A $1 million gift from First PREMIER Bank and PREMIER Bankcard will help kickstart Watertown’s new ice arena building project.  City Councilman Ried Holien announced earlier this month that an anonymous donation had significantly moved the project forward. That donor was recently revealed as the PREMIER organization.

First PREMIER Bank CEO Dana Dykhouse said the gift is part of the organization’s commitment to supporting the people and communities it serves. He also commended the City of Watertown for its vision and challenged others to help support the project. “We all have a responsibility to give back to our communities,” Dykhouse said. “Things like parks and athletic facilities are important quality of life features. They make a community vibrant and help attract new people and businesses.”

PREMIER Bankcard CEO Miles Beacom echoed this sentiment.

“We are excited to be a part of this project and we hope others will step up and lend a hand,” Beacom said. “This facility will help provide added opportunities for our young people to participate in some fun winter activities. This is a great partnership between the City of Watertown and PREMIER.”

First PREMIER Bank and PREMIER Bankcard have a history of supporting philanthropic ventures in the community. In 2016, the organization provided a $500,000 gift to create the PREMIER Softball Complex in southeast Watertown. PREMIER also donated a building to the City of Watertown that currently houses the Watertown Area Chamber of Commerce and other entities.

The proposed Watertown Ice Arena carries an estimated $15- to 17 million price tag. It will feature two sheets of ice and help alleviate early-morning and late-night practices. The Watertown Hockey Association is currently fundraising for the project and the Watertown Figure Skate Club has pledged an additional $750,000.

First PREMIER Bank VP and Market Leader Mark Dunn said the project is something people in his community have discussed for several years and PREMIER is proud to champion its progress. “This is a win-win situation for our community, our local economy and the many kids who enjoy hockey and figure skating,” he said.

About First PREMIER Bank and PREMIER Bankcard 
First PREMIER Bank and PREMIER Bankcard is one of Watertown’s largest employers with nearly 400 employees. The company supports nearly 700 organizations and its leadership team and employees have donated more than $1.5 billion to South Dakota entities since 1995. For more information visit www.firstpremier.com.

About the Watertown Development Company
The Watertown Development Company (WDC) is a non-profit organization established to own and operate buildings, lands, and development areas for the economic benefit of Watertown. For more information visit www.wdcsd.com.