SOUTH DAKOTA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

THE GOVERNOR'S GIANT VISION COMPETITION IS DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE AND DEVELOP THE ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT IN SOUTH DAKOTA. SOUTH DAKOTA RESIDENTS AND FULLTIME STUDENTS OF SOUTH DAKOTA COLLEGES, UNIVERSITIES AND TECHNICAL SCHOOLS APPLY TO THE PROGRAM BY SUBMITTING COMPLETE BUSINESS PLANS AND SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS. ALL ENTRANTS ARE JUDGED BY AN INITIAL PANEL OF EXPERIENCED INDIVIDUALS. THE SELECTED FINALISTS GO ON TO COMPETE DURING AN EVENT THAT INCLUDES FORMAL PRESENTATIONS BY THE STUDENT COMPETITORS AND THOSE IN THE OPEN, OR BUSINESS, COMPETITION TO THEIR RESPECTIVE PANEL OF JUDGES. WINNERS IN EACH ARE SELECTED AND ANNOUNCED DURING THE AWARDS PROGRAM. CASH PRIZES ARE AWARDED.

LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY AND RESEARCH - THE CHAMBER FUNCTIONS AS AN ADVOCATE FOR OUR MEMBERS AND FOR ALL BUSINESSES IN SOUTH DAKOTA. THIS ADVOCACY IS DONE IN THE LEGISLATURE, BEFORE STATE AGENCIES, AND DIRECTLY WITH THE PUBLIC IN THE FORM OF INITIATIVE CAMPAIGNS. EACH YEAR, THE SOUTH DAKOTA CHAMBER MONITORS LEGISLATION FOR BILLS THAT POSE A THREAT TO OUR MEMBERS AND TO THE OVERALL BUSINESS CLIMATE OF THE STATE. WE ARE PRESENT EVERY DAY TO LOBBY FOR OUR MEMBERS. WHEN IMPORTANT ISSUES ARE DISCUSSED AT THE DEPARTMENT LEVEL, THE CHAMBER IS AT THE TABLE, BRINGING A RESPECTED VOICE TO THE CONVERSATIONS. EACH WEEK DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION MEMBERS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN ONLINE LEGISLATIVE BRIEFINGS AND RECEIVE REGULAR ISSUES OF A NEWSLETTER TITLED "CAPITOL-ISM" WHICH GIVES ANALYSIS OF KEY ISSUES IN A WAY THAT MEMBERS CAN APPLY TO THEIR BUSINESS OR UPDATES AS KEY BILLS MOVE THROUGH THE PROCESS.