THE ISSUE: Coalition of local leaders raising funds to create and retain jobs in Black HIlls.

OUR VIEW: Past success laid foundation for new endeavors in regional economic development.

Most people don't think about the time, money and effort required to sustain a healthy economy where they live. But as the recession wears on, such efforts take on greater importance.

Fortunately for the Black Hills, a coalition of local leaders have given a great deal of careful thought to supporting economic development in the region. And their past successes have laid the groundwork for future endeavors.

Black Hills Vision, a fundraising coalition that was instrumental in establishing the Sanford lab, saving Ellsworth Air Force Base from closure and improving air service in and out of Rapid City, is halfway through its latest effort to raise $2 million.

The fundraising coalition, formed in 2003, previously raised $3 million to support the lab, military base and airport.
After that success, it launched Black Hills Vision II in 2009, and since then has raised another $1 million, bringing it to the halfway mark of its current $2 million goal.

The goal is less ambitious than the first fundraising effort due to the weak economy.

That just makes the amount raised to date that much more impressive, considering how difficult it can be to raise funds in this economic environment.

Black Hills Vision plans to spend the money it's raising now over the next five to six years to sustain its past efforts, and to fund other economic development initiatives throughout the region.

Gov. Dennis Daugaard, who has made economic development a top priority of his administration, was on hand last week to praise the group for the jobs it has retained and created.

He also predicted further economic growth will result due to the group's cohesive effort and the state's favorable business climate.

Black Hills Vision has been credited in large part for the federal government's decision to locate an underground physics lab at the former Homestake mine in Lead.

Competing sites didn't have the local support that Black Hills Vision brought to the table. It also played a key role in sparing Ellsworth Air Force from the federal government's last round of base closures.

Black Hills Vision's future goals include expanding air service in the region, developing a regional technology corridor, and supporting business incubators, road infrastructure and government lobbying for the region.

Rapid City and the Black Hills region is fortunate to have this group of leaders willing to put their time, money and effort into building and maintaining a strong regional economy.

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