Building for Our Future

 
By: Gov. Larry Rhoden 
August 14, 2026

South Dakota’s kids and grandkids are our future. My mission as Governor is to keep South Dakota strong, safe, and free, especially for our next generation, and education is a key component to make that happen. In recent years, we’ve made key investments in technical education to give our kids the opportunity to find a career right here in South Dakota.

I have always believed there is dignity in working with your hands. In making something start to finish. There is something special about being able to step back at the end of the day and see what you built, what you fixed, or what you made better.

Manufacturing is a huge part of South Dakota’s economy. It supports thousands of good-paying jobs. It strengthens communities across our state. And manufacturing makes sure that our products aren’t just made in America – they’re made in South Dakota. But our businesses need skilled people to keep growing. And that’s why we invest in technical education.

We need to make sure the next generation of South Dakotans knows about these career opportunities. Our technical colleges do this very well. They listen to industry. They understand what employers need. And then they give students the practical, hands-on education to get to work – and then they routinely churn out student placement rates of well above 90%!

Unique opportunities like the Build Dakota Scholarship build partnerships between our businesses and tech colleges to put students directly into job placements and help them get their career started here in South Dakota. This past year, my Administration helped award more Build Dakota Scholarships than ever before!

Recently, we broke ground on a key investment in Southeast Technical College in Sioux Falls. Just a few months ago, I was at Southeast Tech to sign the bill to invest $6 million in this project. And now, we put shovels in the ground to bring it to life! This is an exciting development for Southeast Tech, for Sioux Falls, and for our entire state.

The new facility at Southeast Tech will be the James Abdnor Center for Advanced Manufacturing. And I can’t think of a more fitting person to name this building after than Senator Jim Abdnor. He believed deeply in South Dakota, in public service, and in creating opportunities for young people.

This center will carry his legacy forward. When it opens, it will give even more students the opportunity to learn skills and a trade.  Students will train in hands-on fields that are critical to our future – fields like advanced manufacturing, automation, mechanical engineering technology, welding, and more. Welding is my personal favorite!

South Dakota is Open for Opportunity! And investments in manufacturing and technical education make sure we stay that way. Together, we will continue to make some incredible things right here in South Dakota!

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