Volume 1. Issue No. 3
JUNE 2020
B-21 RAIDER ON TRACK
COX'S FARM STAND BRINGS THE FARM TO YOU
FRESH FADES and HOT SHAVES
Dom Clucas is ready to give the Black Hills a fresh look
Monument Health is seeking plasma donations from people who are fully recovered from COVID-19. The plasma you donate to Monument Health stays right here to help treat patients in the Black Hills.
People who have fully recovered from COVID-19 may have antibodies in their plasma that can attack the virus. This convalescent plasma is being evaluated by Mayo Clinic as treatment for patients with serious or immediately life-threatening COVID-19 infections.
+ Provide documentation of a positive COVID-19 PCR or antibodies test. + Must be symptom-free for at least 28 days.
+ Must be in good general health.
+ Must be at least 17 years old. + Must weigh at least 110 pounds.
Patients who meet the above criteria and are interested in participating in this program can fill out the request for information at: www.monument.health/covidclinicaltrials
June 2020 Volume 1. Issue No. 3
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B-21 RAIDER IS ON TRACK
The Air Force is moving ahead with its Environmental Impact Statement and taking input from community stakeholders.
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BARBERSHIP CULTURE COMES TO THE BLACK HILLS
A $20 clipper set was the beginning for Dom Clucas. He has much larger plans for his downtown barbershop.
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TRADING THE STAGE FOR A SCREEN
Area graduates share unique commencement experiences in light of CDC guidelines.
CELEBRATING 50!
Signs of spring are blooming in Rapid City and Jolly Lane Greenhouse is celebrating 50 years in business! The decades old family-owned business is comprised of a production facility in Box Elder and the retail garden center in Rapid Valley.
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CEO NOTE
Elevate is a monthly publication produced by Elevate Rapid City. It is the premier business magazine for the Black Hills region telling the stories that make our area unique and vibrant.
PO Box 747 Rapid City, SD 57709 605.343.1744 elevaterapidcity.com Email comments to: magazine@elevaterapidcity.com PRESIDENT & CEO Tom Johnson DIRECTOR OF INNOVATION ENTREPRENEURSHIP Mitch Nachtigall
Tom Johnson // Elevate Rapid City CEO Julie Jensen, my friend and colleague, and President and CEO of Visit Raid City, is fond of saying: Do Big Things. It’s a way of telling folks who visit the region to do the things that inspire them and create moments that will last a lifetime. Elevate Rapid City tries to live up to that mantra. And more. Not only do we want to do the big things, we want to do the small things and everything in between. In other words: all the things that matter. And that’s exactly the way we want it. It’s why our mission is to Elevate the Rapid City and Black Hills region for everyone. This month’s edition of Elevate gives you a taste of all these things. From small business to military affairs to entrepreneurship, you’ll get a sense of all the ways we are making a difference. Take, for example, our cover story on Dom Clucas, a cool cat and world-class barber, who came to downtown Rapid City to do more than just cut hair. Or the story on the B-21, which is on track and about to get down to the business of creating hundreds, if not thousands of jobs near Box Elder and in the region. Or even the story of FullSend Ski, which will have you rethinking your bamboo strategy (you have one of those, right?) And now I’ve made it through six paragraphs without talking about COVID-19. It’s probably a record. Let me just say we’re continuing to do all we can and will continue to do so until the crisis abates. We assure you, it’s always front and center. But for now, enjoy this issue of Elevate and at least some of the things that matter.
DIRECTOR OF SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND INVESTOR RELATIONS Brandis Knudsen EVENTS & TRAINING MANAGER Rachel Day PUBLIC POLICY DIRECTOR Anna Hays COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR Shiloh Francis CREATIVE SERVICES Andy Greenman FINANCE DIRECTOR Dana Borowski FINANCE MANAGER Debbie Leber HR COORDINATOR/ OFFICE MANAGER Liz Highland EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT Becky Knox ADMIN & DATA SERVICES COORDINATOR Loni Reichert PUBLISHED BY THE RAPID CITY JOURNAL Matt Tranquill, Publisher PRINTED BY SIMPSON PRINTING Dan Simpson, Printer
ON THE COVER
Dom Clucas wants you to read the newspaper and relax at his barbershop. Photo by Shiloh Francis
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SMALL BUSINESS
Teamwork makes the dream work in family business by Andy Greenman
When you raise fearless kids, you might as well work for them. That is the situation for Walt Swan. He coached his sons Zane and Stephen in little league sports and taught them how to be strong-willed. “I told them every day when they were growing up: Do one brave thing a day." In 2015, Walt along with his sons Zane and Stephen opened HeSápa Enterprises. What started out as a laser engraving business quickly grew with customer demands. They purchased an embroidery machine, automatic screen printer, a custom knitting machine and other supplies to accommodate to their clients. Their client-base covers all corners of South Dakota and even reaches into Louisiana. Zane takes care of all the design work while his brother Stephen handles sales. Walt helps manage the shop and is willing to help wherever needed. “Pretty much my whole life he’s been telling me what to do. Now I get to tell him what to do, so it has been fun,” says Stephen. On their busiest days they've been in the shop 14 or 15 hours. They print shirts, eat pizza and get the work done. “It’s a fine line between business and family. It definitely has strengthened us as a whole family,” says Stephen. “To see your dad every day and be able to work with him that’s one of the things we overlook. Because we get the luxury of having it." When the work day is over each can be found enjoying different hobbies in the Black Hills. Walt enjoys riding his motorcycle, Stephen can be found fishing for trout and Zane enjoys climbing in the hills. Walt leans forward, rests his arms on a ping-pong table turned workspace and reminisces. “Is it perfect? Some days it is. It’s wonderful.”
