South Dakota aims to double apprenticeship programs with $7.9M boost

Noem, labor office roll out three-year workforce cultivation initiative

South Dakota Labor Secretary Marcia Hultman along with Gov. Kristi Noem Tuesday morning while at Howe, Inc. in Sioux Falls announced the state is dedicated $7.9 million to its registered apprenticeship program. (Joe Sneve/The Dakota Scout)

About 150 South Dakota businesses use apprenticeships to cultivate labor pools.

But there’s optimism that number could grow to as many as 300 or more within a few years with a multi-million dollar expansion of the South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation’s Start Today initiative, the agency’s registered apprenticeship program.

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