Possible South Dakota Economic Development Project Example of Closed Government

Even the mighty Wall Street Journal can't find out, let alone the media here in South Dakota and Iowa.

But that's the way economic development and state government works here--closed to those who aren't insiders.
There are many interesting points in the story, one of which brings up the problem we have with closed government and closed economic development in South Dakota.

An excerpt from the WSJ's full story:(subscription required)*

The Sioux City Journal, just down the Missouri River in Sioux City, Iowa, is running a contest called "The Big Guess," offering a flat-screen TV to the reader who correctly predicts the nature of the project. About 170 people have entered.

Elk Point's local newspaper, the weekly Southern Union County Leader-Courier, has shed less light: Its publisher, Bruce Odson, is one of the development-board members. He says his dual role hasn't affected coverage. "We don't cover rumors," said Mr. Odson.

Odson obvious views his job as not a journalist (or at least one who hires journalists) but as a typical South Daktoa Republican crony capitalist. He has effectively muzzled one of the few local media outlets in Union County, an organization that if it were allowed to do its job, might uncover who or what Gorilla is.

But Odson is no worse than what we typically see in Republican-run South Dakota state government. Economic development is always like The Manhattan Project-total secrecy is needed. The rest of us poor schlubs don't need to know the who, what, when, where, or why. We just need to trust the Governor, the REDI Fund board, the GOED, or whomever.

Obviously, EVERYONE with a business is dying to come to South Dakota. We just don't want to let the capitalist kitty out of the bag.

Which begs the question. If South Dakota has such a wonderful business climate, um, why don't we have more businesses, particularly big businesses?

But I digress.

If Gorilla is indeed a great project that will take considerable capital, how does knowledge of its existence harm the investors, builders, and operators? Someone is going to swoop in and do Gorilla before the Gorilla developers do? That seems highly unlikely given the magnitude of the project.

The only interest I can see in keeping it all secret is to low-ball possible land sellers on their options to sell.

That doesn't sound like that's in South Dakotans best interests. Why not let the little guys-or at least the land owners-have a little taste of Gorilla pie and Gorilla profits? That's actually money that will stay around Elk Point and not get sent out of state to Gorilla's corporate headquarters.

And what's the state's interest in keeping all this secret?

Anyone? Bueller, Bueller, Bueller? Anyone?*

I'm not saying I think Gorilla is good or bad. I don't know what it is so I can't offer an informed opinion. Lord knows we need more good businesses that pay decent wages and add to the tax base. It is very possible that Gorilla will be a wonderful addition to Siouxland and to South Dakota. The problem is, I just don't know. Go ask Odson. He knows but he ain't talking and ain't letting his reporters report on it.

When people act all secret and stuff like Gov. Mike Rounds et al do on a continual basis when it comes to economic development (and other things), it's definitely something that makes you want to go "hmmm."

If Gorilla is truly a gorilla, it's hard to keep a gorilla hidden. They're kind of big and like to move around.

Strikes me as a strange way to run a democracy-we won't tell, you don't ask. But guess who'll be asked to clean up all the Gorilla poop if this thing doesn't work. Yup, us poor schlubs.

*in Ferris Bueller's Day Off, the answer was "Voodoo economics." Hmmm.