RAPID CITY, SD – Pennington County Commissioners gave Pennington County Sheriff Brian Mueller the green light to pursue millions of dollars in federal grants to support the construction of the long-considered jail expansion.

During their regular meeting Tuesday, commissioners unanimously approved the submission of documents required to apply for the fiscal year 2026 COPS Technology Grant and the FY26 BIDEN (Bridging Immigration-Related Deficits Experienced Nationwide) Program Grant – together the grants could total $183 million, if approved.

The jail expansion has been an issue sheriff’s have dealt with for more than a decade. Mueller said the current expansion plan of the Pennington County Jail on St. Joseph Street could add 600 beds providing years of growth potential, adding there are other versions of the project that have been discussed.

“But the dollar amount we submitted for in this grant funding today would be to complete the entire jail project,” Mueller said. “If we are awarded grant funding it will come back in front of the commission for further direction as to what we’re going to build, where we’re going to build it, and what that’s going to look like and there will be plenty of time for public comment between now and then.”

The location and scope of the jail expansion – at the current jail location or elsewhere – hasn’t been finalized.

During discussion of the grant, Commissioner Deb Hadcock questioned the planned expansion of the St. Joseph Street jail, questioning if it would be better at a different location and not in the downtown area of Rapid City.

The grant, Mueller noted, would follow the jail project, not be tied to a location.

The grant submittal is due in the middle of July.

“I think the process will move pretty quickly,” Mueller said. “It sounds like they’re going to get money out the door so they can improve critical infrastructure to strengthen our federal and local partnerships for criminal justice across the country.”

Mueller said the current jail on St. Joseph Street has been at or above capacity since 2014.