Workforce Development Grant

Workforce Development Grant

Funds South Dakota employers with reimbursement for technical training that strengthens workforce capability.

The South Dakota Governor's Office of Economic Development (GOED) operates a Workforce Development Grant on a rolling basis, reimbursing employers for up to 50% of eligible technical training expenses for new hires and existing employees. The programme is funded through the South Dakota Future Fund and targets companies that are growing — new hire training must result from company expansion, not employee turnover. Applications are accepted year-round but must be submitted at least three weeks before training begins; late applications that do not meet this window are ineligible.

All trained employees must earn at least $19.50 per hour before training begins, and the employer must offer employer-sponsored health insurance. New hires must be taken on due to company growth rather than to replace departing staff. Existing employees receiving training must receive a direct wage increase tied to the training they complete. All training must be technical in nature — general management, sales, or soft-skills programmes do not qualify. Reimbursement is paid in two tranches: 85% on submission of an initial report after training concludes, and the remaining 15% on submission of a follow-up report.

The application packet requires business and project information, a budget, and a programme narrative describing the training and its connection to company growth or employee advancement. The grant is administered by GOED and funded via the Future Fund, a South Dakota state economic development fund. Companies in manufacturing, agriculture-related industries, healthcare, energy, and other technical sectors that are actively hiring or promoting technical workers and can document a minimum wage of $19.50 per hour pre-training are the target applicant profile. No maximum award amount is published — the benefit scales directly with the volume and cost of eligible training.