Freeman Community Development Corporation
FCDC is proud to salute our members & invite more to join us! Check out the At-A-Glance FCDC Member List or access a 2-page printable listing.
Scroll down to find out more about our development corporation, including the list of current board members. Stay up to date on the latest in the Freeman community by liking & following Freeman Development-Experience Freeman, SD on Facebook. We also invite you to explore our Calendar for upcoming events, as well as other information posted at ExperienceFreemanSD.com, the official website of the Freeman Community Development Corporation.
The Freeman Community Development Corporation is a non-profit 501(c)6 organization dedicated to promoting the economic vitality of the community and promoting the highest quality of life for residents and those who visit the Freeman community. FCDC is run by a governing board of community members who meet monthly and represent a broad spectrum of Freeman community members and businesses. FCDC by-laws are posted here.
The mission of the corporation is "to foster and promote economic development, support the community's current business infrastructure, and to advance a positive quality of life in the Freeman community and its service area."
FCDC's Board of Directors typically meets at City Hall on the first Monday of each month at 5:30 PM. All member representatives are invited to attend, provide input, & become involved in committee work. Scroll down for the 2023 board member listing or download this printable page.
Mission Statement
The Mission of the Freeman Community Development Corporation is to foster and promote economic development, to support the community’s current business infrastructure, and to advance a positive quality of life in the Freeman Community and its service area.
In the pursuit of its mission, the Freeman Community Development Corporation will work for the establishment of Freeman as a regional center for agriculture, commerce, tourism, health care, professional services, education, industry, and the celebration of its arts and heritage.
Vision Statement
2023 FCDC Board of Directors
Executive Officers:
Courtney Unruh, President
Jake Tietje, Vice President
Evan Waltner, Secretary
Lee Dockendorf, Treasurer
Immediate Past President:
Jeff Buechler
Committee Chairs:
Lee Dockendorf - Economic Dev.
Jake Tietje - Commerce, Education, Tourism
Board Members Elected to Serve Through 2023:
Lee Dockendorf | Marnette Hofer
Glenn Roth
Board Members Elected to Serve Through 2024:
Courtney Unruh | Steve “Charly” Waltner
Board Members Elected to Serve Through 2025:
Brad Gering | Charles Harberts
Julie Oien | Evan Waltner
Serving A One-Year Ex Officio Term:
Jeff Buechler | David Downs
Representing the City of Freeman & Our Schools:
Michael Walter, Mayor of Freeman
Jake Tietje, Freeman Public School Superintendent
Brad Anderson, Freeman Academy Head of School
Development & Marketing Coordinator:
Shelly Wanninger
DEVELOPMENT & MARKETING OFFICE
Freeman City Hall Administrative Offices | East Entrance
P.O. Box 43 | 185 East Third Street | Freeman, SD 57029
Phone: 605.925.4444
FCDC Membership
The Freeman Community Development Corporation invites individuals, families, & businesses of the greater Freeman community to with us as part of our organization. Together, we can accomplish more!
ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP DRIVE (DEC. OR JAN.)
Memberships & mail provided to FCDC's post office box are monitored by FCDC's treasurer.
Completed membership forms may be mailed to FCDC, P.O. Box 43, Freeman, SD 57029 or placed in the dropbox at Freeman’s City Hall, attention FCDC Membership.
Questions? Call the City of Freeman's Development & Marketing office at 605.925.4444 & we'll be happy to visit with you!
LEVELS OF FCDC ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP CATEGORIES
Individual/Couple/Family Membership (with NO Business Listed or Advertised by FCDC) - $75
Community Organization Membership (i.e. Rural Revival, SD Chislic Festival)
Self-Employed Business Owner with No Other Paid Employees - $75
Business with Just One FTE (Full-Time Equivalent) Employee - $75
Business with 2-9 FTE (Full-Time Equivalent) Employees - $175
Business with 10 or More FTE (Full-Time Equivalent) Employees - $250
Invest in the future of Freeman by joining together with others for the benefit of the Freeman Community.
Participate in the decision-making process for activities & budgetary decisions related to our four areas of focus: Economic Development, Commerce, Education, &/or Tourism.
Have a voice in decisions that impact our community by serving as part of our Board of Directors or by exercising voting privileges at annual & special meetings of the full corporation membership.
Receive a premium website listing that's also linked to your business website or Facebook page.
Become eligible to participate in professional development sessions provided by FCDC.
Receive communication made available throughout the year at the courtesy of FCDC.
Keep up-to-date on economic development projects taking place in the Freeman community.
Gain access to signage, referrals, & a variety of other promotional opportunities throughout the year.
Strengthen your ability to help move the Freeman community forward by teaming with others who invest both human & financial capital in our organization.
Resources for Business Development
If you're interested in starting a business in Freeman, we'd love to visit with you. Call us at 605.925.4444 & click on the links below for helpful resources for those looking to develop a business. To provide assistance for business & industry development in Freeman, the City of Freeman operates a Revolving Loan Fund & accepts applications. Links can be found below.
Business Planning Guide (English) proved by the South Dakota Small Business Development Center.
Business Planning Guide (Spanish) proved by the South Dakota Small Business Development Center.
You'll find financial assistance opportunities, information about webinars, & other sources that may be helpful for our local businesses posted in the ‘Breaking News & Information‘ section of this site. This listing is continually being updated as new opportunities become available.