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hesapaent.com // 605-877-0860 1024 Farlow Ave. • Rapid City Tuesday - Friday 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
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INNOVATION
Watch a one-on-one interview with Jared McEntaffer on the Elevate Rapid City Youtube channel.
Originally published at ascent-innovation.com
When Black Hills Knowledge Network was formed in 2009, the goal was simple: to empower individuals, organizations, and communities to make smart, informed decisions. Eight years later both the nonprofit organization's activities and name may have changed, but its mission remains the same.
Jared McEntaffer, Ph.D., President & CEO, is a South Dakota native who returned to the Rapid City area in 2017, leaving behind his teaching professorship at Penn State University in State College, Pennsylvania. The opportunity to join Black Hills Knowledge Network was too good to pass up. The company underwent a complete rebranding on April 14, changing their name to Benchmark Data Labs and unveiling a brand-new website. Originally conceived as a platform for providing people with access to information through local news sources and libraries, Jared says the organization found it necessary to adapt its business model in order to keep up with changing times. The digitization of local news proved challenging as newspapers and libraries lost funding and were forced to reduce staff. "We weren't the best people to try to fill that gap," Jared admits, "But we were the right people to try to push forward the idea of using data and information to drive decision-making. It's still the same mission and core values; we're just carrying it out in a different way." The push for rebranding began to take shape once it became clear that Black Hills Knowledge Network's largest user groups were focused on
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data and statistics provided through the company's South Dakota Dashboard. "People were more excited for the stuff we were doing with data," Jared explains. "In rural South Dakota, it's tough to get good information. There aren't a lot of experts collecting and disseminating data, so it's harder to get information to base decisions on. Having the resource was a big deal, and a lot of people voiced how much they appreciated and used that in their work." South Dakota Dashboard provides a wide variety of in-depth data and statistics concerning health, demographics, housing, population information, and more. With support from the Bush Foundation, Benchmark Data Labs collects data from federal, state, and local sources and designs data visuals to make the information accessible and understandable. It is broken down by counties and towns across the state, as well as by age, race, and gender. This information is invaluable for a diverse group of decision-makers including bankers, housing developers, and politicians. In addition, Benchmark Data Labs does consulting work with governments, businesses, nonprofits, and individuals to help them make smart decisions. "We aren't just putting the numbers out there," he says, "but providing some context, as well." Jared finds this emphasis on data to be a more sustainable long-term business strategy; Benchmark is able to use the funds earned from consulting to help support their nonprofit work, putting it into easily digestible forms such as charts and graphs and making it available to everyone. Jared works closely with Callie Schleusner, Director of Monitoring & Evaluation. While Benchmark Data Labs isn't the typical incubator
JARED MCENTAFFER
client, having a space at Ascent Innovation has been mutually beneficial. In fact, the whole concept behind working there was to collaborate with Ascent. "Being in Ascent gives us access to expertise," Jared explains. "People like Mitch can connect us with resources to help us understand how we can grow our organization and set it up for the future." In return, Benchmark helps support Ascent's economic development work by supplying them with crucial job market data. The other businesses in the incubator benefit, as well. "We offer free services to other businesses in Ascent," Jared says, citing one-off data requests and assistance finding information. "That's part of how we give back to the whole ecosystem. Being in the incubator helps us grow and become a bigger, stronger company, and we try to help other companies through our data work." As for the future of Rapid City, Jared admits to being "tremendously positive." Growing up in South Dakota and spending frequent time with his grandparents, who lived in Rapid City his whole life, he has witnessed firsthand many changes since returning in 2017. "A lot of interesting developments happened in sequence that made me feel tremendously bullish that Rapid City is ready to launch itself for a new stage in its development," he says, pointing to Main Street Square, downtown revitalization, and the civic center expansion as key examples. The latter was especially telling. "The civic center expansion made sense from a numbers' perspective," he says, "and also the perspective of a community willing to go out on a limb and take some chances that could help launch it. I think it was a sign; it gave me a lot of confidence that the community was willing to make some moves." Other important initiatives, such as the expansion of the Ascent network and its emphasis on connecting the School of Mines with the community, and the impending arrival of the B21, are a clear signal that we're headed in the right direction. "The idea that we're looking at expanding beyond the service economy, beyond the hospitality economy," concludes Jared, "not leaving those things behind, but adding new opportunities, sort of rounds out that portfolio."
