2022 Workforce Education Grant Recipients Announced

State leaders continue to look for ways to assist with South Dakota’s workforce challenges. This past week it was announced that several k-12 school districts will recieve funds through the 2022 Workforce Education Grant program. Brookings School District has been award $150,000 in workforce education grants to enhance their health sciences program, with several other districts recieving funds aimed at CTE programs and more.

Nine South Dakota Workforce Education Grants, totaling $1,418,942 have been awarded to South Dakota public school districts. In 2013, the South Dakota Legislature established the Workforce Education Fund. Part of that fund was designated to provide grants for career and technical education programs in secondary schools. Additional grants were awarded this year because the program is being supplemented with $360,042 in federal dollars available to the Department of Education through the American Rescue Plan.

“Career and technical education provides young people hands-on learning opportunities and helps them connect their classroom experience to their options for education and careers after graduation,” said Secretary of Education Tiffany Sanderson. “I commend these districts and their industry partners for offering cutting-edge programs in our middle and high schools.”

The purpose of the grant program is to make transformative change in career and technical education programs offered in middle and high schools. High quality CTE programs give students the knowledge, skills, and experiences to be prepared for postsecondary education and the workforce. Partnerships among secondary education, postsecondary education, and business and industry lay the foundation for modern CTE programs.

Recipients:

• Belle Fourche School District $98,575
  • Purchase heavy equipment simulators to enhance Architecture and Construction and Ag, Food, and Natural Resources programs
• Bon Homme School District $225,000
  • Construction of a CTE lab to expand current space
• Bridgewater-Emery School District $225,000
  • Construction of a new CTE building
• Brookings School District $150,000
  • Purchase equipment to enhance Health Sciences program
• Canistota School District $40,400
  • Update and remodel Hospitality program, teacher training
• Florence School District $225,000
  • Construction of a new building to expand STEM and Ag, Food, and Natural Resources programs
• Mitchell School District $111,467
  • Purchase equipment to expand Architecture and Construction program
• Spearfish School District $225,000
  • Construction of a new CTE building
• Tea Area School District $118,500
  • Build greenhouse and start Ag, Food, and Natural Resources program