Wanting to Move to rapid City (Yankton, Vermillion: fit in, unemployment rate, living)

[blackhillsdreams]

I'm looking to relocate to Rapid too. I'm in North Florida right now working on larger construction projects, but they are all closing out around here. I've contacted all of the larger projects out there (Stoney Creek Hideaway, Rushmore Crossing, etc.) and nobody seems to be hiring. I'm thinking I might come out there and start off on my own as a contractor. Do you have any suggestions as to any builders/contractors that are busy?

[DannyBanany]

"Rushmore Crossings" and any other developments happening along the I-90 corridor are probably the busiest ones. Soon, there will also be another mall built along I-90 called "The Meadows at the Black Hills", but I wouldn't have the slightest idea of who is in charge of that. Do you prefer commercial contractiong only, or do you work residentially too?

If you work residentially, you may want to get ahold of Zimmerman Contracting or Mandalay Homes. They built my home and most of the homes in my neighborhood. I live in a planned community, and they also have several othe planned communities in the making around the Rapid City area. Some are Red Rock Meadows, Stoneybrook, and Eastridge. I believe they are also developing in Rapid Valley and near Ellsworth AFB. If that is something you would be interested in let me know. Also, Zandstra, GBA, and Gustafson may be contractors to get ahold of if you work commercially.

Good Luck!

[blackhillsdreams]

Originally Posted by DannyBanany

"Rushmore Crossings" and any other developments happening along the I-90 corridor are probably the busiest ones. Soon, there will also be another mall built along I-90 called "The Meadows at the Black Hills", but I wouldn't have the slightest idea of who is in charge of that. Do you prefer commercial contractiong only, or do you work residentially too?

If you work residentially, you may want to get ahold of Zimmerman Contracting or Mandalay Homes. They built my home and most of the homes in my neighborhood. I live in a planned community, and they also have several othe planned communities in the making around the Rapid City area. Some are Red Rock Meadows, Stoneybrook, and Eastridge. I believe they are also developing in Rapid Valley and near Ellsworth AFB. If that is something you would be interested in let me know. Also, Zandstra, GBA, and Gustafson may be contractors to get ahold of if you work commercially.

Good Luck!

Thanks Danny. I'm used to commercial jobs but having done customer service, punch lists, etc. for litterally hundreds of condo units, I've got good experience dealing with homeowners directly. To me, it's all about the same, construction is construction, even though the sizes vary, the same general principles apply.

What I'd like to do is find a position out there pretty much anywhere in the industry and get established, then maybe branch off into my own contracting business. Either that or I'll open a coffee shop!

[sodak14]

I used to work in the contracting office at the USAF base close to Rapid. As mentioned above Gustafson/Heavy Constructors and also Scull Constuction are usually very busy companies and are supposed to be good to work for. Good luck!

Originally Posted by blackhillsdreams

Thanks Danny. I'm used to commercial jobs but having done customer service, punch lists, etc. for litterally hundreds of condo units, I've got good experience dealing with homeowners directly. To me, it's all about the same, construction is construction, even though the sizes vary, the same general principles apply.

What I'd like to do is find a position out there pretty much anywhere in the industry and get established, then maybe branch off into my own contracting business. Either that or I'll open a coffee shop!

[DannyBanany]

With all of the building happening around Rapid City, I'm sure that all contractors keep pretty busy. A coffee shop is another great idea! My 8th grade teacher started her own coffee shop downtown and she loves it. They are always busy and they have great selection. It's called Bully Blends and it's really good.

Not to scare you with competition though!

[ElkHunter]

Ahh Danny, fond memories of Rapid City. There were two sisters that had a desire to cook. They opened a little trailer up on East North. It would seat 14 people. That's it. They would open at 5am. Hot and strong and good coffee. Pancakes were their deal. Short stack of 3 cakes, ham or bacon or sausage on the side. $1.99. Who would think that would take off. That's all they served. Course they had milk. By 5:15 they had a line of 20-30 people waiting in the rain if needed. They finally sold out and opened up in the mall. But that was years ago, I don't know what happened to them.

