Beyond Ellsworth, a small aerospace and maintenance sector has taken root around the state's airports. The state's economy is changing fast, and its numbers tell part of the story.

Maintenance and parts firms serve both military and civilian aircraft.

What sets it apart

Regional airports anchor jobs in freight and passenger service. For those who know the region well, it is a quiet point of pride.

Workforce training programs feed skilled labor into the sector.

Why it matters

Taken together, these threads say something about South Dakota itself — a place where the old and the new sit close together. Whether the bet pays off or not, it is helping write South Dakota's next chapter.