Business.

RAPID CITY, S.D. — Monument Health Rapid City Hospital has again received an “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group, making it the only hospital in South Dakota to earn the top mark in the latest national ratings released Nov. 24. The grade places Rapid City Hospital among the roughly 30 percent of hospitals […]

RAPID CITY, S.D. — The YMCA of Rapid City has appointed two new Executive Board Members, adding local leadership experience as the organization continues expanding its community impact across the Black Hills. The Y announced this week that Mike Kirkeby and Jess Gromer have joined the board, bringing decades of professional expertise and a strong […]

By: Michelle Pawelski Photos: Bailey Sadowsky Issue: November 2025 Last September, after a decade of honing his skills with manufacturers across the Black Hills, Brock Smith took a leap of faith. The South Dakota Mines graduate and Wyoming native launched his own venture, Divergent Designs, giving himself one year to see if his dream of […]

UNDATED – With last year’s Black Friday sales drawing 81.7 million Americans to shop in person and 87.3 million to

Spirit Card program supports Custer High and ten other area schools with donations to clubs, scholarships, and student programs RAPID CITY, SD — Highmark Credit Union continues to make a difference in local classrooms through its Spirit Card program, donating more than $34,000 back to area schools, colleges, and student organizations over the past four years. On Thursday, November […]

By: Michelle Pawelski Photos by: Bailey Sadowsky Issue: November 2025 The moment Leah Theunissen opens the garage door, Copper, the family’s spirited cocker spaniel, bolts into the yard, tail wagging and playing, living his best life. It is a much different Copper, now eight, than several years earlier.  When he was just three, he was […]

YANKTON, S.D. (Nov. 3, 2025) — Longtime agricultural lender Dakota Mac has a new name and a renewed mission. First Dakota National Bank announced that the division will now operate as Landera, a rebrand meant to capture a broader service area and continued commitment to the ag community amid shifting economic conditions. The change, effective […]

RAPID CITY, S.D. — New research from Northwest Registered Agent highlights South Dakota as one of the most affordable states in the country to start a business in 2025, thanks to its low taxes and minimal startup costs. The Spokane, Washington-based business formation company ranked South Dakota second overall in its Top 10 Most Affordable […]

RAPID CITY, S.D. – The city of Rapid City, a gateway to the Black Hills, issued 223 building permits in October with a combined valuation exceeding $69.8 million, marking the second-highest October on record for building permit valuation. With two months remaining in the year, the city has issued 2,078 building permits totaling $357.4 million […]

UNDATED – With the rate of credit card delinquency increasing in all 50 states over the first two quarters of

RAPID CITY, SD (Nov. 5, 2025) – In the 20 years since the founding of the South Dakota Mines Engineers Make Great

PIERRE, S.D – The South Dakota Community Foundation (SDCF), which has offices in Rapid City and across the state, has been named the fastest-growing community foundation in the nation among its peers. The recognition was part of the newly released 2023 Census of Community Foundations by the Community Foundation Research and Training Institute (CFRTI). The […]

UNDATED – Average gasoline prices in South Dakota have risen 0.7 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $2.77/g

RAPID CITY, S.D. – Oct. 30, 2025 – TSP, Inc., a multidisciplinary design firm, announced today that Alex Kalmbach has officially earned his licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE), qualifying him as a mechanical engineer. The PE credential represents the highest standard in engineering, underscoring expertise, competence, and public trust. Achieving this license requires a rigorous process, including completing a four-year degree from an accredited engineering program, successfully passing the Fundamentals of […]

RAPID CITY, S.D. (Oct. 27, 2025) – Monument Health, the largest private employer in South Dakota, will host a hiring event Monday, Nov. 3, from 3 to 6 p.m. at its Human Resources Office, located at 1400 Turbine Drive in Rapid City. The event offers onsite interviews and immediate hiring opportunities for a range of […]

RAPID CITY, S.D. (Oct. 16, 2025) — Monument Health has announced the addition of Jake Enos, M.D., a fellowship-trained orthopedic sports medicine specialist, to its Orthopedics & Sports Medicine practice in Spearfish. The move expands access to advanced orthopedic care for athletes and active residents across the northern Black Hills. Dr. Enos joins orthopedic surgeons […]