But the desire to make it good. To serve a good meal at a decent price. They were open from 5am until 10. 7 days a week. That's Rapid City!

[fasby]

Danny, I guess how the climate is and the employment situation for CPA's like myself. How difficult is it to find an apartment for the first 6 months? Is the culture in Rapid City about the same or completely different than Cheyenne? I only ask because I am considering moving there also. Basically, any info on housing, employment and overall culture would be helpful. I can adapt easily since I have no preconceived notions about either place but I know that it is time like never before since the Civil War that living in the east is very dangerous, especially around here.

Thanks

[ElkHunter]

Fasby,

I'm not Danny, but I would like to answer. I now live in Wyoming after spending a lot of blizzards in South Dakota. haha

Cheyenne is a wonderful town and has very nice and warm people. But the weather can be pretty harsh. Not blistering bad but high winds and drifting snow can make a mark. On the other hand, Rapid City is in what we call, the Bannana Belt. it can snow, but it doesn't last long. A bad snow and by noon the streets are bladed and passable. The folks are about the same. Warm, friendly people. Diverse? Sure, I guess so. Haven't been raised in Rapid City I didn't see other cultures, just saw neighbors. Not that I didn't respect the other cultures, but we didn't dwell on that. We looked at people that we'd bar-b-q with, talk with, share our story's with, tell lies over a beer. Your just not going to see that in Cheyenne.

[fasby]

Thanks Jgussler,

By culture i meant by lifestyle. I grew up in Texas where the cowboy culture predominated so that's what i'm used to. It used to be here in NC that everyone was a neighbor to everyone else but not anymore. Because of the rampant crime and drugs here, people are very suspicious about being neighborly any more. Actually, people here live everyday in fear. The air is polluted along with lakes and streams. NC used to be one of the prettiest states in the nation but urban sprawl and crime have made this state a cesspool of violence and treachery. Thank you for your insight. I don't need Lot of nightlife and extravagances to be happy. Clear air and good people to live amongst are my chief aims.

[ElkHunter]

Well, I don't want to belittle Texas. haha Yes I do. haha But they don't have any real cowboys. They got cowboy wannabes. Just ask anybody at the Cheyenne Frontier Days. Belle Forch. Winter Stampede in Rapid City. Hell, just get some of the good old boys from Pine Ridge. These boys do every day what a Texas boy does trice a year. haha I'm saying this all with tongue in cheek.

You'll get the good old Cowboy way in these parts. The stock show is but a small part. Travel from town to town come rodeo season and you'll see some of the best. Casey Tibbs, an old friend, come out of Wolsey South Dakota. Gary Mayhan out of Sturgis. The McFarland boys. I rode with the best. The Garret Brothers out of Belle Forche. Marvin did the best. But you'll learn of the old west. Duhamel Broadcasting in Rapid City. KOTA radio and TV. Cowboys rode for 1500 miles in the late 1800's just to buy a Duhamel saddle. The old man could weave a rope that was unbievable. He weaved a rope out of rawhide that was marveled. California called it a riata. But he believed in it. The only thing that challenged him was Don King out of Sheridan Wyoming.

Do you know, and I bet Jammie does, there was an old Indian in Keystone that used to set outside of one of the stores and he'd tell stories. He was one of the first "Tonto's" on TV. He was an old indian, not quite a Chief, but well respected in his tribe. I would set and listen to him for hours. Although he was never a chief, he was a well respected medicine man with the Lakota Sioux.

I used to break horses for a living. Did a fine job, just ask me. haha I got my butt busted like most other folks.

If you want to learn good old South Dakota history, sidle down and set on the bench and just wait. Some old ndn or old cowpoke will be happy to tell you the history. Some would call them Native Americans. Most will look at you strange. Most respect, as I do, Indian. Lakota.