New city grant approach adds resources to arts, literacy, at-risk populations

The city of Sioux Falls took a different approach this year in approving what traditionally have been city subsidies to outside organizations — putting new resources toward services for those in need, the arts, literacy and economic development.

“The timing just made sense,” director of finance Shawn Pritchett said. “There wasn’t a lot of rhyme or reason to which organizations got funded (previously). It just tended to be the ones funded in the past.”

There wasn’t a mechanism for considering new requests, and it was hard to put accountability metrics in place, he added.

By going through a request for proposals, the city was able to define a scope of work, set metrics for measuring success and “define its priorities and try to align with organizations that help support those priorities,” Pritchett said.

Contracts with more than half of the proposed Community Partners have been finalized and approved by the City Council, with the rest expected to follow in the coming weeks.

Organizations could apply in three areas:

• Supporting at-risk populations.
• Expanding culture, arts and community programming.
• Strengthening economic vitality and growth.

Committees of city leaders, public stakeholders and council members evaluated the proposals and made recommendations.

In contracting with the outside organizations, “in many cases we’re working with people where if they didn’t provide that function or service, it would fall on the city or county,” Pritchett said.

Supporting at-risk populations 

The city is continuing its annual support for the Bishop Dudley Hospitality House, which provides emergency and short-term shelter and accommodations for individuals and families experiencing homelessness, domestic violence, sudden eviction or unsafe living conditions, with stays under 90 days unless extended for clients actively participating in programming. This year’s grant is for $130,000.

Each guest completes intake with a community health worker, case manager or client advocate, receives assessment within seven days and referrals to long-term housing and wraparound services, and is connected to resources such as health care, mental health/addiction services, employment, hygiene and basic needs.

The city historically has been providing funding to The Compass Center, which has rebranded and expanded its scope of work as Solace. The organization provides comprehensive, trauma-informed direct services to victims of violence and crime, with an intentional focus on juvenile victims and youth intervention, addressing immediate safety needs and promoting long-term recovery and resilience.

The city’s $88,500 grant will support services, including 24/7 crisis intervention and counseling, individualized safety planning, legal advocacy, trauma-informed case management, referrals to emergency and transitional housing and medical care, and connections to behavioral health and mentoring programs, with a required safety assessment within 48 hours and an emphasis on culturally competent, barrier-reducing delivery for vulnerable youth.

An additional contract would add the St. Francis House as a partner in addressing the need for transitional housing. It would accommodate individuals and families facing homelessness, domestic violence, sudden eviction, addiction recovery or re-entry from incarceration, with stays of six to 24 months or longer if approved.

The program focuses on long-term stabilization through employment, education and life-skills development. Guests complete intake with a community health worker, case manager or client advocate and are connected to resources such as health and mental health care, addiction services, employment supports and basic needs such as showers, food, clothing, laundry, computers and phones.

The city is expecting to bring that contract to a City Council vote soon.

Expanding culture, arts, community programming

The city is funding some arts-related organizations for the first time, including a proposed $100,000 to The Premiere Playhouse for its Creative Wellness: Theatre for Every Body, an accessible, year‑round arts-and-movement program offering free or reduced‑cost workshops and events.

Examples include creative movement for seniors, youth improv, intergenerational story circles, pop-up park performances and community showcases across underutilized public spaces in Sioux Falls. Programming will rotate across parks, libraries, community centers, schools, senior centers and the Rock Island Studio. The organization is required to coordinate with local providers to avoid duplication and include quarterly data reporting and financial documentation upon request.

“They’re working with five to 10 other organizations in putting together their proposal, and that’s one of the things we incentivized,” Pritchett said.

That funding still needs to be approved by the City Council.

The city also is funding $65,000 for SculptureWalk to enhance its outdoor installation of more than 80 sculptures with new additions, including an improved guided tour program in June to boost accessibility and two coordinated artist talks to deepen community interaction with SculptureWalk artists.

For the first time, the city is supporting Levitt at the Falls with a $70,000 grant for Levitt in Your Neighborhood, which brings high-quality, free music and arts experiences into Sioux Falls neighborhoods through partnerships with schools, community organizations and civic institutions, using parks, libraries, recreation centers and other community spaces. Programming includes at least 10 outreach performances/workshops separate from the Levitt’s 50-concert season, four weeks of youth summer camp and a weeklong artist residency, all intentionally targeted to neighborhoods with limited arts access and populations facing participation barriers.

Another new addition to the budget is REACH Literacy, which received a $65,000 grant for its Everyday English play-and-read program for English language learners. It provides accessible in-person instruction in reading, writing, speaking and listening, while modeling family literacy activities in public parks. The expansion adds four classes — one advanced class at the Downtown Library, two classes at additional branch libraries chosen for need and access, and one evening class at REACH Literacy — plus a four-class summer session and one play-and-read event in a park.

“We really hadn’t had a focus in the past on literacy as part of a scope of work, so that was an added item of priority for the city,” Pritchett said.

Strengthening economic vitality and growth

Downtown Sioux Falls Inc. is receiving city funding for multiple operations, including to grow its street-level ambassador team to eight people. The plan is to start with five full-time and three seasonal ambassadors this year, increasing it to six full-time ambassadors and one seasonal next year. The work of the ambassadors also is funded by those who pay into the downtown Business Improvement District.

“Downtown Sioux Falls has been a huge partner of the city, not just supporting retail and economic development downtown, but just taking care of downtown,” Pritchett said. “They handle trash removal, where the city would have to do it, and really support our ambassadors program, which has been a success story not just taking care of downtown but addressing nuisance issues. Our funding will help support continued expansion for that program.”

The work also “helps reduce calls that would be coming to police, so they can focus on other things,” he added.

The city’s total contract with DTSF is for $400,000, which also includes the organization activating public and private spaces through creative programming and aesthetic improvements, producing at least 14 signature events annually while also supporting other downtown events.

Two remaining contracts are being finalized with East River Legal Services and the Sioux Falls Development Foundation and will require City Council approval.