Elevate Rapid City was formed in 2019 as a merger of the Rapid City Chamber of Commerce, Economic Development Partnership, and Economic Development Foundation (Ascent Innovation).
As the premier western South Dakota economic development organization, Elevate is committed to promoting business and personal advancement through a targeted spotlight on jobs, infrastructure, and overall quality of life in and around the Black Hills region and the Rapid City metro area.
Together, we strive to embrace the heart and soul of our community through diversified growth and strong professional opportunities advocating the strengths of the Black Hills.
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Elevate Rapid City, through the Elevate Foundation, proudly announces the launch of the 2025 National Civics Bee®. Middle school students in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade from public, private, and home schools are invited to participate in the first-round civics essay competition. Due by February 4th.
This week in 1999, the greatest debut single of all time hit #1 on the charts. It changed the course of music history forever and spawned more covers than a king-sized bed in an Airbnb.
~ 400 words, 2.5 minute read
Small talk is the foundation of networking, but it often feels forced or superficial. Frameworks like FORD and HEFE can transform casual conversations into meaningful connections. Let’s explore the strengths and applications of each to help you decide when and how to use them effectively.
There are countless reasons we could answer "Why Rapid City?" But there's something extra special about when others realize how great a community is. Most recently, Rapid City was named on Livability’s Top 100 Best Places to Live list. Rapid City continues to get recognized as a great community alongside South Dakota's statewide rankings. Check out all of our latest rankings and accolades.
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When Elevate Rapid City was formed in 2018, we promised to deliver results to the Rapid City Region. We met our goals in our first five years. Now, we're chasing after even more. These are the goals we will achieve by 2027. You can see all our work and progress in our annual reports.
January 2023: 75,802 / December 2023: 77,544
2022: $9.47B / 2023: $9.36B
January 2023: $904 / December 2023: $981
2022: $364.6M / 2023: $463.5M