Merchen: DUSEL would inject economic vitality into the region

By Mayor Tom Nelson, City of Lead
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Black Hills Vision is a regional economic development organization committed to advancing the region's quality of life and creating an economic development "opportunity environment" for the entire Black Hills. $1,150,000 of the $3,000,000 Black Hills Vision raised was targeted specifically to advance the DUSEL at Homestake, as well as leverage its central role -- along with the role of our Universities, natural resources, Ellsworth Air Force Base (EAFB), energy development, workforce and other regional assets -- into a Technology Corridor that would stretch throughout the Black Hills.

Black Hills Vision is confident that the National Science Foundation (NSF) selection of Homestake for the DUSEL would be supported by the strongest portfolio of reasons. Reasons that Black Hills Vision has been proud to help formulate, working closely with Governor Rounds, the South Dakota Science and Technology Authority Board and Dave Snyder its Executive Director. Homestake is the best site for one major reason. Science can be done here, in the Black Hills sooner at Homestake than at any of the other competing locations. Thanks to the leadership of Governor Rounds, the State Legislature and generosity of Mr. Denny Sanford -- when selected by NSF, the Homestake site is ready in the near term for science to begin, on an interim basis, while longer term funding questions at the national level are pursued. And maybe most importantly, the host is a State supported entity that owns the Homestake property for the sole purpose of conducting scientific research and education, not a publicly traded mining company with all the complications a host of that type might face in having scientists roaming around its property for decades to come. Finally, the Black Hills wants NSF and scientists to come here! Let me say that again. The Black Hills wants NSF and scientists to come here!! In the years we have been pursuing this dream, Black Hills Vision is not aware of any community or group that opposes it. That should say a lot to those making this important decision.

Like successfully fighting to keep EAFB open [another community effort funded in part by Black Hills Vision] we have seen the entire Black Hills and the State, come together to see that the Homestake DUSEL goal is accomplished. The fact that 7 Mayors, 4 County Commissioners and leaders from almost every sector of our business community make up the 37 Black Hills Vision Board of Directors and even more make up the Black Hills Vision Investor Council, reflects the passionate belief throughout that Black Hills that what could be very good for one of our communities -- Lead and the northern Black Hills -- will also be good for all of us.

Some will ask, how big will the economic impact of a DUSEL at Homestake be on our local, regional and state economy? Like all future events, that's impossible to predict. Let's just say for now the impact will be "priceless." Doane Robinson probably never imagined that Mt. Rushmore would actually attract millions, not thousands of visitors to the Black Hills and forever change our regional economy for the better. Who would have imagined that starting the Sturgis Rally would attract "hundreds of thousands" -- not just the few hundred the founders must have originally hoped for - and also become a household word around the world? What we know for sure is that the NSF selection of Homestake as its preferred site for a National Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory -- like Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse Mountain, Custer State Park and the Sturgis Rally before it -- will forever put South Dakota and the Black Hills on the map, in a brand new and important way. A way that will prime the pump in helping us diversify our local and regional economy around technology based economic development. The world will be on notice that we are open, here in the beautiful Black Hills for science, and technology based business to come and thrive.

Mark Merchen is Chairman of Black Hills Vision and Manager of Economic Development, Legislative and Public Affairs for West River Electric, Assn. Inc. For more information regarding Black Hills Vision go to www.blackhillsvision.org.

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