South Dakota Ellsworth Development Authority

What South Dakota Ellsworth Development Authority does

South Dakota Ellsworth Development Authority (SDEDA) is a state-chartered government development authority created by the South Dakota Legislature in 2009 under SD Codified Law 1-16J, operating as a body corporate and politic that reports to the State's Governor's Office of Economic Development. Its mandate is to protect and promote the economic impact of Ellsworth Air Force Base, coordinate compatible land use around the installation, and prepare surrounding communities for military mission growth. SDEDA is governed by a seven-member board appointed by the Governor and operates with 1–10 staff. The organization successfully defended Ellsworth from the 2005 BRAC closure list (reversal vote 8-1) and was instrumental in the base's 2019 selection as the first B-21 Raider base.

SDEDA's core programs include the AICUZ (Air Installation Compatible Use Zone) compatible land use framework, the Joint Land Use Study (JLUS) coordinating planning across Pennington County, Meade County, Rapid City, Box Elder, and the base; federal Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) property acquisitions (3:1 federal-to-state match); a $24 million Class III Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant serving both Ellsworth AFB and Box Elder; the 35,000-square-mile Powder River Training Complex (the largest training airspace in the lower 48 states); a Close Air Support training site; the Ellsworth Business Park, Liberty Plaza, and Liberty Center real estate initiatives; the Bunker Labs veteran entrepreneurship partnership; and a PFOS water infrastructure project initiated in 2022. By 2020 SDEDA had achieved 99.6% compatible land use around the base and controlled 60+ properties totaling 3,300+ acres.

The organization's revenue model is entirely government-funded: South Dakota legislative appropriations, federal REPI/OEA grants, state environmental program funding, and operational cost recovery from the wastewater treatment plant. There is no commercial pricing or product sales. Go-to-market is government-to-government coordination, legislative advocacy, and direct partnership development rather than traditional sales. The $359 million economic impact figure cited in materials refers to Ellsworth AFB's contribution to the regional economy, not SDEDA's own revenue.

Name

South Dakota Ellsworth Development Authority

Legal name

South Dakota Ellsworth Development Authority

Website

https://ellsworthauthority.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

South Dakota Ellsworth Development Authority is a state-chartered government authority (SDCL 1-16J, 2009) that protects and promotes Ellsworth Air Force Base by coordinating compatible land use, federal property acquisition, regional infrastructure, and military community programs in the Black Hills region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Defense and Military Installation Support Services

NAICS

Public Administration (92), National Security and International Affairs (928), Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (92411)

SIC

Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744), Sanitary Services (4950)

akta.pro primary industry

Civilian Protection & Stabilization Operations (BPADAFAF)

Keywords

• Military base protection
• Compatible land use
• Economic development authority
• Defense community relations
• BRAC protection services

Headquarters

HQ city

Rapid City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Appropriations and State Funding: SDEDA receives state appropriations and operates under the South Dakota Governor's Office of Economic Development. Funding includes legislative appropriations and state-matched grants.
2. Federal Grants (REPI/OEA): SDEDA receives federal Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) funding and Office of Economic Adjustment (OEA) funding, typically matched 3:1 by state funds, for purchasing incompatible properties around the base.
3. Wastewater Treatment Plant Operations: SDEDA owns and operates a regional wastewater treatment plant serving both Ellsworth AFB and the City of Box Elder, generating operational cost recovery.
4. Land Development and Property Management: SDEDA manages land transfers, sells properties (e.g., Liberty Plaza land sale), develops business parks (Ellsworth Business Park), and generates revenue through property tax base enhancement for local governments.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

SDEDA is a state-chartered government authority that protects and promotes the economic impact of Ellsworth Air Force Base by coordinating compatible land use, infrastructure development, and community programs around the base. Its deliverables include the AICUZ compatible land use program, Joint Land Use Study coordination, REPI-funded property purchases of incompatible parcels, a regional wastewater treatment plant serving Box Elder and Ellsworth AFB, the Powder River Training Complex airspace, the Ellsworth Business Park, and community programs such as the Liberty Center and Embrace the Base.

