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Brookings Advocates for Small Business (BASB) is a group of local citizens and business owners who work to promote a strong Brookings by advocating for a fair and private local business environment.

Of current concern to this group is a project first presented by South Dakota State University (SDSU) in October of 2009 known as the North West Quadrant Project. The current administration at SDSU has been moving forward with development based on a document called the Northwest Quadrant Mixed Use Development Feasibility Study.

While a strong SDSU is vital to the growth and success of Brookings, a strong and vibrant private business community is also critical. The project in full form calls for housing, retail, convention center, hotel, C-store, coffee shop, fitness center - and more. All components will be built on tax exempt state land and will compete with existing taxpaying Brookings businesses. This creates an unequal playing field as well as competition between government and private business. We believe this will alter the business and economic landscape in Brookings in irreversible ways.

Monday, November 26, 2012

Town Hall Video and Power Point

On November 12th, Brookings Advocates for Small Business (BASB) held a town hall meeting regarding the SDSU NW Quad project. In attendance were well over 100 citizens who were looking for information on how this project would affect them and their community.

For those who were not able to attend but would like more information, we are including a link to the video as well as a link to the powerpoint presentation.



Town Hall Video, Highlights (10 min):

     

Town Hall Video, Full (1 hour, 20 min): 





PowerPoint Presentation:


Brookings Advocates for Small Business Town Hall Meeting Power Point Presentation

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

North West Quadrant (NW Quad)

In 2009, South Dakota State University began exploring options for development of land owned by the university. This project was detailed in a booklet titled "Northwest Quadrant Mixed-Use Development Feasibility Study."



In its full form, the 'NW Quad' development calls for many different components. Some expand on current university offerings, such as student housing. Other components expand into areas never before served by the university and which compete directly with private industry including senior housing, grocery store, fitness center, coffee house/cafe, convenience store, conference center, hotel, and more. 



This plan causes concern for several reasons.

1. BASB maintains a strong opposition to public entities competing with local businesses. We realize that any growth experienced through development by SDSU of the NW Quad will likely be offset by a shrinking of current business.

2. All new components proposed through the study would be built on public land and would not be responsible to pay any property tax which is critical to support K-12 Education in Brookings as well as local government and services.

3. Private business being forced to compete in this environment creates an uneven playing field and will almost certainly cause harm to existing (and tax paying) small businesses in Brookings.

BASB hopes to bring this critical issue back into the public discussion and to facilitate further discussion to ensure that SDSU and the Brookings community can maintain the positive partnership which has been fostered for over 100 years.

Monday, November 12, 2012

How to Get Involved



Your voice matters! Please voice concerns to the SD Board of Regents who have the ultimate authority to decide if projects like the SDSU NW Quadrant are implemented. 

South Dakota Board of Regents
306 E. Capitol Ave, Suite 200
Pierre, SD 57501-2545

Board of Regent Members

Jack Warner, Executive Director

Terry Baloun, President
Kathryn Johnson, Vice President
James O. Hansen, Secretary
Patrick Weber, Regent
Dean Krogman, Regent
Randall K. Morris, Regent
Carole Pagones, Regent
Randy Schaefer, Regent