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Oct. 24, 2025) — The Board of Directors of Special Olympics South Dakota (SOSD) has appointed Nick Moen as the organization’s new President and Chief Executive Officer, effective Oct. 27. Moen brings more than a decade of leadership experience in higher education, nonprofit athletics, and community engagement. He most recently served as […]

Rapid City Mayor Jason Salamun voiced support Thursday for Gov. Larry Rhoden’s proposal to create a zero-interest loan program aimed at funding major airport expansion projects across South Dakota. The mayor’s statement, shared by State Rep. Mike Derby during the governor’s announcement event, emphasized the economic importance of strong air infrastructure to the state’s continued […]

By: Kory Lanphear The famous Greek myth of Icarus and Daedalus warns of the perils of flying too near the sun. In reality, flying too close to the ground is far more dangerous. It is with this partially in mind that Managing Members Brandon Hatle and Tim Brown created AerSol, which deals in agriculture and […]

By: Kory Lanphear It has happened to all of us: maybe it was that favorite pair of pants as a kid; maybe it was an expanding family’s first home; maybe as an aging adult, it was the favorite pants again, but we have all outgrown much-loved things. For Parts One NAPA in Rapid City, it […]

RAPID CITY, S.D. (Oct. 21, 2025) — What began as a question about conflicting calculus textbooks three decades ago has earned South Dakota Mines Professor Emeritus Donald Teets, D.A., one of mathematics’ highest honors. Teets received the Paul R. Halmos – Lester R. Ford Award from the Mathematical Association of America (MAA) for his paper […]

RAPID CITY, S.D. — October 16, 2025 — Wealth Advisors Trust Company (WATC), an independent, advisor-founded corporate trustee based in South Dakota, has appointed Jonathan Connolly as President and Chief Operating Officer. The move signals a new phase of national expansion for the firm, which currently oversees more than $4 billion in assets under administration. […]

UNDATED – South Dakota’s healthcare infrastructure faces significant vulnerability to extreme weather and natural hazards, according to a groundbreaking Commonwealth

SPEARFISH, S.D. — October 2025 — Dylan S. Clarkson, President and CEO of Pioneer Bank & Trust, has received and accepted two prestigious appointments to key state and national banking organizations, effective this month. Clarkson has been appointed by the Governor of South Dakota to serve as a member of the South Dakota Banking Commission […]

Rapid City, SD – Fresh Produce, LLC, a marketing agency with offices in downtown Sioux Falls and Rapid City, has purchased Midwest Marketing, a long-established Rapid City agency. Fresh Produce, founded in 2004, sees the acquisition of the 2005-founded Midwest Marketing as a strategic and complementary move in the South Dakota market. Fresh Produce co-founder […]

SURF recently completed a major upgrade to the wastewater treatment plant, ensuring many more years of clean water in local

UNDATED – Happy National Energy Awareness Month! With 26% of U.S. electricity generation expected to come from renewables in 2026,

RAPID CITY, S.D. — Jay Murphy, Director of Campaign Development for Riverfront Broadcasting Black Hills, has been named the 2025 Broadcaster of the Year by the South Dakota Broadcasters Association (SDBA). The award was presented during the SDBA’s annual leadership conference in Sioux Falls. The honor recognizes an individual broadcaster for their significant impact on […]

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — Nearly $1.5 million was raised earlier this month at the 2025 Sanford Children’s Gala, pushing forward plans for South Dakota’s first and only dedicated pediatric emergency department. The funds will support construction of the David H. & Christine Billion Pediatric Emergency Department, located next to the Sanford Emergency Department on the […]

RAPID CITY, S.D. (Oct. 8, 2025) — Business leaders, IT professionals, and tech enthusiasts from across the Black Hills are invited to the third annual TECHLeadership Conference, set for Wednesday, Oct. 15, at the Box Elder Events Center in Box Elder. The one-day event brings together experts in technology, cybersecurity, and business strategy for a […]

RAPID CITY, SD — October 7, 2025 — What began decades ago in a South Dakota garage has grown into one of the region’s premier outdoor retailers. Trav’s Outfitter, a family-owned and operated business with more than 40 years in the shoe and apparel industry, is celebrating the Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting of its […]

