The South Dakota Department of Labor & Regulation is providing $370,000 for local businesses to expand its apprenticeship opportunities.
This comes after the DLR was awarded a $1.2 million grant by the U.S. Department of Labor earlier this year to expand apprenticeships.
Rebecca Long is a program specialist with the DLR. She said that this funding will help get skilled workers into growing fields in the state.
"It’s not necessarily where we want to see the funding, its where we can help the need of the businesses," Long said. "So, I.T, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, agriculture are all areas that are struggling to get skilled and qualified employees, so we want to help them build their training programs and fill that need.”
Business can apply for a maximum of $20,000 to help start their programs.
More information on funding can be found at the DLR’s website.