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YOUNG PROFESSIONAL SPOTLIGHT
What do you enjoy doing in Rapid City? There are so many great restaurants, experiences, and businesses in Rapid City, that it's hard to choose. I would have to say that some of my favorite things include grabbing coffee from Dunn Brothers, running the walking path and Skyline Wilderness Area, brunch at Tally's Silver Spoon (especially the caramel rolls!), volunteering with the Rapid City Police Activities League during Summer Nights, trivia with friends, and sampling new brews and pizza specials at Independent Ale House.
JACKSON BOLSTAD
Community Manager // CUInsight
Tell us about yourself. I recently took a new job managing content and overseeing a team of contributors/writers for CUInsight, an online credit union trade publication. Prior to that, I served as the marketing communications specialist for Black Hills Federal Credit Union, as well as spent time as a journalist for the Rapid City Journal. Originally from northeastern Montana, I spent a lot of time in the combine and on horseback on my family's farm and ranch. As for my passions outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my friends and family, working through my ever expanding book list, writing creative fiction and short stories, and volunteering with a number of local nonprofits, as well as occasionally lacing up my running shoes for local trail or road races.
Why did you decide to join the YPG? For me, Young Professionals Group was a no brainer. It was an opportunity to meet a diverse group of people my own age who are passionate about improving themselves, as well as their community. So, when I had the opportunity to join, I lept at the chance. Plus, who doesn't love free food, beer, and activities! How have you benefited from being a part of the YPG? I've made many lifelong friends through YPG that I otherwise would have probably never met. In many ways, those friends have challenged me and encouraged me to be and do better for myself, my coworkers, and my community. Frankly, it's great to have a network of people I can lean on when I need advice or assistance with something. I regularly meet up with my fellow YPGers outside of our monthly socials to hang out, volunteer, and participate in local events.
GET CONNECTED: rapidcityoungprofessionalsgroup Stay up-to-date with upcoming events and connect with other young professionals from the area. elevaterapidcity.com
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ELLSWORTH
B-21 Raider is on track the
It’s been just over a year since the Air Force made the big announcement of its plans to bring the first two squadrons of the of the B-21 bomber to the Ellsworth Air Force Base.
And, despite the recent COVID-19 crisis, the work of the Air Force and the South Dakota Ellsworth Development Authority (SDEDA) continues. According to Scott Langduth, Executive Director of the Authority, the B-21 Raider remains on track, with the first B-21 Raider flight scheduled for December of 2021. “The Air Force is moving ahead with its Environmental Impact Statement, or EIS, which is the final step in confirming placement of the bombers,” said Langduth. “The final decision will come in June 2021, but right now, we’re excited that during this scoping period, the Air Force is taking and seeking a lot of input from community stakeholders.” The Air Force considers many factors during the EIS process, including the impact of personnel, air space and range, facilities, air operations, and land compatibility. One thing that has been extremely important is the Powder River Training Complex. It’s 35,000 square miles of air training space located over North Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, and South Dakota. It will be the primary training space for the B-21 going forward. “It’s the largest air training complex in the lower 48 and it’s critical to the mission,” said Langduth. As the Air Force gets closer to its goals, SDEDA continues its efforts with landowners and local governments to address issues integral to operations at the base. SDEDA has already facilitated, through easements and zoning, almost 20,000 acres for regulation to protect the health and safety of residents near the base and Air Force personnel conducting missions. “None of this could have happened without the support of the community, region, local governments, and support from last three Governors, including Governor Noem,” said Langduth. “We’re going to see thousands of new jobs and over a billion dollars in construction when it’s all said and done. It was a big deal a year ago when they announced. And it’s still a big deal now.”
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B-21 Artist Rendering Background Photo Location: Ellsworth Air Force Base
“We’re going to see thousands of new jobs and over a billion dollars in construction when it’s all said and done." - Scott Langduth
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WORKFORCE
First Interstate Bank continues its community-centric approach by First Interstate Bank
For more than 50 years, First Interstate Bank has anchored its service model in not only doing what’s right for clients, but in enriching the lives and experiences of those in our community. Whether through business development or philanthropy, First Intestate continues to distinguish itself as a financial innovator. This assistance has most recently taken shape in the form of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) outreach. As of May 1, First Interstate received Small Business Administration (SBA) approval for 10,040 loans totaling $1.15 billion for small businesses in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington, and Wyoming. The average loan size is $114,000, meaning the money is truly going to support local companies that need help during this difficult time. Ninety-nine percent of the loans are for less than $2 million. Created through the Coronavirus, Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the PPP provides businesses with fewer than 500 employees with a two-year loan to cover payroll costs and other business expenses. “Small businesses are the heart of our communities,” said Shawn Rost, First Interstate Bank Market President. “As a community bank, we’ve been helping local businesses and clients for more than 50 years—it’s what we do. These loans mean businesses can stay in operation, their employees will keep getting a paycheck, and local economies and communities stay strong.”
