When the US Department of Defense placed Ellsworth Air Force Base on its closure list area communities reacted by initiating activities to provide information about the economic impact of the base.  Concurrently, the South Dakota Department of Labor (DOL) was given the task of developing a strategy to respond to the final BRAC (Base Realignment And Closure Commission) 2005 recommendations/decisions.  As part of the Department’s tasking, Black Hills Vision researched, assessed and analyzed the economic impact of a potential EAFB closure on the local communities and region.  Its findings reinforced the fact that EAFB is one of South Dakota’s largest employers:

• Total jobs: 5,100+

Military positions: 4,130
Civilian jobs on the base: 1,052

• Total direct dollar value: $257+ million

(Military & civilian annual payroll: $189 million)
(On-base construction projects, services, materials, supplies, contracts: $68 million)

The project also identified opportunities of the local area to meet readjustment and training needs of businesses and workers.

Links:

• Ellsworth Air Force Base
• Ellsworth 2006 Economic Impact Analysis
• Base Realignment and Closure
• The Patriot newspaper

Who to Contact: Contact Ellsworth Air Force Base