South Dakota

Elk Point, SD - The City of Elk Point is a rural community with a population of slightly over 2,000 residents. It is located in Union county, the extreme southeast corner of South Dakota. This sparsely populated region of the State suffered a significant job loss when the Alorica call center closed in May 2017, leaving 260 workers unemployed. The city needs to bring much needed jobs back to the area.

In September of 2017, EDA invested $470,959 in Public Works funds to the City of Elk Point to fund the construction of new infrastructure that includes street, drainage, water, and sewer installation to allow for the expansion of a local manufacturer into a new business park in Union County, South Dakota. A local cardboard and plastics recycling business planned to expand its operations in the city’s business park. Several years ago, the business park had been acquired and partially developed by Elk Point Economic Development Corporation to help bring jobs and capital investment to this southeast South Dakota community. The manufacturer’s expansion plans were contingent upon the city constructing road, water and sewer infrastructure.

EDA’s investment to help provide infrastructure to the business park enabled the manufacturer to proceed with its expansion plans and create 18 new jobs for the community. This project is expected to generate $880,000 in private investment. Completion of the infrastructure in the Elk Point Business Park not only enables the manufacturer to expand its growing business, but will also provide a significant opportunity for the expansion of other businesses in the City of Elk Point, the I-29 corridor and the surrounding region.