HURON — The Huron Chamber and Visitors Bureau held its annual meeting and awards dinner Tuesday night, at the Huron Event Center.

The event is a way for the community to reflect on the past year in Huron, present awards to those who have assisted in raising the profile of Huron and the surrounding area and set a course for the year ahead.

Several awards were presented, by the Chamber and by the Greater Huron Development Corporation.

Mayor’s Award for Excellence in Economic Development — Trussbilt LLC
Huron Mayor Gary Harrington presented the Mayor’s Award for Excellence in Economic Development to Trussbilt, LLC.

Trussbilt was begun in St. Paul in 1926 by Arthur Gross and the metal fabricating company moved to Huron in 1989. In the spring of 2020, the company broke ground on a 101,000 square foot expansion project on the north and west side of the company’s existing footprint in northwest Huron.

The expansion, which was completed in 2021, allowed Trussbilt to manufacture a modular detention cell, which can be used as either a stand-alone unit if needed, or can be connected to other units to create a multi-cell facility, of up to two stories. Trussbilt immediately began production on a 64-unit order that was headed for Fulton, Mo., and first load of the order left Huron in November.

Huron Chamber and Visitors Bureau’s Ambassador of the Year
Members of the Huron Chamber Ambassadors Committee volunteer their time to promote Huron and work to help local businesses achieve a feeling of true community support. They attend ribbon cuttings, mixers, and volunteer at Chamber events. Ambassadors dedicate time to make contacts with Member Prospects and our current Chamber Members multiple times throughout the year to offer support and encouragement

The Ambassador of the Year award recognizes the Huron Chamber Ambassador who exemplifies the mission of the Huron Chamber & Visitors Bureau. The award is based on involvement in Chamber events and with Chamber members.

The winner of this year’s Ambassador of the Year is Tiffanie Kouf. Kouf is the marketing coordinator at M-O Federal Credit Union. She was the 2021 Ambassador committee’s chairman for the third time and leads the committee’s monthly meeting. Kouf was touted as being a very dependable leader, who attends nearly all the Ambassador’s ribbon-cutting events and Chamber Mixers, but is willing to step forward and take on the emcee role as well.

She has been an Ambassador since 2010, and her attention to detail is valued by her fellow committee members. The entire 21 member group values and appreciates Kouf for her leadership in such an important aspect of the Chamber.

The Community Development Award
Haeder presented the Community Development Award to the Huron Housing Authority.

Huron Housing Authority has been involved in housing activities in Huron since 1969, providing stable, quality, affordable housing opportunities for low and moderate income families throughout the local community.

They lease properties to residents across the city, including: Lampe Estates, Field Estates, Bluebird Apartments, as well as five single-family homes. Huron Housing Authority also operates the Manor and Donnie Wahl Apartments to serve people with developmental disabilities or severe mental illness.

Through the provision of these apartments and the administration of the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program, Huron Housing Authority serves more than 300 families and individuals, while supporting healthy communities.

Community development and economic development are closely related, but different, activities that need each other to thrive. Economic development is the creation of wealth from which community benefits are realized. Community development is the practice of taking on activities that provide basic services to communities to make them more livable and sustainable.

Economic development helps fund community development projects and community development projects help create an environment that is conducive to economic development. The efforts undertaken by the Huron Housing Authority to create a Housing Rehab Specialist position are a prime example of a community development project.

Here is a brief timeline of the Huron Housing Authority’s timeline over the past five years:

2018 – following the community input received during Huron Rising event, where housing was identified as one of the primary focus areas, discussion starts with various groups on the need for a housing rehabilitation specialist, where this position would most effectively be housed, how to fund the position, and the benefits to the community.

2019 – the housing rehab specialist position is refined and three-year funding commitments are received from GHDC/City/HCF/Forward Huron/Griffith Foundation to fund the position and the Huron Housing Authority agreed to host the position.

2020 – Ralph Borkowski is hired in February as the first Housing Rehab Specialist and updates Huron’s Housing Study. $160,000 in housing rehab grants were also awarded to Huron Housing.

2021 – Rehab work begins on homes owned by low/moderate income families and an additional $80,000 in rehab grants is awarded to Huron Housing.

2022 – Rehab work continues and identifying funding sources for the Housing Rehab Specialist position is underway. Huron Housing prepares to hire a new Housing Rehab Specialist to ensure the continuation of the program as Ralph prepares for his re-retirement.

2021 Distinguished Civic Service Award
The winners of the 2021 Distinguished Civic Service Award are Danny and Connie Hofer.

Although Danny and Connie have certainly made a large footprint in the Huron business community, they have made an even greater impact to Huron through their years of community involvement and service.

After graduating from Sioux Falls Lincoln, Connie moved to Huron to attend Northwest College of Commerce – and she never left. She met local boy Danny Hofer through a college roommate in April 1972 and 50 years later is still here.

Connie worked at a variety of retail businesses and after beginning her financial career in 1974 at First Federal Savings & Loan she completed her career at Dakotaland FCU.

After attending a one-room schoolhouse for grades K, 1, & 2 north of Yale, Danny moved with his family to Huron in 1957, attending Lincoln Elementary School, and Huron Jr. and Sr. High Schools. However, work began much earlier for Danny, as he started working at age 12 for his dad at the Sherwin Williams paint store, cleaned for the Bureau of Reclamation and the ASCS offices, and had an early snow shoveling business of his own. He began preparing food at age 16 as a cook at Charlie’s Pizza House.

In 1971 he started what was widely known as the “Speed Shop” where he sold snowmobiles, motorcycles and high-performance car parts. In 1981, Danny started South Dakota Racing Promotions, operating the SD State Fair Speedway, and later expanding to operate Brown County Speedway and own/operate Miller Central Speedway.

Danny has taken the lead on Huron’s Independence Day Fireworks for the past 20 years, been a volunteer for Pheasant Fest, ambassador for Governor Mike Rounds’ Governor’s Hunt, and a landowner for Governor Kristi Noem’s Governor’s Hunt. The Hofers have been financial supporters for Huron Little League, Splash Central, The DEX, and continual supporters of Huron High School athletic activities.

Connie was a charter board member of the first Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) Committee and served as Treasurer and Chairman of the Board for the Huron Chamber & Visitors Bureau. Through her work with the Huron Community Foundation, she organized the baseball concessions and equipment for the annual Canaries’ exhibition game fundraiser. Connie is a graduate of Leadership Huron, active on the Forward Huron Board, Huron Board of Realtors, and Habitat for Humanity. She was a charter member of the noon LaSertoma. Connie is a PEO Member, current Treasurer of the Huron Kiwanis Club, spending hours with the Club at the State Fair Pancake House. The Hofers are members of First United Methodist church, where Connie serves as Secretary/Treasurer of the FUMC Foundation Committee, was on the original committee that began the KKLC preschool at the church, and is currently the treasurer of the “Believe Fest” school supply giveaway.

The Hofers most recognizable food endeavor began in 1997 when they joined their son Ryan to create Ryan’s Hangar Restaurant at Huron Regional Airport, which later moved to The Crossroads.