Ellsworth Air Force Bases hosts Weapons Generation Facility groundbreaking, with focus on expansion and modernization

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KEVN) - Ellsworth Air Force Base is continuing to expand with a new Weapons Generation Facility set to start construction in May but what is the impact this facility will have?

Monday’s groundbreaking ceremony for Ellsworth Air Force Base’s new Weapons Generation Facility marked the thirteenth project currently being done on the base. With all of the expansion taking place in anticipation of the B-21 bombers and their crew members, officials say this facility is much needed.

“The weapons generation facility will upgrade the munitions storage area. First, it’s going to consolidate operations which will be much more efficient. It has the latest safety features and security features so it’s a much more safe, secure, effective facility,” Major General John Newberry said.

This project in particular will be completed by more than 100 construction workers during the total time of the project. Many of those workers will be subcontracted through cities like Rapid City and Box Elder helping to boost the local economy.

“We do bring in big contracts to do work like this, but they are often sub-contracting local construction companies as well as you know electrical, plumbing, and all the different things that have to go into these facilities. These are also the same folks that are doing the construction within Rapid City, Box Elder area as well,” Colonel Derek Oakley said.

Oakley said in 2022 Ellsworth Air Force Base had an economic impact of nearly half a billion dollars in the state of South Dakota and that the base is looking forward to working with community partners to continue this growth over the next decade.

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