Siouxland Metro receive top honors for economic growth in 2020

The City of Sioux City and the surrounding Siouxland communities have been named the top spot in the Nation for economic development in 2020.
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2020 was a difficult year for many, but economic growth took the lead in the Siouxland metro area.
"Iowa, along with Utah, is the best-positioned state in the union to bounce back and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic," said Chris McGowan, President of The Siouxland Initiative.

The Sioux City Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Sioux City, South Sioux City, North Sioux City, Dakota Dunes, Sergeant Bluff and all of Woodbury County, was named the top spot in the nation for economic development by Site Selection Magazine.

"You know, I think it's special this year because of everything that's gone on and it just shows how resilient our community is in the Siouxland region and the city and how we have come together during this difficult time and still made things happen and still grew as a community," said Sioux City's Economic Development Director, Marty Dougherty.

"It's a tribute to our whole region," Sioux City Mayor Bob Scott said about the recognition. "It isn't just Sioux City. We work together in collaboration with other communities and I think it pays dividends for the whole area."

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds helped make that announcement Monday morning at the newly opened Siouxland Expo Center.

"This is such great news for our communities and great news for our state," Reynolds said, also noting that Des Moines and other Iowa communities also saw great economic growth last year. "It's great news for Iowans and the career opportunities that these recognitions bring with it."

This is the 2nd year in a row that Siouxland has had this top honor, and the 9th time overall since 2007.

"This is a reflection of the commitment that local business has to this state, the tri-state and our communities," McGowan said.

"If you look at it as a bigger tri-state community, you have more labor, you have more housing, you have better rates on electricity," said South Sioux City Mayor Rod Koch, who emphasized that all city leaders in the tri-state work together to make strides in economic growth in the area. "You have a better, more experienced, educated field of potential employees and housing. It all works together."

Everyone at the award ceremony said this is just the start of great things to come in the metro.

"This is good momentum for us for the future," said Dougherty. "As the economy grows, it will lift up all of those businesses and we are looking forward to a great year."

"The river is the only thing that divides us," Koch said. "Otherwise, we are just one city."

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