By james art 
Rapid City, SD (Kota) – South Dakota airports play a major role in the country’s economy, with Sioux Falls and Rapid City airports generating more than $ 1 billion every year.
Officials at both airports want a $ 30 million funding bill to help expand and improve their facilities.
In 2024, passenger traffic increased nearly 14%, with 1.2 million passengers flying out of South Dakota airports.
The Executive Director of Rapid City Regional Airport, Patrick Dam, says this growth is not slowing down.
The Rapid City project is expected to cost more than $ 220 million, and many parts of the projects are not eligible for federal support, which makes state and local funding need.
“We have a major role in attracting people in South Dakota, especially in the fact that the tourism industry is our largest industry in Western South Dakota, but there must be reinvesting some of these funds back into the infrastructure that allows it to allows the infrastructure that allows you to People to be reinvesting enter this place, ”Dam said.
Dam says that these upgrades will not only respond to the growing demand, but will also continue to support the economy of the state.
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