DFCU breaks ground for new building

HURON – Local dignitaries joined Dakotaland Federal Credit Union employees and representatives of the design and construction management team Thursday in celebrating a groundbreaking ceremony for what will be the institution’s 12th location in South Dakota.
“We’re growing pretty fast,” said Dan Cumbee, president and chief executive officer of DFCU.
“We’re a cooperative so all of the profits all go back to the membership,” he said. “It’s just a good philosophy.”
The 30,000-square-foot, two-story building is under construction in the Southtown Addition, just south of Coborn’s and the Ground Round Grille and Bar which is also under way.
Cumbee said about 30 to 40 Dakotaland administrative employees will work in the new corporate headquarters, occupying the second floor. A drive-up and teller area will be located on the first floor on the north side of the building.
About 7,500 to 8,500 square feet on the first floor will be available for rent.

Mayor Paul Aylward and Greater Huron Development Corporation President and Chief Executive Officer Jim Borszich joined in congratulating Dakotaland on its success.
Aylward said that, as a young man in 1968, he joined the Armour’s credit union as an employee of that meatpacking plant. It was that credit union that eventually became Dakotaland.
At the time he became a member, the credit union had one full-time and one part-time employee. That has grown to more than 130 employees who work in Brookings, Volga, De Smet, Mitchell, Woonsocket, Madison and Redfield.
Huron will now have three locations, and there soon will be branches in Watertown and Aberdeen. Dakotaland now has more than $300 million in assets.
Mills Construction of Brookings designed the facility and will serve as construction managers.
The company plans to use as many local subcontractors as it can. Some bid packages have gone out and more will go out in the next few weeks.
Already on the job are local contractors Olson Construction, Keleher Concrete and Stretch’s Well Service.
The project includes 60 wells which are being drilled for a heating and cooling geothermal system.
Completion of the project is scheduled for December 2018.

Photo:

Officials and employees of Dakotaland Federal Credit Union were joined by people from the City of Huron, the Chamber of Commerce and construction company officials at the official groundbreaking ceremony for the credit union’s new administrative building in the Southtown Addition.

Photo by Roger Larsen/Plainsman