Elevate Rapid City Invests $18 Million to Expand Defense and National Security Hub

Rapid City, SD, September 23, 2026 —

Elevate Rapid City has announced an $18 million investment to expand the David Lust Accelerator Building campus, a key initiative aimed at bolstering the region’s defense and national security industry. The expansion is situated within Rapid City’s Innovation District.

The project is designed to foster growth in specialized sectors, with a particular focus on defense and national security capabilities. As part of this expansion, Northrop Grumman is slated to become the anchor tenant for a new secure administrative facility on the campus.

The expansion plans include further development of the David Lust Accelerator Building’s infrastructure. The specific details regarding the timeline for construction or the scope of the secure administrative facility beyond its purpose as administrative space were not provided.

The investment underscores a strategic effort by Elevate Rapid City to cultivate and attract businesses within high-priority industries. The Innovation District is intended to serve as a hub for technological development and economic advancement.

The addition of Northrop Grumman as an anchor tenant signifies a significant step in establishing the region as a more prominent center for defense and national security-related operations. Further details on the operational impact and other potential tenants were not available in the provided summary.

Story summarized from the original created by Mary Francis Witte on www.kotatv.com, see more information here.

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