources and discuss the best plan to address Wall's housing needs.
    “Community engagement is an important part of the research process,” McGriff said. “Please watch for updates, community meetings and ways to be involved.”
    WEDC is led by Executive Director Cheyenne McGriff and the Board of Directors: President Marty Huether, Vice President Mary Williams, Secretary/Treasurer Dani Herring, Carolynn Anderson, Josh Geigle, Dave Olson, and Cindy Schuler.
    If you would like to learn more about the goals of WEDC, have questions or comments, you can contact WEDC Executive Director Cheyenne McGriff at 279-2658 or walledd@gwtc.net.