By Barbara Soderlin
This in from the Governor’s Office of Economic Development:

Results from last month’s Shooting Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show (SHOT) are starting to come in, and South Dakota economic development officials are pleased.
“This was the 10th consecutive year South Dakota has attended this show, and the quality of leads that came out of the 2012 show reaffirmed our commitment to this industry,” said Pat Costello, Commissioner, Governor’s Office of Economic Development. “Our partnerships with South Dakota’s firearm industry continue to grow as well, and that is something we are delighted to see.”
The South Dakota delegation, made up of state representatives and city-level economic developers, held 30 meetings at the show with previously established prospects, new leads and existing South Dakota companies. Additionally, out of all the contacts made, 56 percent were new contacts. The others were with companies which South Dakota has already started building relationships.
“This is really an added value for us to be able to touch base with so many of our existing prospects in one place,” said Costello.
Bar-Sto Precision, a Sturgis-based firearm company that relocated from California in 2009, exhibited in conjunction with the GOED.
“A significant percentage of the new contacts and prospects we are working with are from California,” said Costello. “Having a company that can tell prospective businesses first hand why South Dakota is better choice for companies like theirs proves to be a real asset.”
Another South Dakota company, Black Hills Ammunition, worked with GOED to generate interest in the state with industry media.
“We were thrilled to coordinate with Black Hills Ammunition on our publicity efforts. They are very well-connected within the firearm industry, and generously shared their connections with the state,” Costello said. “As a result, South Dakota received some great coverage, some of which is still ongoing.”
The annual SHOT Show in Las Vegas is the world’s premier exposition for industries involved in firearms, ammunition, and other equipment and supplies for shooting sports and hunting. SHOT Show attendance was 61,000 this year, with 1,600 exhibitors. There were 17 South Dakota companies exhibiting independently of GOED at the show.

By Barbara Soderlin

From the state:

The South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation has training funds available to help unemployed workers upgrade their occupational skills or learn new skills.

“We want to help laid-off South Dakotans get back to work,” said State Labor and Regulation Secretary Pam Roberts. “Through a $617,000 National Emergency Grant, we will be able to help up to 100 people become more employable and re-enter the workforce.”

To be eligible, a worker must have lost his or her job after Jan. 1, 2008; qualify for unemployment insurance benefits; and have been unemployed the previous 14 weeks. Workers interested in on-the-job training should contact their DLR local office.

“Employment specialists can match workers with employers who have high-demand, high-wage occupations to offer,” said Secretary Roberts. “This program has helped train people in the energy, IT, and manufacturing sectors, along with truck drivers.”

Businesses creating on-the-job training opportunities can be reimbursed 50 to 90 percent of the wage rate. The reimbursement is to assist with the costs of the training. The program will end June 30.

“Employers across the state have voiced their concern about not enough skilled workers,” said Secretary Roberts. “On-the-job training programs like this give them the opportunity to train potential new employees at almost no cost to them.”

The National Emergency Grant is funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

By Barbara Soderlin

Lisa Zakrzewski is opening Zak’s Gourmet Popcorn Shack Tuesday in the strip mall at Haines Avenue and Anamosa Street that’s home to Laundry World and Batteries Plus.
Zakrzewski, a paralegal, decided to go into the popcorn business after visiting her son in North Carolina and shopping at a similar gourmet popcorn store there.
She researched the business, built a business plan and hired a consultant to help her get off the ground, picking the right equipment and flavors.
Zak’s will offer more than 50 flavors of popcorn, including savory flavors like white cheddar, spicy buffalo and southwest jalepeno. There are also sweet flavors like caramel, cinnamon toast and chocolate, and candied popcorn like Butterfinger and Oreo. If you’re not sure what flavor you like, there are free samples.
“Everything is fresh-popped daily here on site,” Zakrzewski said.
And for people who just like it plain, there’s an original butter and a low-salt version. You’ll be able to buy it in seven sizes from “mini” (3 cups) to “extra large” (110 cups), and you can get the original flavor in a humongous party size – 275 cups.
Zak’s also will have a retail side to the shop, with gift packages, and will offer corporate gift accounts as well as catered popcorn stations for parties.
It will be open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays. Call 791-5151.

