BOX ELDER, S.D. – The city of Box Elder is withdrawing land for sale to put a proposed state prison on.
This came just days after initially throwing the site into consideration. In a statement, the city cited feedback from the community.
The city said that it has “become clear that pursuing a correctional facility in Box Elder is not aligned with the sentiments of our residents or the current workforce realities within the Black Hills region.”
Because the city had submitted the land it has the power to withdraw the application, unlike sites like the ones in Mitchell and Worthing. In those cases, a private landowner is offering the land.
The official statement from the city of Box Elder and submitted to the Project Prison Reset Task Force, read, “When we submitted our response to the Project Prison Reset Task Force, we considered the project as a potential driver of job creation and a source of meaningful economic impact for the region. This was the thought process that would have allowed both city staff and the City Council to weigh the merits and community implications in advance, should Box Elder be identified as a favorable site previous to the Task Force meeting on July 8, 2025.
“Since the submittal of the response to the RFI, we have received meaningful feedback from our community, and it has become clear that pursuing a correctional facility in Box Elder is not aligned with the sentiments of our residents or the current workforce realities within the Black Hills region.
“We appreciate the opportunity to participate in the process and wish the state the very best in identifying the most suitable location for this important project. At this time, however, we are respectfully withdrawing our submission for consideration of a site in Box Elder, South Dakota.”
Now, the Project Prison Reset Task Force must decide between private land in Sioux Falls, Mitchell, Worthing and existing DOC locations in Sioux Falls and Springfield.
The task force’s next meeting is July 8.
