Black Hills Vision

The Vision Investment Partners BHV Organizational Chart What our Leaders say about Black Hills Vision

Plan & Objectives Missions Ellsworth Air Force Base Homestake Mine Business Incubator Air Service Task Force Affordable Housing Technology Corridor

BHV Investors Board of Directors Executive Council Investment Partners

Vision Campaign How To Invest BHV Organizational Chart Investor List

Contact List Mark Merchen Mike Derby Pete Cappa Mutch Usera M. Louise Walters

Common Questions

Current Events/Articles Support Letters

Black Hills Vision/Community Happenings

Economic Development & Organization Links

Black Hills n2tec n2tec institute

News

Pat Burchill

2006 good year for Rapid City Economic Development

By Lana Bradstream
January 30, 2007

It was a good year for Rapid City Economic Development (RCED), according to Economic Development Foundation Board President Pat Burchill. A report was given at the Jan. 17 annual meeting, listing the economic development highlights of 2006.

One of the biggest highlights was the completion of the Black Hills Business Development Center on the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology campus. Now, all of the economic development businesses are located in that building. Before, they were scattered across the city, said Burchill.

“It’s a one-stop shopping place for people looking for information on economic development,” Burchill said. “This will help economic development go more smoothly.”

Dr. Charles Ruch

Since the School of Mines allowed the facility to be built on the campus, SDSMT President Dr. Charles Ruch received the 2006 Magnet award. Burchill said the award is given every year to a person or business that made a significant contribution to economic development.

The Development Center is also home to Evans and Sutherland, a research facility developing laser projectors and Zyvex, a manufacturer of nano material components. C-lock, a carbon sequestrian certification and trading carbon credits company, and South Dakota Mill, LLC, a molecular materials milling applications company, are also slated to move into the facility soon.

“We’re trying to use technology as a springboard to the future,” Burchill said.

According to the report, these companies provide 20 jobs to begin with and will increase to 37 by the end of 2007. Also, the private investment is $3,650,000.

Other highlights of 2006 include more than $4 million received and distributed to 19 companies, and the Rapid Fund Board approved $590,000 financing for two projects, which will create 44 jobs in the next five years.

Another highlight included convincing the NEW call center to expand to Rapid City, which resulted in the creation of 150 jobs.

“This is very exciting. There’s a lot of good stuff going on,” said Burchill.

Mission: "To invest in the development of job creation and an opportunity environment for the Black Hills Region."