114,000
$
Average loan amount provided to small businesses through the Paycheck Protection Program in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington and Wyoming by First Interstate Bank.
As an SBA-certified lender, First Interstate bankers know the ins and outs of the SBA application process. Since the CARES Act was signed on Friday, March 27, First Interstate bankers have worked day and night—and through
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First Instate Bank teamed up with Rapid City Rush to donate $8,000 to area schools. weekends—to process these applications. When the Bank received notice from the SBA that funding was running out, bankers pulled an all-nighter to ensure as many applications as possible were guaranteed funds. “As an essential business, this was our opportunity to step up, put in extra hours, and be there when our clients needed us most,” Rost said. Another impactful business move relates to First Interstate’s stance on the minimum wage. Many businesses tie their minimum wage to the federal minimum wage (currently $7.25 an hour), while others designate their own minimum wages. First Interstate recognizes the need to pay a living wage, and to that extent, increased its minimum wage to $ 15 per hour in February 2020. First Interstate has held to this standard, even amid constraints related to COVID-19. “We recognize that when employees feel valued, their work reflects it,” Rost said. “Adopting a living wage supports our employees, which in turn, strengthens our communities.” Speaking of community support, First Interstate has proudly donated more than $850,000 to communities across its six-state footprint this year (approximately $380,000 of those dollars specific to Coronavirus-related outreach). “Our neighbors in need continue to express gratitude as we offer support,” Rost said. “We’re proud to wear the moniker as ‘The Bank that Cares’,” he said.
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AGRICULTURE
Shop fresh food at Rushmore Mall by Shiloh Francis
Making local food accessible every day of the week. That’s the motto of Cox’s
Farm Stand. If you’ve ever shopped the Black Hills Farmer’s Market you are well acquainted with the famous Cox Sweet Corn or salad greens. Now, you can get them any day of the week. Cox’s Farm Stand opened its doors inside the Rushmore Mall this May. “It’s important for people to realize that we have producers right here who are able to put food on your table,” says Camylea Cox. “We really want to be a one stop shop any day of the week, not just on Saturdays.” Camylea moved back from San Diego to join forces with her brother Kyle and taken the lead of the family farm operations. The goal has always been to expand from Farmer’s Markets to a more “curbside” offering. “We’re bringing the farm freshly to you,” said Camylea. The storefront in the mall allows them to offer not only fresh produce, but products from other local producers such as Maude Meats, Great Harvest Bread and Nerdy Nuts. Don’t worry! They’ll still be set up at local Farmer’s Markets, too!
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coxsfarmstand.com // 605-206-0396 Rushmore Mall Monday – Saturday 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. Sunday 12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
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Black Hills
Barber STORY AND PHOTOS BY SHILOH FRANCIS
A $20 clipper SET started a dream that
dom clucas
r
is NOW living
SMALL BUSINESS
From humble beginnings in a garage to a dream location in Downtown Rapid City. That’s been the story for 25-year-old Dom Clucas.
Four or five years ago, Dom found a set of clippers at TJ Maxx. “It was $20 and was like I had to get this,” Clucas shared. “So I started cutting my little brother’s hair and it just progressed from there.” Clucas would ask his mom almost weekly to cut his hair. He realized there was no barbershop in Rapid City that could do the fades or designed he wanted as a teenager. Dom used those TJ Maxx clippers to begin practicing on his friends’ and brother’s hair at home until he was able to attend Barber School at the Emily Griffith Institute in Denver, Colorado. His barber school classmates questioned his desire to come back to South Dakota. But Dom knew there was a need and he could fill it. He brought the skills and new styles he learned home to Rapid City. “I was a little nervous coming back here,” he says. “In Denver I got to experiment with a lot of different styles and hair types. Coming back, I was afraid it would just be same cut over and over again.” Slowly, Dom earned the trust of his friends and clients to the point where he’s been able to do the styles he’s passionate about. “My close friends all probably got a 2 or 3’s on the side and now I’m giving them all skin fades. It’s cool.” Building trust and taking care of people is one of the biggest factors Dom credits for his success. He realized quickly that your clients are walking billboards and you want them to proudly say where they got their cut. Dom’s mission: “I want this to be the barber shop of the Black Hills.” His dream has been to bring the old-school barber shop culture to Rapid City, while also doing fresh and modern cuts. “I want it to be the shop where you see the men reading newspapers and chatting the day away. Not people quickly coming in and out for a cut.”
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Dom works on a fresh fade for his brother Carlos. Carlos is in the final stages of Barber school and will soon be joining the Black Hills Barbershop team.
"Coming back here I was afraid it would just be THE same cut over and over again.”
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"there’s a lot of small things behind the scenes that people don’t see. They just see the clippers, but there’s a lot of other little things that add up.”
