[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 198 (Wednesday, December 13, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S18554-S18555]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               SIOUX FALLS, SD: ENTREPRENEURIAL HOT SPOT

  Mr. PRESSLER. Mr. President, I want to take a moment today to commend 
the hardworking people of South Dakota for making Sioux Falls--South 
Dakota's largest metropolitan area--the sixth most successful 
entrepreneurial spot in the country. I am proud to say the pioneer 
spirit still thrives in South Dakota.
  Mr. President, it is not Fortune 500 companies alone that form our 
country's economic base. Rather, the hard work and dedication of self-
employed entrepreneurs and small business owners are responsible for 
much of our Nation's economic activity. The business of South Dakota is 
small business, from the family farm to the corner drug store. I am 
proud to represent such an ambitious and successful constituency--
people who are willing to work hard in order to get ahead. 

[[Page S18555]]

  Some South Dakota small businesses have grown to become regional and 
national success stories. A prime example of entrepreneurial spirit in 
action is Gateway 2000, a mail order personal computer (PC) corporation 
started 10 years ago in a farmhouse. Because of South Dakota's 
excellent business climate and a solid work ethic, Gateway 2000 has 
become the tri-state metropolitan area's second largest employer and 
the largest mail-order PC vendor in the United States. Gateway 2000 is 
a testimonial to what can be achieved with a vision and a strong work 
ethic.
  When I travel home to South Dakota, I always marvel at the continued 
development my home State has undergone. Entrepreneurial South Dakotans 
have helped South Dakota evolve into a diverse industrial breadbasket. 
Now, with the designation of Sioux Falls, SD, as an international port-
of-entry, the success of South Dakota will extend to new markets around 
the world. I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record a 
recent article from the Sioux Falls Argus Leader which details South 
Dakota's economic boom. I am sure all who read it will be impressed 
with South Dakota's recent surge of economic development.
  There being no objection, the article was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

           Entrepreneurial Spirit Cited in City's High Rating

                        (By Brenda Wade Schmidt)

       Sioux Falls' ranking as the sixth best hot spot for 
     entrepreneurs shows that programs to help business people get 
     started are working, two economic development experts said 
     Wednesday.
       The city moved up 26 spots among small metropolitan areas 
     over last year's ranking done by Cognetics Inc. of Cambridge, 
     Mass.
       Las Vegas, Nev., was in the top spot of the 134 areas for 
     the second year in a row.
       ``It could be an indication that the entrepreneurial-type 
     programs are starting to take effect a little bit,'' said Dan 
     Scott, president of the Sioux Falls Development Foundation. 
     ``That spirit still exists here.''
       There are so many entrepreneurs that agencies aren't able 
     to help them all, Scott said. Many people come with business 
     ideas but lack the planning and finances to implement their 
     dream.
       The Small Business Development Center, with offices across 
     the state, assists many businesses.
       ``We see the entrepreneurial spirit as being alive and well 
     because of the number of people that come to us for 
     assistance,'' said Bob Ashley, state director. ``Starting a 
     business is hard work. Hard work is not a stranger to the 
     people of South Dakota.''
       Scott said the increase probably is the result of two 
     improvements.
       ``The entrepreneurs are getting more help, and financing 
     has become more readily available,'' he said. ``What keeps 
     most entrepreneurs out of business is the inability to 
     attract financing.
       Among rural areas, South Dakota ranked 61st out of 89 
     places, up five spots from last year.

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