MITCHELL, S.D. — What if a student’s classroom idea could become a real storefront business just steps from one of South Dakota’s most recognized landmarks?
That question sparked a new partnership between the Mitchell Area Chamber of Commerce and the Mitchell Area Development Corporation (MADC). This spring, that vision becomes reality through the Mitchell Student Business Competition, a community-driven idea designed to help student entrepreneurs turn their ideas into storefronts in the Chamber Courtyard, located across from the world-famous Corn Palace.
Each summer, thousands of visitors walk past the Courtyard on their way to experience the Corn Palace. Community leaders began asking a simple question: What if those visitors could also discover a student-owned business? What if that space became a launchpad for the next generation of Mitchell entrepreneurs?
Rather than waiting for young talent to leave and build businesses elsewhere, Mitchell is choosing to create opportunity right here at home.
“We believe entrepreneurship changes communities,” said Mike Lauritsen, CEO of the Mitchell Area Development Corporation and Chamber of Commerce. “If we want more business owners in Mitchell, we have to create space for them to start. This is about giving students a real opportunity.”
Karisa Hart serves as the President of the Mitchell Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. “This initiative reflects the Chamber’s commitment to Mitchell’s long-term vitality,” Hart said. “By supporting student entrepreneurs, we’re investing in future business owners and community leaders we hope will choose to build their businesses, and their lives, right here in Mitchell.”
The Mitchell Student Business Competition is a collaboration between the Mitchell Area Chamber of Commerce, Mitchell Area Development Corporation, Mitchell Technical College, Dakota Wesleyan University, and regional high schools, including Mitchell High School.
Together, these institutions are aligning education with real-world opportunity.
At Mitchell Technical College, entrepreneurship students learn how to develop business plans and leadership skills. At Dakota Wesleyan University, the Kelley Center for Entrepreneurship focuses on innovation, business strategy, and startup development. Through this initiative, those lessons will extend beyond the classroom and into an actual retail environment.
“This is experiential learning in its purest form,” said Ryan Van Zee, Ed.D., of Mitchell Technical College’s Entrepreneurship Program and Leadership Academy. “When students move from theory to practice, something changes. Operating a storefront in a high-visibility location forces them to think about customer service, marketing, inventory, and daily operations in ways no textbook can replicate.”
Dr. Diana Goldammer, Director of the Kelley Center for Entrepreneurship at Dakota Wesleyan University, said the competition is a natural extension of her work with students.
“Entrepreneurship is about courage and creativity,” Goldammer said. “Students gain confidence when they see their ideas come to life. Partnering with the Chamber gives them a rare opportunity to test their concepts in a supportive but real marketplace. That kind of experience can shape a career.”
The Chamber Courtyard will serve as a summer business incubator, an incubator in the heart of downtown Mitchell. Students from Mitchell Technical College, Dakota Wesleyan University, and regional high schools are invited to compete.
Participants must propose businesses that can operate from a small retail storefront during the busy summer tourism season. Concepts may include retail products, specialty goods, art, food-based ideas, or other creative startups designed to attract both visitors and local families.
Selected teams will lease space in the Courtyard from Memorial Day through Labor Day. The Chamber will offer discounted lease rates to reduce barriers to entry while still requiring a formal agreement and modest lease payment to ensure commitment and accountability. Students must carry appropriate insurance and operate consistent weekly hours throughout the summer.
In addition to the storefront opportunity, participants will receive mentorship from local business leaders and investors, gaining feedback, guidance, and potential startup support. Community investors are also being invited to sponsor teams and invest in the next generation of Mitchell entrepreneurs.
Ryan Thompson, President of the Mitchell Area Development Corporation, said the competition aligns with broader economic development goals.
“Economic development is ultimately about people,” Thompson said. “When we help students turn ideas into businesses, we’re building skills, confidence, and connections that benefit the entire community. This program creates a pathway for young entrepreneurs to see Mitchell as a place where they can succeed.”
The Mitchell Student Business Competition will take place on April 2, 2026, at Mitchell Technical College. Student teams will present their business ideas to a panel of local business leaders. Selected teams will move forward with lease agreements in mid-April and begin preparing for their summer launch.
It is about activating downtown spaces with energy. It is about encouraging students to take risks in a supportive environment. And it is about showing young people that Mitchell is not just a place to grow up, but a place to build something.
“We want students to see Mitchell as a community that believes in them,” Lauritsen said. “When a student opens their doors for the first time and welcomes their first customer, that moment is powerful. That’s how entrepreneurs are made.”
As the summer of 2026 approaches, the Courtyard across from the Corn Palace may soon tell a new story not just of visitors passing through, but of students stepping forward to create, innovate, and build businesses of their own.
For more information about participating, mentoring, or sponsoring the Mitchell Student Business Competition, contact the Mitchell Area Development Corporation or the Mitchell Area Chamber of Commerce.