Currently Dom is the only barber in his shop, it won’t be that way for long. He wants to hire other barbers and hopes to inspire the next generation. And why stop there? He would like to see Black Hills Barbershop expand to multiple locations and ultimately help his brother own his own location. Being in downtown Rapid City is a dream location for Dom. Like many businesses in the area, the recent pandemic created a lot of uncertainty for this young business owner. Black Hills Barbershop has only been open for two years. While he was not forced to close his doors, Dom had made the choice to keep his customers safe by closing with the rest of the Rapid City business community. While many businesses were able to keep cash flowing by offering services through curbside, to-go, or virtually, that wasn’t the case for this barber. When you aren’t cutting hair, you aren’t making money. “It’s not like I could do a haircut through Zoom or something,” he laughs. Fortunately, for Dom, Elevate Rapid City created the Bridge Loan program.
Dom was one of more than a dozen businesses that received a Bridge Loan to help cover expenses during a time when businesses were shutdown. “You couldn’t prepare for this, no matter how much money you have,” Dom states. “I’m really grateful for the Bridge Loan through Elevate Rapid City because it definitely helped me stay open.” Entrepreneurship comes with risk and reward, and not without a lot of hard work and creativity. Dom is young and passionate about what he can offer the Rapid City and surrounding area. Dom shared that “there’s a lot of small things behind the scenes that people don’t see. They just see the clippers, but there’s a lot of other little things that add up.” It’s safe to say that Clucas has far surpassed his days in the garage. His drive and passion for the Barbershop culture will ensure the people of Rapid City have the perfect place to go for a fresh fade, hot shave, or maybe just some banter.
"I want this to be the barber shop of the Black Hills."
blackhillsbarbershop.com // 605-209-7116 516 6th St. • Rapid City blackhillsbarbershop
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ready to Grow. Behind every business and bold move were those who believed it was possible to do more. We’re proud to support and energize our community’s dreams. Visit blackhillsenergy.com/growing to learn more.
elevaterapidcity.com
25
Promote your military discount and community event
blackhillswire.com
The South Dakota Ellsworth Development Authority (SDEDA) is excited to introduce The Black Hills Wire to our local military community. This comprehensive website is a tool for those at Ellsworth Air Force Base, as well as South Dakota National Guard’s Camp Rapid to be connected, get plugged in, and to enjoy their time in the Black Hills.
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We have filled the site with information and resources connecting servicemen, women, spouses, and veterans to organizations, discounts, and people throughout the hills. Now, the opportunity to come alongside our military families and active duty individuals is available to the Black Hills community at large. Businesses and organizations are able to create a profile and add their event or military discount to the website at any time at no additional cost. “We, the community of the Black Hills, play a critical role in fighting effort. It is up to us to support those who sacrifice so much. The Black Hills Wire is a small way that we can welcome military families to the community by connecting them to resources and people,” said Lynn Kendall, Military Community Relations Director at SDEDA.
Discounts
If you offer a discount for military personnel and families, this is your site to promote it! Simply go to BlackHillsWire.com and click on the “add discount” button in the top right hand corner. Create a profile and your discount page. You can add your product and business information, logo, website, social media, images, and videos to promote your business at any time, from anywhere.
Events
There is so much going on throughout the Black Hills area! Help us promote your upcoming event by checking into the “Things to Do” page and filling out the “Submit Event” form. You can customize the event with as much information and images as you want at no cost to you. Through a robust discount program, and an interactive website, The Black Hills Wire is a military community connection that can show our appreciation for their service. Our goal is to make our Air Force and National Guard members feel at home in the Black Hills, and with the community’s help, we can make this platform a success.
Clothing And Fashion Corporate Apparel And Embroidery
Corporate apparel is our business Strengthening your image is our passion
Treasury Management Services
Money wasn’t meant to just sit around. Our Treasury Management specialists have years of experience and can assist you with utilizing the many tools available to give you a financial advantage. From online banking solutions to fraud protection to information management and more, you can count on Great Western Bank for a superior level of treasury management. Let’s get started today, ask me how! Cyrissa Thompson Treasury Management Specialist
312 Main St., Rapid City, SD 57701 605.389.3838 | www.imageall.com
14 Saint Joseph St. Rapid City, SD 605.737.9361
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EDUCATION
Grad! Congrats
Trading the stage for a screen.
That’s the story for the class of 2020. Rapid City area high schools and post-secondary institutions have had to pivot their plans for a traditional commencement ceremony in light of CDC guidelines to forego large gatherings. But they are not wavering in the work to ensure area graduates still get the recognition they deserve – even if it may look a little different. “For all of us to graduate, especially making it through the chaos of this last semester, that’s something to celebrate,” says Alisha Allen, a recent graduate from the LPN program at Western Dakota Tech. In addition to working at a local clinic, Allen will be continuing her education through WDT’s new RN program. A strong economy begins with a strong, educated workforce. Take a moment to applaud and celebrate the Class of 2020!
