After visiting nine different cities across seven different states to talk about the potential for professional soccer during April, USL Division III will unveil its fourth founding member – and first team based in the Midwest – in two weeks.

“We’ve enjoyed numerous visits to the Midwest since we formally launched USL Division III more than a year ago, and we’re thrilled with the first market set to be announced in the region,” USL Division III Senior Vice President Steven Short told USLD3.com. “As we continue to build out a regional competition model across the United States, this team will serve as an exemplary pillar for the Midwest contingent.”

The announcement of the new team comes on the heels of a busy April, which included meetings with more than 90 different sports commissions and tourism entities while in Minneapolis, Minnesota, for the National Association of Sports Commissions Symposium from April 23-27. USL DIII executives spoke to city representatives from Baton Rouge (Louisiana), Lexington (Kentucky), Little Rock (Arkansas), Eugene (Oregon), South Bend (Indiana), Tallahassee (Florida), Columbia (South Carolina) and many more.

While league officials were busy traveling to multiple markets, potential Southeast-based ownership also visited the offices of the USL. Currently, two of the league’s three founding members – South Georgia Tormenta FC and Greenville Pro Soccer – are based in the Southeast.

Meanwhile, FC Tucson and Tormenta FC are set to kick off their respective Premier Development League campaigns, as the top pre-professional league across North America prepares to kick off its 24th season on Friday.