Lawmakers looking to help with growth near Ellsworth Air Force Base

Legislative leadership wants to raise awareness across South Dakota on base developments

(Military.com)

South Dakota state lawmakers want to foster a statewide conversation about how they can help growth around Ellsworth Air Force Base keep up with what’s happening on the base itself.

To do that, they’re leaning on lawmakers from across the state to learn more about current and future development plans for the Box Elder-based military center, where roughly 3,800 service members and civilian employees work.

Senate Majority Leader Casey Crabtree announced Tuesday that each chamber of the Legislature had appointed five members to the “Ellsworth Task Force.” From the Senate, those members will include Crabtree of Madison, as well as Sens. Helene Duhamel of Rapid City, Jean Hunhoff of Yankton, Democrat Red Dawn Foster from Pine Ridge, and recently appointed Mike Walsh of Rapid City, who will co-chair the group.

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