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Black Hills Manufacturing Alliance

About the Black Hills Manufacturing Alliance

The Black Hills Manufacturing Alliance (BHMA) was founded in 2023 to build on the region’s growing momentum in manufacturing. Supported by Elevate Rapid City, BHMA connects manufacturers across Western South Dakota, fostering collaboration, innovation, and growth.

Our Mission:

To strengthen the manufacturing industry by building a network of executives, providing educational opportunities, and sharing critical business insights. The Alliance is dedicated to growing local businesses, inspiring innovation, and driving success through collaboration and shared resources.

Who We Are

Our members represent a wide variety of industries, including military and defense, chemicals, construction materials, and precision products.

The Alliance is guided by a peer-elected Chair and Vice Chair, ensuring strong leadership, advocacy, and industry representation. Together, we work to build a dynamic, resilient manufacturing ecosystem for the Black Hills region.

How We Support Manufacturers

The Black Hills Manufacturing Alliance meets quarterly to address key issues and opportunities impacting the manufacturing sector. Meeting highlights include:

  • Collaborative discussions on shared challenges, business development, and regulatory updates

  • Brainstorming sessions focused on innovation and process improvements

  • Featured keynote speakers delivering valuable industry insights

  • Facility tours hosted by member businesses

By connecting industry leaders, we help uncover new opportunities, spark innovation, and support sustainable growth.

Who We Are

Why Join?

Hear from some of our current members:

Kenton Brannan

Executive Technical Director – Procurement & Logistics, Pete Lien & Sons

Although in its infancy, the Black Hills Manufacturing Alliance is already proving itself as a worthy cause. Through the Alliance, we’ve discovered new partners and valuable state development programs. The brainstorming sessions have opened new doors for our business. I foresee a strong future for this Alliance.

Rob Hrabe

CEO, VRC Metal Systems

The Manufacturing Alliance provides a much-needed forum to tackle common problems facing manufacturers in Western South Dakota, such as capitalization, workforce recruitment, and economic development incentives. It has strengthened our current growth and future potential.

Tim Houghton

Vice President and COO, HS Precision

The Black Hills Manufacturing Alliance fosters collaboration, helping businesses share ideas, solve challenges, and access valuable resources. It’s already enhancing manufacturing capacity and efficiency across the region.

Get Involved

Are you interested in joining the Black Hills Manufacturing Alliance or learning more about what we do? We’d love to hear from you!

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