Universities Black Hills State University honored graduates with a Virtual Commencement Ceremony on May 8. South Dakota School of Mines & Technology students experienced a whole new game of life in the May 9 Virtual Commencement Ceremony modeled after a video game! Western Dakota Tech is in the final stages of planning a virtual commencement ceremony for later this summer. Date to be determined. Oglala Lakota College will be honoring graduates with five separate Zoom ceremonies. Additionally, the college is gift each gradate $ 50 to go toward a celebratory family dinner. Graduation ceremonies will be:
June 12
Cheyenne River, 10 am
June 20
Eagle Next, Pass Creek, LaCreek, Oglala, Wounded Knee and East Wakpamni, 10 am Members of the Hardrocker Pep Band performs the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology fight song at the closing of the school's first ever virtual commencement.
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Rapid City, 1 pm
June 21
Pahin Sinte and Pejuta Haka, 10 am Pine Ridge, 1 pm
Creative Solutions. Proven Service. RAPID CITY OFFICE
S I O U X
Jordan Burbach, AIA, LEED Green Associate Principal Architect
Kristine Bjerke, AIA, NCIDQ, LEED AP Architect / Interior Designer
Jeremy Altman, AIA, LEED AP BD+C Architect
F A L L S
R A P I D
C I T Y
www.architectureinc.com
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VI
RT
UA
L
EDUCATION
BUNKER BREWS RAPID CITY PRESENTS
A Douglas High School graduate receives her diploma at Roy’s Drive-In Theater on May 17.
High Schools Rapid City Area Schools will be airing virtual graduations June 7th on Black Hills Fox TV and will be streamed at Blackhillsfox.com.
WHERE DO I START? JUNE 25 // 2 P.M.
June 7
Central High School at Noon Stevens High School at 1 pm Rapid City High School at 2 pm Douglas High School is hosting a traditional ceremony at Patriot Stadium on Sunday, July 26.
Sand Scripts and other area printers have created yard signs to show support for area seniors.
Join us for a conversation with Wendy Klug, Program Manager for the Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC) of the Dakotas where we’ll answer the question, “Where Do I Start?” The VBOC program is a one-stop-shop for transitioning service members, veterans and military spouses looking to start, purchase, or grow a business. Located nationwide, VBOCs provide transition assistance programs, including Boots to Business and Boots to Business Reboot, as well as business development assistance such as training, counseling and mentoring, and resource referrals. (https://und.edu/dakotasvboc/) Register for the virtual training: chapters.bunkerlabs.org/rapid-city
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E L E VAT E R A P I D C IT Y JUNE 2020
Advertorial
From building bridges to building patient rooms
As Monument Health in Rapid City began to
The following week, Ainsworth-Benning was called on again to construct an additional 20 anticipate a need for more patient rooms in temporary patient rooms in a different shell March, its construction management team space. Layout and material procurement started reached out to Ainsworth-Benning Construction, immediately, and Don Werner, project manager, a division of Journey Group located in Spearfish quickly contacted Midwestern Mechanical for that serves the Black Hills and surrounding areas. plumbing and medical gas installation. “The next day, a nine-person Ainsworth-Benning “Our team immediately got to work building out crew laid out walls, framed, installed blocking temporary rooms in existing shell space,” said and sheetrocked 90 percent of the walls in 10 Bob Morcom, Ainsworth-Benning division leader. hours, ” Morcom said. “Midwestern Mechanical “Our Ainsworth-Benning team put in a 12-hour got started on two day after getting the bathrooms, a shower initial call, laying out a Thank you to the Ainsworth-Benning team for and hand wash sinks plan, framing, installing the expedited effort to help us with the shelled and started getting blockings, sheetrocking space build-outs to support our COVID Surge materials for medical and taping walls.” TSP, Plan. Your team has done excellent work and gas installation. Within Inc quickly reacted and everyone on our team has been thoroughly a matter of days, the helped the teams by impressed by the speed and quality of the work entire project was done. providing an efficient performed to date. – David Ellenbecker, VP We’re grateful we were and sustainable site Facilities Management, Monument Health. able to assist Monument layout and drawing. Health at such a critical time and that they’re now able to focus on other The next day – a Saturday – Ainsworth-Benning preparations for patients, knowing that these returned to finish taping, brace walls and paint. rooms are ready. ” By Monday, the team was helping Monument Health move equipment into the future patient rooms. • CMAR • General Contractor • Design-Build • Construction Manager Agent • Self Performed Work
“Overall, our scope of work was completed in 16 hours,” Morcom said. “I’m incredibly proud of our team’s fast turnaround while maintaining our standards of safety and quality.” ainsworthbenning.com elevaterapidcity.com
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SUPPORT OUR CITY FOR A CHANCE AT
FIFTY
SHOW US HOW YOU ARE SUPPORTING YOUR COMMUNITY FOR A CHANCE AT A $
50 GIFT CARD! #ElevateRapidCity ENTER AT HTTPS://BIT.LY/2LMRNH4
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Rapid City Young Professionals Group presents
save
l i fe
BLOOD DONATION
BLOOD DRIVE At Vitalant
2209 W Omaha St, Rapid City
YOU ARE HERE
Wednesday, June 3 3:30 - 5:30 p.m.
