Press Room > 2004 :

Pidde is New Regional Representative for GOED

RELEASE DATE: Wednesday, August 18, 2004

For More Information Contact: Mary Lehecka Nelson, 773-3301

Pierre, SD – Ryan Pidde recently joined the team at the Governor’s Office of Economic Development as a regional representative for the south central part of the state, Jim Hagen, secretary of the Department of Tourism and State Development, announced today, August 18.

Pidde will cover the following counties: Mellette, Todd, Lyman, Tripp, Brule, Gregory, Jerauld, Aurora, Douglas, Charles Mix, Sanborn, Davison, Hanson, Hutchinson, Bon Homme, Yankton, Clay and Union. “A great deal of Ryan’s time will be spent visiting with company and community officials in the region,” Hagen said. “As part of the state’s 2010 Initiative to increase the state’s Gross State Product by $10 billion, we are placing a renewed emphasis on our retention and expansion efforts. The only way we can truly understand the needs of our companies is to get out there and visit with them,” Hagen said.

Pidde, a recent graduate of the University of South Dakota, is originally from the Freeman area. “Ryan brings a tremendous amount of enthusiasm and commitment to this position. He has already hit the ground running,” Hagen added.

Tina Van Camp, director of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, noted that the regional rep concept has been around for several years. “It just makes sense to regionalize our efforts,” she said. “Not only will this help increase our GSP, it will also contribute to our efforts to stabilize rural populations through community development,” Van Camp said.

Pidde said he is excited about his new position. “There are a lot of great things happening in South Dakota, and particularly in the region I’m working with. I’m looking forward to meeting with business and community leaders and to helping those communities advance their economic development efforts,” he said. Pidde is currently working out of the Pierre office and can be reached at 800-872-6190.