Mayor Paul TenHaken
Mayor's Column Archive
Mayor TenHaken Announces 2022-23 Mayor’s Youth Council
Mayor Paul TenHaken is pleased to announce the students selected for the 2022-23 Mayor’s Youth Council. The class is comprised of twelve Sioux Falls juniors and seniors, including representation from private and public schools.
Sioux Falls In Summer Looks Brighter Than Ever
Whether you just moved to Sioux Falls or your family has lived here for generations, summer is the perfect time to explore our community and try something new.
Mental Health Matters
Mental health conditions are still very real in our community, and we need to continue to keep this topic at the forefront of our conversations.
Join in to Clean Up Sioux Falls This Spring
One of the features that makes Sioux Falls stand out as an excellent place to live is the quality of our amenities. That includes our amazing outdoor spaces like our parks, the Big Sioux River Greenway and Recreational Trail, and our many green spaces. Keeping our community’s outdoor spaces in top condition doesn’t happen by accident. In fact, it takes a lot of work as a City team to keep Sioux Falls clean—and we can’t do it alone.
State of the City 2022
In his 2022 State of the City Address, Mayor Paul TenHaken shared a message of optimism and community spirit that continues to drive Sioux Falls forward.
Recognizing Diversity, Embracing Opportunity
Let’s continue to embrace the diversity that is our city’s strength and celebrate the spirit of community that unites us as One Sioux Falls.
(photo credit: Vietnamese Community of Sioux Falls and Area)
A City of Great Promise, Great Progress
In 2022, my administration continues to focus on proactively managing both the opportunities and related challenges that come with our community’s growth.
Building the Next Generation of Leaders
As we plan for Sioux Falls’ future, youth engagement is an essential component. The simple fact is, the Sioux Falls of our future will be led by today’s young people. They will be our workforce and community leaders, and we need to include them on the decisions we are making today that will impact the state of our community and their future.
Mayor TenHaken Announces 2021–22 Mayor’s Youth Council
Mayor Paul TenHaken is pleased to announce the students selected for the 2021–22 Mayor’s Youth Council. The inaugural class is composed of 13 Sioux Falls juniors and seniors, including representation from private, public, and homeschooled students.
Apply for the Mayor’s Youth Council
You’re invited to apply to be part of the 2021 class for the City of Sioux Falls Mayor’s Youth Council! The Mayor’s Youth Council will give youth a seat at the table.
As part of the MYC, you will have the chance to share your voice and to develop your leadership skills. You will learn about City government and get to talk with and ask questions of City and State leaders. In addition, you will develop a project that could make a lasting impact in our community!
Applications open Sept. 1 and close Sept. 15. Learn more at siouxfalls.org/myc.
Record Growth Requires a Smart, Practical Spending Approach
Sioux Falls is full of visionary leaders who see the potential for transformational growth in our community. Their resiliency, tenacity and vision is at the core of our community’s DNA.
Sioux Falls For All Strategic Investment Plan
Mayor Paul TenHaken in Collaboration With Sioux Falls City Council Advances ‘Sioux Falls For All’ Strategic Investment Plan
Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken in conjunction with the Sioux Falls City Council is advancing the Sioux Falls For All strategic investment plan for first reading at the Aug. 10 City Council meeting. This plan serves as a framework for allocating American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds as well as other grants and available City fund balances. View an overview.
2022 Budget
Mayor Paul TenHaken presented an overview of his administration’s proposal for the 2022 budget and the 2022–2026 Capital Program.
Mayor TenHaken Presents 2022 Operating Budget, 2022–2026 Capital Program
Mayor's Column
Sioux Falls Continues to Stand Out as Top Spot for Young Professionals
It seems like yesterday that my wife and I moved to Sioux Falls. We settled into a small, one-bedroom apartment in May of 2000, excited to begin our careers in what seemed to us to be a city of unlimited possibility. We were young, maybe a bit naïve, but already convinced that Sioux Falls had all the elements we needed to make this city our "forever home."
2022-2026 Capitol Program
Mayor Paul TenHaken presented the City Council with the 2022–2026 Capital Program (CIP) proposal on June 30, 2021.
Bridge Digital Divide in Sioux Falls
Community Members Invited to Help Bridge Digital Divide in Sioux Falls
Access to technology impacts many aspects of residents’ lives. But some individuals face barriers to technology that can effect everything from applying to a job to excelling in school.