Product overview

The South Dakota Ellsworth Development Authority (SDEDA) is a government body corporate and politic created in 2009 by state legislation (SDCL 1-16J) to serve as the primary liaison between Ellsworth Air Force Base and the surrounding communities. Rather than a commercial product company, SDEDA offers government and community services including: AICUZ land use planning and compatibility programs; JLUS coordinated planning studies; REPI property acquisition for incompatible land removal; a Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant serving both the base and Box Elder; Close Air Support and Powder River Training Complex airspace facilities; property programs including the Ellsworth Business Park; Bunker Labs veterans entrepreneurship support; and community programs like the Liberty Center. These programs work together to protect the base from encroachment, support military missions including the new B-21 Raider, and promote economic development in the Black Hills region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• AICUZ (Air Installation Compatible Use Zone) Program

Quantifiable outcome

• $1.8 billion in DoD savings claimed for closure eliminated; Air Force analysis showed closure would cost $20 million rather than save money
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Ellsworth Air Force BasecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary mission partner; SDEDA's core mission is to ensure South Dakota remains a great host for DoD operations at Ellsworth AFB. Coordinates on compatible land use, infrastructure, growth planning, and B-21 Raider transition.
• South Dakota Governor's Office of Economic DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSDEDA reports to this office and operates under its umbrella as the state's economic development arm for military affairs.
• City of Box EldermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in regional wastewater treatment plant; recipient of land transfers; jurisdiction for AICUZ zoning overlay adoption.
• South Dakota National GuardmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-funded and co-constructed the Close Air Support Training Site; participated in Golden Coyote exercises; partnered on Urban CAS site construction.
• Elevate Rapid CitymajorGTM or Marketing PartnerStrategic partnership established 2018 to Invest, Empower, and Improve the Ellsworth/Rapid City/Box Elder region. Elevate provided $200K funding to SDEDA.
• Douglas School DistrictminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSDEDA donated land transferred from EAFB for construction of new elementary school, opening 2015-2016 school year.
• Pennington CountymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst local jurisdiction to incorporate AICUZ Guidelines into comprehensive plan and zoning ordinances (2008). Active partner in Joint Land Use Study.
• Accent Innovation / Bunker LabsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner2019 partnership to bring Bunker Labs veteran entrepreneurship program to South Dakota.
• U.S. NavyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEllsworth partnered with Navy for training operations; EA-18G Growlers trained in PRTC while at Ellsworth.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• Maryland Department of Commerce - Military / Federal Affairs: Maryland state government office coordinating defense installation support (Fort Meade, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Joint Base Andrews). Comparable state-government function to SDEDA but operating at state department level with multi-installation scope.

Direct peers

• Defense Alliance of South Carolina: Nonprofit defense community advocacy organization supporting military installations across South Carolina (Fort Jackson, Shaw AFB, MCAS Beaufort). Operates with a similar mission to SDEDA: protecting installations from encroachment and promoting military-community partnerships.
• Hampton Roads Military and Federal Facilities Alliance: Regional military advocacy organization supporting Naval Station Norfolk and other Hampton Roads installations. Comparable in coordinating land use, infrastructure, and community relations around a major military presence.
• Luke Air Force Base Council: Glendale, Arizona-based community organization supporting Luke AFB (F-35 pilot training). Comparable in coordinating municipal services, compatible land use, and military-community relations around a fighter pilot training base.
• Hill Air Force Base Partnership: Utah-based public-private partnership supporting Hill AFB (F-35, ICBM, logistics missions). Comparable in providing community-base coordination, compatible land use advocacy, and economic development around a major Air Force installation.
• Vandenberg Space Force Base Community Partners: California-based community partnership supporting Vandenberg SFB space launch operations. Comparable in coordinating regional infrastructure, housing, and compatible land use around a high-value military/space installation.
• Military Affairs Council of Central Florida: Regional council supporting MacDill AFB and other Central Florida installations. Comparable in advocacy for installation protection, workforce development, and military-community integration.

Emerging players

• Tyndall AFB Rebuild Team / Installation Support: Tyndall AFB in Florida is undergoing a multi-billion-dollar rebuild; surrounding regional organizations performing a similar protective/compatible-use coordination function for the rebuild effort are directly comparable in scope and challenge to SDEDA's B-21 transition mandate.

Others

• Association of Defense Communities: National membership organization that recognized SDEDA as 2012 Defense Community of the Year. Industry body representing defense community organizations across the U.S.; not a direct operational peer but a relevant ecosystem/credentialing entity.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/south-dakota-ellsworth-development-authority

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about South Dakota Ellsworth Development Authority