Four local organizations gathered Thursday to celebrate the successful placement of a new home at the Ridgeview on Foster housing development, a project that demonstrates the power of partnerships in solving Mitchell’s workforce housing shortage. The home, constructed by students from Mitchell Technical College, is now placed on land generously donated by Avera Queen of Peace Hospital to the Mitchell Area Development Corporation. The development is being led by Mitchell Area Housing Inc., with plans to eventually have 60 new homes on the site.
This initiative is part of a broader effort to grow the Mitchell community through increased owner-occupied housing options.
“This is a perfect example of what can happen when local organizations come together to solve a problem,” said Mike Lauritsen, CEO of the Mitchell Area Development Corporation and Chamber of Commerce. “We know housing is one of the biggest challenges facing our community. Thanks to Avera’s land donation, Mitchell Tech’s hands-on workforce training, and Mitchell Area Housing’s development leadership, we’re seeing real, tangible progress.”
The land for the Ridgeview on Foster development was donated by Avera Queen of Peace Hospital, recognizing the community’s critical need for more housing to support workforce growth.
Dr. Hilary Rockwell, President CEO at Avera Queen of Peace, said, “We understood that to grow our healthcare workforce, especially with the shortage of nurses, we needed to step up. Donating this land was a way for us to support the long-term health and growth of Mitchell directly. We have the second-lowest unemployment rate in the state, which means we have jobs but not enough people to fill them. Providing more quality, affordable housing is part of the solution. We’re proud to contribute to a project that will help our community thrive.”
Mitchell Area Housing Inc., the developer of the project, has committed to placing 60 homes in the Ridgeview on Foster development.
Terry Sabers, President of Mitchell Area Housing, shared, “After working at Muth Electric for 40 years, I knew firsthand how much Mitchell was growing and how badly we needed more workforce housing. When I retired, I made it my mission to help solve that problem. This development is the result of that effort, and it’s incredibly rewarding to see it taking shape.”
The land is currently owned by the Mitchell Area Development Corporation, which continues to spearhead strategic projects to support Mitchell’s growth.
Ken Schlimgen, President of the Mitchell Area Development Corporation, emphasized, “We have so much momentum right now in Mitchell. Receiving the ‘Community of the Year’ award from Lt. Governor Larry Rhoden is a testament to the great things happening here, and housing is part of that. This partnership is a model for how to get things done.”
Mitchell Technical College plays a key role in this partnership by giving students real-world experience in building energy-efficient homes. The Architectural Design and Building Construction program has provided the workforce and expertise to make these homes a reality.
Theresa Kriese, President of Mitchell Technical College, stated, “This project aligns perfectly with our mission to prepare students for successful careers. It gives them the opportunity to build real homes using the latest energy-efficient technologies, while contributing to a meaningful solution for the community.”
This project is just one piece of a much larger puzzle. Mitchell is currently undergoing a surge in development, having seen building permit values jump from an average of $20–30 million to $114 million two years ago and $50 million last year. The community is also home to High Plains Processing, the largest value-added agriculture economic development project in South Dakota history. That soybean processing facility is expected to generate significant long-term economic benefits for the region.
“While many communities are just beginning to address housing shortages, Mitchell is taking action now,” Lauritsen said. “Thanks to this partnership, we’re seeing solutions become reality, with three new homes already placed on our two housing developments and many more on the way. This is what progress looks like.”