Email MBarari@vitalant.org to schedule a time! Donors will be eligible to win a golf package from Austad’s! Winner will be announced June 5.
Question: What do I do with visitation and exchanges of our child(ren) during COVID-19? Answer: First and foremost, we as a community and Nation will arrive on the other side of this crisis. Try to maintain the visitation schedule as much as possible for the child(ren). Communicate with the other parent about fears without condemnation. If visitation is postponed because there is a risk of exposure to your child(ren), then assure the child(ren) and develop with the child(ren) and other parent a schedule for make-up time. Use video platforms if available. Child(ren) need to know the other parent is OK, too.
Lorie D. Melone 1107 Mt. Rushmore Road, Suite #3A Rapid City, SD 57701 Phone: 605-791-4950
sdsmt.edu
Lorie D. Melone • Family Law Attorney & Certified Mediator
D I P A R CITY
Join and encourage businesses you know to share so we as a community can continue to shop, stay and support local businesses!
facebook.com/groups/rapidcitytogo
TO G
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E L E VAT E R A P I D C IT Y JUNE 2020
INNOVATION
Mines Student Wins Braun Inventor Award by South Dakota School of Mines & Technology
William Trevillyan, a double major in chemical engineering and chemistry at the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology, has won the 2020 Ann and Dave Braun Student Inventor Award. The annual $5,000 cash award includes a free patent application from Goodhue, Coleman & Owens, P.C. The award was established to recognize a South Dakota Mines student who has made a significant discovery or invention while enrolled. Trevillyan’s invention is a water or fluid detection sensor. It can detect small water leaks or flooding and alert a property owner that maintenance is needed before major damage occurs. “I was trying to solve a problem,” Trevillyan says. “It is difficult to detect small amounts of water produced by water leaks within a home.” Insurance industry records show that water damage and mold cost insurance companies $2.5 billion dollars per year. Products that detect leaks before they become a major problem can save individual property owners thousands of dollars. The invention is tied to Trevillyan’s company, HomeMetrics. The detector is only one component in the company’s “MetricsNetwork,” which is a system of sensors that use Internet of Things (IOT) technology within homes. Trevillyan and his partner, CTO and fellow Mines student Timothy William Trevillyan joins other Mines students and some Ford, hired seven other Mines students in February. members of the startup company HomeMetrics LLC at These students include Riley Kopp, platform Colorado State University's Nancy Richardson Design Center. engineer; Mike Ahlers, embedded systems engineer; Mitchell Peterson, application developer; Fernando Chavez, business solutions developer; Antonio monetary value of the patent.” Bano-Sanoguera, product designer; Field Mitchell, Trevillyan grew up in the small town of Valley firmware developer; and Vytautas Solderholm, Springs, SD. During his college career at South hardware developer. Dakota Mines he has also been The company is moving a Barry Goldwater Scholar, forward with testing this TEDx Rapid City Speaker, invention and others in its Water damage and winner of the Governor’s Giant portfolio of products. They mold cost insurance Vision Student Business Plan expect to have their first product available in the marketplace companies $2.5 billion Competition and a winner of the university’s Brass Life within the year. dollars per year. Award, which paid for a trip to “Receiving support from the Beijing, China, in 2019 where he Braun family is a tremendous spent four months in the CET boost which will help our Beijing Intensive Language Program. Following his company reach our next set of milestones,” says graduation in May, he plans to work full-time as a Trevillyan. “Going through the process of filing a product manager at the local high-growth startup patent is extremely valuable to understand, and the company Property Meld. knowledge I will be learning goes far beyond the
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IN THE NEWS USDA Begins Accepting Applications for Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program Grants Today
Helpline Center & Black Hills Urgent Care name May Volunteer of the Month
The Helpline Center and Black Hills Urgent Care are pleased to announce that Lisa Castor has been named the May 2020 Volunteer of the Month. Lisa was nominated by Post 22. The Volunteer of the Month program is sponsored by the Helpline Center and Black Hills Urgent Care, a division of Black Hills Surgical Hospital. Volunteer of the Month recognizes outstanding individuals who make the community stronger through volunteerism. Lisa has been a longtime fan of Post 22, and a volunteer for 11 years with Post 22. Lisa helps Kathy and Shelly during the busiest and most important time of the season of parent fundraising by organizing parent packets, dispersing season tickets, collecting season ticket money from parents and entering data in our system to help track sales. During the season she volunteers at the front gate or ticket booth. She greets fans with a smile and is always sporting her baseball gear. Whenever Post 22 needs help with organizing an event, tournament or just need extra hands, Lisa is always there to help. Lisa also helps with the open and close duties at the ticket booth. Organizing the parents that volunteer for that game, counting money, running the 50/50 sales and creating the deposit at the end of the night. For information on volunteer opportunities, please call the Helpline Center at 211 or visit volunteer. helplinecenter.org
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Black Hills Parks & Forests Association presents a new children’s book about Jewel Cave National Monument
Black Hills Parks & Forests Association (BHPFA) is excited to announce the release of a new children’s book about their partner location, Jewel Cave National Monument. BHPFA worked with South Dakota author Pat Schultz to help launch her book “Baxter Saves the Day”. The story is about a Townsend’s Big Ear Bat that helps save Jewel Cave National Monument from a wildfire. “Baxter Saves the Day” is available for purchase on our website, along with a free special video reading of the book by author Pat Schultz! To purchase the book and view the video go to www. blackhillsparks.org.