PIERRE, S.D. – Business owners in South Dakota have a new tool to boost their network and their knowledge. It’s

STURGIS, S.D. – The Sturgis City Council received a welcome September sales tax report at their meeting last night. City

RAPID CITY, S.D. (Oct. 7, 2025) — A new independent medical facility is expanding access to critical heart and vascular care in western South Dakota. The Black Hills Heart and Vascular Institute has officially opened in Rapid City, becoming the first in the region to offer same-day appointments for both chest pain and vascular concerns. […]

by: Michelle Pawelski Chris King first discovered motocross at age 8, but it wasn’t until his 30s that the thrill of a dirt bike truly gripped him. One ride around a cul-de-sac on a friend’s new bike was all it took. By the next day, he owned one himself. A few weeks later, a road […]

RAPID CITY, S.D. (Oct. 7, 2025) – What began as a love for art and music has led South Dakota Mines senior Ryan Cantz to one of the nation’s top undergraduate honors in nuclear science. Cantz, a physics major from New Jersey, has been selected for the Conference Experience for Undergraduates (CEU) award, a competitive […]

Average gasoline prices in South Dakota have fallen 6.8 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $2.79/g today, according

By Kyler Hagen What began as a teenage fascination with flower shops has grown into one of downtown Rapid City’s most beloved businesses. Over the past three decades, Victoria’s Garden has evolved from a tiny floral shop into a thriving creative hub, expanding its space, offerings, and influence throughout the community. Victoria “Vicki” Bierman, who […]

RAPID CITY, S.D. (Oct. 3, 2025) — Neel Kashkari, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, will visit Rapid City on Thursday, Oct. 16, to hear directly from residents and business leaders about the regional economy. Kashkari will deliver brief remarks and answer questions at a public town hall hosted by Elevate Rapid City […]

RAPID CITY, S.D. — Ronald McDonald House Charities of South Dakota broke ground this week on its newest Ronald McDonald House, the first to serve families in western South Dakota. The new facility, located at the corner of East Fairmont Boulevard and Elm Avenue in Rapid City, will feature 12 private guest suites, a fully […]

Wildfire Labs grad launches platform to wipe out medical debt By Michelle Pawelski In December 2020, Tamara Morrow opened her mailbox to find a letter that would change her life. It wasn’t another bill, but the opposite — a letter stating that her medical debt had been paid off by a local church. “There was […]

Rapid City, South Dakota – After ten years of operating as an exclusive destination for members and guests of the historic Hotel Alex Johnson, Juniper at Vertex Sky Bar is now officially open to the public, offering its signature elevated dining and sweeping views of Rapid City and the Black Hills. The move, announced on […]

RAPID CITY, S.D. – Black Hills State University-Rapid City (BHSU-RC) celebrated the grand opening of its new addition and renovation

RAPID CITY, S.D. (Oct. 1, 2025) – A South Dakota Mines professor is receiving international recognition for her dedication to teaching and mentoring students in the Black Hills. Gokce Ustunisik, Ph.D., associate professor of geology and geological engineering and curator of minerals at South Dakota Mines, has been awarded the 2025 Graduate Women in Science […]

LEAD, S.D. (Oct. 1, 2025) — The Sanford Underground Research Facility is accepting applications for its 2026 Artist-in-Residence program, inviting one artist to create work inspired by the science conducted a mile underground in the Black Hills of South Dakota. SURF, the deepest underground laboratory in the United States, hosts experiments spanning physics, biology, geology […]

There’s a new name taking flight in the world of pheasant hunting—Rapid Rooster. Nestled just outside of Rapid City and right

UNDATED – Average gasoline prices in South Dakota have fallen 4.8 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $2.86/g

RAPID CITY, S.D. — What started with a hard hat, a $2-an-hour job, and a determination to do things right has grown into one of the Black Hills’ most enduring construction companies. Scull Construction, now marking 40 years in Rapid City, credits its longevity to grit, loyal talented employees, and a simple guiding principle: do what […]

With the average interest rate on mortgages decreasing in all states between Q1 2025 and Q2 2025, the personal-finance company

