The Two Futures of
Hill City, South Dakota
A 10-Year Economic Forecast
AI can reverse
rural decline.
The technology industry's next frontier isn't another Silicon Valley — it's the communities that built America.
Luke Alvarez — a permanent Custer resident and founder of a 13-company consortium — is investing alongside his friends and partners in the AI industry. Together, they're proving that technology companies don't need to cluster in coastal cities. The future of rural America starts here.
Hill City Today — The Diagnosis
Population History (Census-Verified)
| Year | Population | Source | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 780 | U.S. Census | --- |
| 2010 | 948 | U.S. Census | +21.5% |
| 2020 | 877 | U.S. Census | -7.5% |
| 2025 | 1,003 | ACS Estimate | +14.4% |
The Divergence
Two paths from 2026. One community. A permanent fork in the road.
The gap between two futures. Nearly 9% of Hill City's current population.
Without BHC (2036)
“Functionally a retirement community”
With BHC (2036)
“A 12-month economy with year-round jobs”
By the Numbers
No subsidies. No tax incentives. No public funding requested.
Community Programs
Seed Academy
After-school STEM, summer camps, paid high school internships
Teacher Development
Professional workshops for Hill City educators — free, forever
Co-Working Space
Year-round workspace for remote workers and local entrepreneurs
Event Pavilion
Free for community organizations, civic groups, and local events
Campus Trails
Public trail system through the campus grounds
Settle the West
Family relocation program bringing remote workers to Hill City
AI Grant Writing Tools
Free for local orgs — in perpetuity
Professional Lobbyists
2 on retainer for Hill City’s interests at the state level
THE CULT Convention
Annual off-season event — 2,500+ attendees, $1M+ local spending
Restaurant Week
End-of-season food challenge and cook-off with partner restaurants across the network
Community Shuttle
Seed Foundation donates a branded vehicle to each partner city for public transit
“Here to educate and assist. That's all this has ever been.”
The Network
Custer SD
HQHill City SD
Hot Springs SD
Keystone SD
Edgemont SD
Lead SD
Deadwood SD
Belle Fourche SD
Spearfish SD
Sturgis SD
Newcastle WY
Sundance WY
12 cities. 2 states. 43,500 people.
Each city gets year-round jobs, community programs, and tax revenue — with no ask for public subsidies.
Comparable Communities
The pattern is consistent. An anchor transforms a trajectory.
10,420 jobs supported — 31% of all net new jobs in Hamilton County. City-wide gigabit fiber catalyzed decades of growth. Downtown vacancy dropped from 40% to under 10%.
+175% in 20 years. Anchor employer (Walmart) staying local attracted 600+ firms. Now has world-class amenities, growing 36 people per day.
Remote worker migration transformed a seasonal recreation town. 30.3% of workers are remote. Median age: 38.2 vs. Custer's 54.9.
Former railroad town became a creative + tech hub through proximity to Bozeman's tech scene. Thriving arts economy, year-round restaurants.
“ BHC is independently funded. Our campus is owned debt-free. We are breaking ground March 2026 with our own capital.
We request no tax incentives, no subsidies, no public funding.
We are not here to ask for support.
We are here to offer it. ”