The Plan

Building a stronger Black Hills Economy

On October 15, Governor Mike Rounds announced his new 2010 Initiative in the shadow of Mount Rushmore. He outlined plans for making South Dakota's quality of life the best in the United States by 2010. Governor Rounds described the people of South Dakota as "mountain carvers" - a special breed of Americans who set long-range goals and work on them until the project is successful. They begin huge projects that take years to complete and require patients, hard work, and determination.

In the tradition of the "mountain carvers" mentioned by Governor Rounds, the people of the Black Hills are"rolling up their sleeves" to leave another legacy for their children and grandchildren. The legacy that today's "mountain carvers" will leave to future generations is economic prosperity. It means that young people growing up in South Dakota with a strong work ethic and pride their communities will be able to find good jobs provided by good employees who pay good wages.

The builders of the new economy for the Black Hills have a plan. It is called "Black Hills Vision" and it is the first regional effort at creating a planned and coordinated approach to economic development for the region. Key leaders with the Black Hills Community Economic Development Corporation, the Rapid City Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Rapid City Economic Development Partnership pooled their resources and combined several major capital fundraising projects under one capital campaign.

Our Mission
" Create Jobs by assisting in the creation of new profitable businesses through funding the startup of the $2.3 Million Western South Dakota Business Accelerator. Money will be used to defray costs of operating the facility until it becomes self-sufficient.

" Create Jobs by funding an aggressive business recruitment and development campaign associated with the Black Hills a startup of the National Underground Science Laboratory.

" Retain Jobs associated with Ellsworth Air Force Base by providing funds necessary to educate and enlighten the Defense Department and congress, as well as the general public; and work to provide a solid information strategy to secure another mission for the base.

" Increase air passenger traffic at Rapid City Regional Airport by expanding and enhancing new "fly-drive" programs made possible through $3.2 Million provided by Federal, State, and Local governments along with Industry Stakeholders.
" Help low-moderate income homebuyers by creating the basic corpus of a permanent fund.
" Provide for campaign administration and an investor relation program over the next four years.