By Barbara Soderlin

Two pizza-related news items that came my way:

1. Independent Ale House on St. Joe will start serving its new artisanal pizzas on Monday. One of the six flavors is baked potato.

2. Sam & Louie’s New York Pizza opens Friday on Mount Rushmore Road.

By Barbara Soderlin

If you made it to the end of Lynn Taylor Rick’s story today on education funding cuts, you read how schools budget director Dave Janak sounded an alarm about the impact of continued cuts on our local economy:

Janak said that the district’s budget woes have reached a critical juncture.

“I think we’ve shut the water off and quit mowing the grass a long time ago. I don’t have a lot of rabbits in the hat,” he said.

Janak said continued cuts to the district will inevitably start to affect such programs as foreign language and advanced placement classes. …

He said such losses would lessen the quality of education in the district and inevitably reduce the desirability of the area. Would a professional looking to relocate her family to Rapid City see such a school system as a draw, he asked. Will businesses see an adequate workforce being trained?

“I just can’t imagine that we’d think we’d run a school system … especially the second largest school district in the state … without those programs,” he said.

At this stage in the budgeting crisis, Janak said the best bet for the district is probably the one-cent sales tax. The initiative, called Moving SD Forward, will go to a public vote in November. It calls for a one-cent sales tax with half of the proceeds – an estimated $90 million – going to South Dakota schools. The Rapid City district would get $9 million of that, “which fixes a lot of problems,” Janak said.

Without such a funding surge, the future looks uncertain, he said.

“The only alternative is what services you’re going to do without,” he said. “You’re starting to talk about core academic programs … and I just can’t imagine that this community would settle for that.”

My kids are little yet, but this really worries me. I can’t imagine sending them to a high school without foreign language or AP classes. And I admit, I’d really like it if the school had a nicely maintained lawn, too. I don’t think taking good care of our school buildings is a luxury.

My question is, are folks in the business community worried about this? We are devoting a lot of energy to bringing in new businesses with higher wages, but will those professionals come if their kids can’t get an education that will prepare them for college?

By Barbara Soderlin

Sure, the stock show is about rodeo and livestock. But it’s also about shopping.

I had fun learning about the history of RCC Western Stores for a story that ran in Sunday’s paper. Also we’ve had some fun “five minutes with” profiles on vendors in our daily stock show section.

Do you have a stock show vendor you look forward to visiting each year? I like the candied almond guy myself.

By Barbara Soderlin

If you missed it on Page A2 this morning here are some more details on what the development around the new Walmart will look like. There will be one strip center with 15 storefronts, and 14 individual parcels around the perimeter of the project.

By Barbara Soderlin

If you don’t make tons of money or need to file lots of extra schedules, you can get your taxes done for free by volunteers.

Volunteers with the Internal Revenue Service Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program will be helping to prepare tax returns from 9 a.m. to noon every Saturday in February.

Black Hills Federal Credit Union is again hosting the VITA preparers at its Downtown Member Service Center located at 225 Main St. in Rapid City.

VITA offers free tax help for low to moderate-income people who cannot prepare their own tax returns, (generally, $49,000 and below) according to the IRS. Trained volunteers can help with special credits, such as Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, and Credit for the Elderly for which you may qualify.  To schedule an appointment or for information, call 343-0891 ext. 2230 or email vita-bhfcu@bhfcu.net.

By Barbara Soderlin

Looking for a pint? How about a pint served by men in kilts? The Wobbly Bobby British Pub opens at 3 p.m. Friday in the rear of the 510 Main St. building, with the entrance in the alley.

Owner Bob Fuchs said there will be 48 beers on tap and 20 varieties of wine, with a menu of traditional British pub food. More in tomorrow’s paper.