Infrastructure First Project

The Governor's Office of Economic Development (GOED) has successfully completed the Infrastructure First project. Infrastructure First Project The Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) has successfully completed the Infrastructure First project, a comprehensive initiative supported by a $1 million Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant. This project covers three main areas: a Statewide Infrastructure Plan, Capital Improvement Plans for small communities, and High Impact Sites. Statewide Infrastructure Plan: A big-picture view of South Dakota’s infrastructure systems—complete with overview of the strengths and opportunities of each infrastructure areas, case studies, and strategies you can apply in your region. Capital Improvement Plans (CIPs): 16 small communities (pop. under 5,000) now have 5-year CIPs in place. These are budget-conscious, flexible plans that communities can update and use to prioritize and prepare for infrastructure investments. High Impact Sites: 19 potential development sites were identified across the state with detailed infrastructure assessments, cost estimates, and initial concept plans tied to key industries. Downloads Infrastructure First Project – Overview Infrastructure First Executive Summary Statewide Plan Capital Improvement Plan Site Selection Statewide Plan A comprehensive look at South Dakota’s infrastructure strengths and challenges across rail—with strategies and goals to help guide future decisions. Although this project was focused on planning, it’s meant to drive action. The tools and insights in the plan are there to help stakeholders take the next step—whether that’s improving existing systems, making the case for new investment, or getting a site development-ready. View the Statewide Plan here. Capital Improvement Plan 16 communities across the state (pop. under 5,000) received support to develop 5-year Capital Improvement Plans (CIPs). All 16 communities have fully adopted these. These CIPs help communities prepare for large infrastructure investments by identifying needs, setting priorities, and creating realistic, budget-conscious plans. These plans are living documents communities can update and use to pursue funding or guide development decisions. Here’s what a few of our partners have to say: “The city held a strategic planning session in November – from that meeting there was a realization that there are a lot of needs from the community. This CIP will help identify the needs, prioritize them, and create a budget to complete the identified projects.” “Part of Economic Development is what you don’t see. This plan will address those items and put a plan in place to make economic development successful for the community. Would like to see that no stone is unturned. The details are what makes the plan successful.” Site Selection 19 top sites for future economic development were identified across the state. Sites were selected through data-driven analysis of infrastructure capacity and potential for enhancement and evaluated on rail. These sites can serve as a starting point for developers and communities seeking shovel-ready opportunities. Statewide Plan Statewide Plan A comprehensive look at South Dakota’s infrastructure strengths and challenges across rail—with strategies and goals to help guide future decisions. Although this project was focused on planning, it’s meant to drive action. The tools and insights in the plan are there to help stakeholders take the next step—whether that’s improving existing systems, making the case for new investment, or getting a site development-ready. View the Statewide Plan here. Capital Improvement Plan Capital Improvement Plan