7th Annual Frühlingsfest + Spring Market Goes Curbside
Beer enthusiasts and craft lovers celebrate at Main Street Square's seventh annual Frühlingsfest + Spring Market Curbside Edition! Try a selection of local craft beers & wonderful vendor products from the comfort of your home. Simply visit our Frühlingsfest + Spring Market Curbside Edition virtual marketplace (coming soon!). Beginning at 11 a.m., watch Facebook LIVE interviews featuring the local breweries and vendors. Valid ID is required for the purchase and pick up of alcohol products and consumption.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture intends to make available up to $100 million in competitive grants for activities designed to expand the availability and sale of renewable fuels. “America’s energy independence is critical to our economic security, and President Trump fully recognizes the importance of our ethanol and biofuels industries and the positive impacts they deliver to consumers and farmers with an affordable, abundant, and clean burning fuel,” Secretary Perdue said. “American ethanol and biofuel producers have been affected by decreased energy demands due to the coronavirus, and these grants to expand their availability will help increase their use during our economic resurgence.” The Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP) consist of up to $100 million in funding for competitive grants or sales incentives to eligible entities for activities designed to expand the sales and use of ethanol and biodiesel fuels. Funds will be made directly available to assist transportation fueling and biodiesel distribution facilities with converting to higher ethanol and biodiesel blends by sharing the costs related to and/ or offering sales incentives for the installation of fuel pumps, related equipment, and infrastructure.
Paycheck Protection Program Loan Forgiveness Application Available Now
The Small Business Administration (SBA), in consultation with the Department of the Treasury, released the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan Forgiveness Application and detailed instructions for the application. The form and instructions inform borrowers how to apply for forgiveness of their PPP loans, consistent with the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). SBA will also soon issue regulations and guidance to further assist borrowers as they complete their applications, and to provide lenders with guidance on their responsibilities. Download the application at elevaterapidcity.com.
elevaterapidcity.com
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Lay it up like
LASAGNA
"I've never made lasagna but supposedly it's like building skis. It's just a bunch of layers," says Pierre native Doug Bachand, founder of FullSend Ski Company. While attending the School of Mines, Bachand knew he could build a ski to fit his style better than anyone. He set up shop in his parents cabin in Nemo and rolled up his sleeves. Friends began flying down Terry Peak on his demo skis and quickly FullSend Ski was turning heads. Last fall he took a big step forward and moved the operation into Ascent Innovation on the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology campus. "Probably the biggest advantage is location and price point," Bachand says of his move. He bounces ideas off fellow Ascent clients like 7400 Circuits and is eager to get more engrained with the industrial engineering program and design teams at the school. What's next for FullSend Ski? "Sell more skis," Bachand says with a grin. He believes if he can create a better marketing campaign he'll have no problem doubling his sales once again this winter.
this OR that
Ascent Innovation is a division of Elevate Rapid City that supports entrepreneurs. Learn more at ascent-innovation.com 1) Nordic is not even fun. 2) Avalanche is the steepest run at Terry Peak. The run has cliffs and fun jumps. 3) Easier to ski a soft ski fast than a stiff ski slow. 4) Blitzkrieg is one of two models I've been building and it's all I've skied last season. 5) Crow Peak is better to ski and has a lot less rocks. 6) The Black Hills is an odd market for skis. Everyone is always riding something super narrow and stiff which is okay, but not ideal. Fat skis make it more enjoyable. 7) Rocker makes the ski a lot more surfy. It's easier to carve and more fun to ski on a rocker.
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Alpine1 Nordic Après-Ski Competitive Groomed Powder Backcountry Resort Avalanche2 Blizzard Coors PBR Bamboo Pine Soft3 Stiff Blitzkrieg4 Wunderwaffe Seger Springsteen Crow Peak5 Custer Peak Jumps Moguls Fat Skis6 Skinny Skis Pierre Rapid City Camber Rocker7 Lasagna Spaghetti
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ELEVATE RAPID CITY BOX 747 RAPID CITY, SD 57709
Standard US Postage
PAID
Rapid City SD Permit No. 618
LINE OF CREDIT Remodels, Repairs, Additions, Decks & Patios, Landscaping, Roofing Pull Funds As Needed Only Interest Charged Is On Amount Used
APPLY TODAY BHFCU.COM //////////////////////////////////////////////////
Black Hills Federal Credit Union offers tiered-pricing program. This allows as many members as possible to obtain financing. Your individual rate will be determined by the type and/or age of collateral offered, length of the loan, and your credit history. To find out if you qualify, call BHFCU at 605-718-1818 or 800-482-2428
