📣 2025 Celebrate Centerville Community 💜
📣 2025 Celebrate Centerville Community Gala Recap - What a night, Centerville! 💜❄️
On Saturday, December 6th, the Centerville Development Corporation hosted the 2025 Celebrate Centerville Community Gala at the Centerville Legion. A winter storm threatened the event throughout the day, but thanks to early preparation from the caterer and the dedication of volunteers, the gala moved forward safely for locals and all those able to make the trip.
More than 160 people had originally RSVP’d, and just over 100 braved the weather to attend the annual celebration of Centerville’s accomplishments, partnerships, and community spirit.
Guests began the evening with a networking social, cash bar, and appetizers prepared by Centerville Area Foundation Chair Susan Overgaard and foundation board members, who also provided the desserts and decorations. Dinner was catered by 605 Island Guy, featuring Samoan BBQ chicken and Kalua pork, along with rice and salad. The Centerville Area Community Foundation served as the Platinum-level Dinner Sponsor. 🌴🍽️ 🌺
A total of 18 business sponsors supported this year’s gala, including Platinum sponsors ISG Engineering, Fort Randall Telephone Company, Xcel Energy, MidAmerican Energy, Crary Huff Law Firm, Total Stop, Centerville Manufacturing, and the Centerville Area Community Foundation; and Gold sponsors AMS Building Systems, Centerville Care & Rehab, Geek Dad, Knudson Masonry, Pioneer Memorial Centerville Medical Clinic, Mr. G’s Tires, NAPA of Centerville, Sioux Metro Growth Alliance, Tuffy’s Bar & Grill, Gary Ward Law Office, and Ward Real Estate. A special thank-you was extended to the Centerville Area Foundation for their partnership in helping plan and prepare the event. ⭐ 💼
Welcome & Growth Metrics
The evening program opened with welcoming remarks from Jared Hybertson, who reflected first on Centerville’s remarkable 2024—when Centerville was named the Governor’s chose for Community of the Year—and contrasted that with a more challenging 2025. Building permits were down 2.88% from the previous year, and sales tax revenue declined by 8%. Despite these challenges, Centerville’s population continues to trend upward, with an estimated 960 residents. If growth continues at the current pace, Centerville is projected to reach the 1,000-resident milestone by 2030. 2025 was a reflection of economy trends across the entire US, but despite this year’s challenges we are still seeing people coming into Centerville that want to live here or start a business here. 📈
City Update
Mayor Kent Austin followed with a city update, addressing budgeting, street maintenance, and progress on the upcoming water tower project. The mayor explained the budget challenges as the city saw stagnate sales task and property tax numbers in 2025. The maintenance plan for the streets has been going well and this program will continue in 2026. The mayor explained some of the challenges the city has faced with the water tower project. The new water tower is now scheduled to go out for bids this December, with construction expected to begin in 2026. Due to manufacturer timelines, completion may take 12–18 months once work gets underway. Mayor Austin thanked all the city council members and city employees for their hard work in 2025. 🏛️ 🚧 🚰
Keynote Address
Next in the program was planned to be the Keynote address to be given by the current Commissioner of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, Bill Even. Due to the weather conditions, the commissioner was unfortunately unable to attend. Hybertson summarized the message Mr. Even had planned to deliver, focusing on the importance of agriculture in rural communities and the significant impact local farmers have on Centerville’s economy, volunteerism and overall identity.
This transitioned into the announcement of a new award category, created to celebrate the contribution of farm families to the community. Hybertson awarded the inaugural 🌾 Farm Family of the Year Award to Tim & Jackie Austin & the Austin Family, citing their commitment to sustainable farming practices and multi-generational farming, along with their volunteerism, and impact to the community and local economy. The Austin’s also recently became local business owners, along with their son Adam, daughter Carrie and son-in-law Eric when they purchased the Centerville Steakhouse and turned it into Tuffy’s Bar & Grill. This new business venture has been a success and had a significant positive impact on the community.
