RAPID CITY - The U.S. Small Business Administration will open an alternate work site in Rapid City, Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., announced.

Thune said he has been advocating that the SBA open a full-time western South Dakota presence since he was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.

The SBA currently has a district office in Sioux Falls. The Rapid City office will employ one senior area manager. The SBA is expected to announce the position June 25.

"Sporadic visits by SBA personnel do not provide the consistency and continuity needed to meet the demands of entrepreneurs in western South Dakota. This permanent presence will be a great addition to the economic development community in Rapid City," Thune said. "South Dakotans are known as independent, entrepreneurial and hard-working, and they will undoubtedly make good use of this new office to grow and expand the economies of the Black Hills and the surrounding areas."