RAPID CITY, S.D. (Sept. 24, 2025) — South Dakota Mines will inaugurate Dr. Brian Tande as the university’s 20th president today, marking a new era of leadership at the historic engineering and science institution. Tande, who began his tenure in January, succeeds Dr. Jim Rankin, who retired in 2024 after serving six years as president. […]

RAPID CITY, S.D. – The Dollar General Literacy Foundation (DGLF) recently awarded the Career Learning Center of the Black Hills

RAPID CITY, S.D. – The Black Hills Home Builders Association will host its annual Parade of Homes on Oct. 4–5, giving residents the chance to step inside some of the region’s newest and most innovative homes. The two-day event, now a fall tradition in Rapid City, will feature 40 homes constructed by 19 area builders. […]

PIERRE, S.D. – Gov. Larry Rhoden has appointed Rapid City nonprofit leader Sara Hornick to the South Dakota Housing Development Authority (SDH) Board of Commissioners. Hornick serves as executive director of the Rapid City Public School Foundation and brings more than a decade of community service and nonprofit leadership to the board. A graduate of […]

RAPID CITY, S.D. – Midwest Wellness Institute (MWI Health), a provider of mental health and addiction services in South Dakota, is expanding its reach with a new clinic in Rapid City and additional locations planned across the Midwest. The new Rapid City clinic, located at 2620 Jackson Blvd., is part of a broader expansion that […]

Average gasoline prices in South Dakota have fallen 1.7 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $2.91/g today, according

RAPID CITY, S.D. (Sept. 16, 2025) – Midwest Heart and Vascular Associates and Dr. Bhaskar Purushottam host a ribbon cutting event for their new space in Rapid City. The independent cardiovascular practice, which opened its doors in April 2025, is committed to redefining heart, vascular, and venous care in the Black Hills through compassionate, guideline-directed […]

RAPID CITY, S.D. – A Spearfish software developer is putting the Black Hills on the map for food and technology innovation with the launch of his new app, micgrw (pronounced mike-grow). Founder Timothy Ford, a South Dakota Mines graduate in computer science and applied math, is celebrating a Sept. 6 release of the iOS app, […]

UNDATED – With the average student loan debt reaching over $39,000 per borrower, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its

SPEARFISH, S.D. – Pioneer Bank & Trust and Jeb H. and Maureen Clarkson have donated $50,000 to Black Hills State University to support student scholarships. A check presentation was held on the morning of September 17th in the Pioneer Bank & Trust Spearfish branch. The donation is a significant investment in the future of students […]

RAPID CITY, S.D. – Simpson’s Printing is marking its 60th anniversary this year, highlighting decades of growth, community involvement and continuous investment in new technologies to meet the needs of Rapid City and the greater Black Hills region. “Over the past 60 years, we’ve witnessed significant changes in both our business and the community we […]

RAPID CITY, S.D. – The new Pete Lien & Sons Shooting Sports Complex will host its first major event later this month as Prairie Thunder, Inc. brings the 2025 CZ Area 3 USPSA Championship to Rapid City, Sept. 25-28. The championship is expected to draw about 400 competitors from 29 states and Canada, making it […]

PIERRE, S.D. – The South Dakota Better Business Bureau says Locayt, a rental property and real estate company, has been

RAPID CITY, S.D. (Sept. 16, 2025) – A unique “Pyramid Approach” pioneered at South Dakota Mines is proving that layered mentorship can accelerate both learning and discovery, strengthening the region’s role in biotechnology research. For more than a decade, Rajesh Sani, Ph.D., professor in the Karen M. Swindler Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering and […]

STURGIS, S.D. – Sturgis City Administrator Aaron Jordan says sales in the month of August were up over last year.

RAPID CITY, S.D. (Sept. 15, 2025) – South Dakota Mines researchers will soon have access to a nearly $700,000 piece of cutting-edge technology funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), aimed at accelerating discoveries in biotechnology, medicine, and clean energy. The BioLector XTM microbioreactor system, expected to be installed by the end of the semester […]

UNDATED – Average gasoline prices in South Dakota have fallen 3.8 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $2.93/g