Labor Department provides funding to expand apprenticeships

The state Department of Labor and Regulation is providing 370-thousand dollars in incentive funding to help businesses and organizations expand the number of Registered Apprenticeship programs in the state.  

Businesses could apply for up to a maximum of 20-thousand dollars in funding to help offset the initial start-up costs when developing a new program.

There are more than 20 businesses and organizations receiving the incentive funding.  Some in our area receiving the maximum 20-thousand dollars include the South Dakota Funeral Association of Madison for a funeral director, the Dell Rapids Veterinary Clinic for a veterinary lab animal technician, and Claims Associates of Sioux Falls for a claims adjuster.  

Department of Labor and Regulation Secretary Marcia Hultman said there is a pool of untapped workers ready to learn new skills, and this will expand training opportunities, especially in rural communities. 

Programs designed to increase engagement for under-represented populations such as females, Native Americans, limited-English proficient individuals, youth ages 16 to 24 and individuals with disabilities were given priority. 

Incentive funding recipients, occupations and funding award include:

• 3M, Aberdeen, machine operator, $20,000
• A to Z Technology, Midland, animal care specialist, $20,000
• AKG, Mitchell, welder and CNC operator, $20,000
• Allevity, Aberdeen, family entertainment center manager, $20,000
• Banner Engineering, Aberdeen and Huron, electrical and electronic equipment assemblers, $20,000
• The Kitchen at Bear Butte Gardens, Sturgis, commercial kitchen manager, $20,000
• Black Hills Works, Rapid City, direct support professional, $20,000
• Claims Associates, Sioux Falls, claims adjuster, $20,000
• Dell Rapids Veterinary, Dell Rapids, veterinary lab animal technician, $20,000
• Foltz and Sons, Spearfish, electrician and HVAC technician, $20,000
• Hot Rod Institute, Rapid City, automotive restoration technician, $20,000
• Howe Inc., Sioux Falls, mechatronics aHVAC technicians, $10,000
• Huron Regional Medical Center, Huron, respiratory therapist, $10,000
• Lake Area Technical Institute and Terex, Watertown and Huron, field services technician and shop services technician, $10,000
• Lester Robbins, Rapid City, concrete construction form setter, $20,000
• Mabee Eye Clinic, Mitchell, paraoptometric technician, $20,000
• Masaba, Vermillion, manufacturing assembly electrician, $20,000
• Mind Blown Studio, Deadwood, hot glass gaffer, $20,000
• SD Funeral Directors Association, Madison, funeral director, $20,000
• TelNet PC, Rapid City, computer bench technician, $20,000