School Update
The community then heard from Superintendent Doug Edberg, who shared strong academic and testing achievements from Centerville students. While enrollment dipped slightly—primarily in the lower grades—overall long-term trends remain positive. Superintendent Edberg also provided an update on the district’s proposed classroom updates and new CTE addition. The initial bond proposal failed this fall by only a few percentage points. The school will bring the bond issue back to voters this spring. The proposed improvements and additional CTE classroom space would give the Centerville school the ability to equip students with more real-world skills, hands on learning and pathways to high demand careers. 🏫
Centerville Area Foundation Highlights
During the Foundation Update, Susan Overgaard highlighted the Foundation’s student scholarship award winner, along with the other various community grants distributed throughout the year. In total the foundation gave out over $11,000 in grants to impact Centerville in 2025. Some of the recipients of those grants were the school, the rotary club and the food pantry. Susan also recognized Foundation-sponsored events, including the alumni golf tournament, the kids pedal pull during the Tornado Days 4th of July celebration, and the Community Gala. The Centerville Area Foundation will look to make an even bigger impact on the community in 2026. 💵
Community & Economic Development Updates
Hybertson returned to touch on a variety of community development and economic development accomplishments in 2025. Several key accomplishments in housing, business development, downtown improvements, community development, events, parks & recreation, and marketing were highlighted. Despite a challenging year, several positive developments took place across these categories, with multiple new projects are already in motion for 2026.
🏠 🏢 📈 🤝 🌱 📅
2025 Community Award Winners
Next was the presentation of Centerville’s annual community awards:
• Volunteer of the Year 🏆 – The Centerville Volunteer Fire Department
The Centerville Volunteer Fire Department was honored for their courage, service, and unwavering dedication to protecting the community. Current and past department members were invited forward for recognition.
• Business of the Year 🏆 – Centerville Medical Clinic
The Centerville Medical Clinic was recognized for exceptional service the community, it’s exceptional and compassionate care of its patients, and continued investment in Centerville’s future. Employees of the Centerville Medical Clinic and Pioneer Memorial Health Services accepted the award.
Earlier in the evening it was announced that Pioneer Memorial Health Services had reached out to the Centerville Development Corporation with an offer for the local economic development organization to purchase the former clinic building in the downtown. Pioneer Memorial felt the building would be in the best hands with the development corporation at the helm, looking to bring a new business into the space that would benefit the community. The purchase will be finalized before the end of the year.
• Employee of the Year 🏆 – Linda Holmberg, Centerville Community Library
Linda Holmberg was honored with the Employee of the Year Award and praised for her kindness, creativity, professionalism, and longstanding impact on school children and Centerville residents. Linda has been an employee at the library for over 25 years.
Julia Eisch of The Seed Coffeehouse & Eatery received the second highest number of nominations.
• Community & Economic Development Partner of the Year 🏆 – Sioux Metro Growth Alliance
The Sioux Metro Growth Alliance was recognized as this year’s community and economic development partner for their commitment to supporting Centerville’s economic vitality, business growth, community development and promotion of Centerville in 2025.
Unfortunately, due to the weather conditions, members of SMGA were unable to attend the Gala. There organization will be presented with this award during their Board Christmas party this December.
Closing
Jared Hybertson stayed at the podium to offer some closing thoughts. Hybertson again mentioned the challenging year that was 2025, this time acknowledging and paying tribute to a few longtime Centerville residents that we lost in 2025. He mentioned the legacies that Jim Thomson, Richard Vasgaard, Deb Diercks, & Sherree Dee Schmiedt left and the lasting impression each of these individuals made on Centerville. It was tough on the community to lose all of them in the same year. 🖤
To close out the evening a sneak peek video was shown of one of the segments within the upcoming SDPB Dakota Life feature on Centerville. The featured segment was on the life and legacy of Sherree Dee Schmiedt. This heartfelt segment shares Sherree’s impact on Centerville and the historical items she secured for the community. 📜
A free preview screening of the entire 🎥 Greetings From Centerville Dakota Life episode will take place on Wednesday, January 7th at the Centerville American Legion at 7pm. The entire community is invited to attend the screening. The episode will then air live on SDPB Thursday, January 15th and live online at watch.sdpb.org.
After the video, Hybertson asked the crowd to reflect on what they saw and challenged them to think about what their individual legacies will be and how they might be able to better leave a lasting impact on Centerville.