Mayor's Column
Transformational Development Projects Are Building Momentum in Downtown Sioux Falls
There’s no question that our downtown is full of vibrancy and vitality. Thanks to thoughtful planning by City and community leaders, we’ve seen continued progress over the past two decades in building an attractive downtown for businesses, residents and visitors. Consider these notable public investments made over the past 20 years:
Planning for the Future
The spring weather, the increasing vaccination numbers, the sound of kids running around the neighborhood outside — we’ve certainly turned a corner toward optimism recently. We are positioned well for a strong recovery across our community, from an economic, workforce development and quality of life perspective. In many ways, we are already back to pre-pandemic numbers in terms of unemployment, sales tax revenues, housing demand and more.
How Mentorship Can Transform a City
January is National Mentorship Month and provides an opportune time to reflect on not only the power of mentorship in our community, but also the need for increased mentorship in Sioux Falls. As we remember Martin Luther King Jr. this week, we are reminded of the importance of service and giving back to our community.
2020 Year in Review: A Message from Mayor TenHaken
Despite the challenges of COVID-19, we are moving into 2021 in a position of strength and opportunity. While we have remained focused on current challenges, my administration and our City team have taken key steps this year to ensure our city’s post-pandemic resiliency.
Let’s Find Unity by Helping, Listening to Each Other
The effects of COVID-19 on Americans both nationally and locally have made this an election season unlike any other. No matter your political beliefs, your views on masks, or your cable news channel of choice, it’s been an especially stressful time when so many of us are already mentally and physically fatigued.
Making Historic Progress for Sioux Falls Amid a Pandemic
As we start a new season, I can’t help but reflect on the past several months. Through hard work, resilience and a commitment to service, your team at the City of Sioux Falls has continued to move our community forward despite the unprecedented challenges of the pandemic.
Investing in the Struggling, Providing Hope Through The Link
The need for social justice reform continues to be brought to the forefront in our national conversation and in many communities within recent months. We’re fortunate that Sioux Falls has been proactive in that work for the past several years in many areas, one of them being the development of a community triage center—called The Link—to provide better access to health care and resources for individuals with mental health or addiction issues.
Mayor Paul TenHaken Named Chair of FCC’s Intergovernmental Advisory Committee
As part of its new membership, Mayor Paul TenHaken has been named chair of the Federal Communications Commission’s Intergovernmental Advisory Committee, or IAC, by Chairman Ajit Pai.
Investing in Public Safety, Building our City’s Future
We are fortunate to live in a community with an extensive list of accolades, from our low unemployment rate to Sioux Falls’ excellent cultural and recreational amenities that enhance our quality of life. Sioux Falls is also poised for growth in many areas, including our population.
2021 Mayor's Recommended Budget
The proposed 2021 budget, presented by Mayor Paul TenHaken, Tuesday, July 21, 2020, recognizes the impacts to our community stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mayor's Recommended 2021-2025 Capital Plan
The 2021-2025 capital program maintains our existing infrastructure while making strategic investments in the future. The priority is the replacement, rehabilitation and expansion of the street and utility infrastructure. Quality of life investments are also planned for our park system and entertainment venues.
Our Path Forward
Across the nation, demonstrations have called for action and reform on a variety of levels, including here in Sioux Falls. On May 31, thousands gathered downtown to peacefully demonstrate, and on June 13 hundreds joined to peacefully protest on Minnesota Avenue.
Summer of New Opportunities
From fall football to spring soccer and winter skiing to summer baseball and softball, the City of Sioux Falls offers a wide-range of activities for all seasons of the year. That’s part of what makes this city so special. The COVID-19 pandemic has altered life in 2020 and our summer will be different this year. But just because it’s different doesn’t mean COVID will cancel our ability to have fun.
Sioux52 Mentoring Initiative
The Sioux 52 Mentoring Initiative seeks to unify Sioux Falls area non-profit, business, and faith communities in order to create a universal, significant and long-lasting commitment to mentoring in our city. The goal is to recruit 5,200 mentors by 2026 and for the City of Sioux Falls to become known as the City of Mentoring.
A Look Back at 2019
It is said that all good things must come to an end. While 2019 may be ending, I am confident the Sioux Falls’ momentum will continue into 2020. Looking back on the past 12 months, there is much the community accomplished.
Strengthening U.S. China Relations
Mayor TenHaken (third from the left) meeting with senior Chinese government officials in Guangzhou, China, as part of the U.S. Heartland China Association delegation.
Mayor TenHaken Testifies Before Senate Subcommittee
Mayor TenHaken participated in a hearing on mobile technology and infrastructure today to share his support of telecommunication infrastructure investments and the City of Sioux Falls’ approach to small cell and 5G towers.
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2020 Budget and Capital ProgramView the Video |
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