(SIOUX CITY, IA) - Facing a potentially devastating brain drain, Sioux City is recruiting young professionals with a Sioux City history. Economic Development staff are betting the community's future lies in the people of its past.
Now a mother of three, Anne Wyestra returned to Sioux City from New York City about a decade ago. The community today is very different from what the East High School grad knew in her childhood. "Now there's so much more," she said, "you've got an ice center and an art center. You've got shows on the weekend, not only clubs on Fourth Street. You don't have to go to Sioux Falls or Omaha to see great entertainment anymore. And I feel very fortunate to have been part of that. The building of the Tyson Events Center, the restoration of the Orpheum, the Riverfront, the Art Center, all these things have happened since I've been back, and it's really exciting."
It's that turnaround Wyestra tries to highlight in her work with Sioux City Economic Development. She helped develop "Home Again," a campaign using social media to share success stories of young professionals who moved home. "That's what we're trying to do. Tell the good story of Sioux City, have it out there for young people to look at as they think about their options and their life," explained Economic Development Director Marty Dougherty.
For an inexpensive web site venture, "Home Again" has seen results. "We've got a lot of interest, we've had some great stories to tell of people that have moved back here," said Dougherty. Wyestra added, "I never thought ten to 15 years ago that I would be able to help affect a community." As she continues working to bring jobs for young professionals to Siouxland, Wyestra is focused on the future. "We can show them, what kind of a positive place this is now, and how the people of this community come together, and want to make it a better place."
Sioux City runs its "Home Again" web site year-round, but rolls out special campaigns around Mother's Day and Christmas, when many former residents return to visit family.
www.locatesiouxcity.com/home/
