SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - Ellsworth Air Force Base, which was on life support just 11 months ago when the Defense Department recommended its closure, got a big boost Monday as the Air Force announced the western South Dakota base is its choice for a consolidated financial services center.

It will mean about 775 more military and civilian jobs at Ellsworth.

"This new mission strengthens the base by providing jobs and adding to the local economy," said Sen. Tim Johnson, D-S.D. "This is good news for the entire state. Once again the congressional delegation's teamwork paid off."

In May, the Defense Department picked Ellsworth for closure. But work by Rapid City-area leaders, the state and the congressional delegation helped persuade the Base Realignment and Closure Commission to keep the base open.

Now, picking Ellsworth as the spot for the finance center represents the beginning of its climb back to prominence, said Sen. John Thune, R-S.D.

It's the first major new mission for Ellsworth since the late 1980s, he said. Ellsworth had four wings and a strategic warfare center in 1990 but lost missions until only the 28th Bomb Wing remained by 1995, Thune said.

The center will consolidate operations out of several bases, streamline processing financial transactions and run a 24-hour call center for Air Force personnel in one location, the Air Force said.

The center's employees will perform customer service and help service members by providing financial management services to military personnel, Johnson said.

"They'll do all the financial services processing for the Air Force," Thune said.

Offutt Air Force Base at Bellevue, Neb., also was a finalist for the center.

The Omaha area was the best location the Air Force could have selected, Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., said in a release.

"This decision seems to have been impacted by politics. Based on the Air Force requirements, Offutt has everything the Air Force is looking for and more," he said.

Asked if politics influenced the decision, Rep. Stephanie Herseth, D-S.D., said, "No. This is (on) the merits of what Ellsworth and the Rapid City region have to offer to the Air Force."

Nelson might not realize how the financial services industry has grown in South Dakota, she said.

Gov. Mike Rounds congratulated the congressional delegation's effort.

He also said the state Department of Labor and the Governor's Office of Economic Development provided information showing that the state and the Black Hills region has enough workers to fill the jobs.