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Office of Gov. Dennis Daugaard
500 E. Capitol Ave.
Pierre, S.D. 57501
(605) 773-3212
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, Jan. 30, 2012
CONTACT: Tony Venhuizen or Joe Kafka at 605-773-3212
New Manufacturing Training To Be Added At Mitchell Technical Institute
PIERRE, S.D. – The South Dakota Board of Education has approved a new Welding and Manufacturing Technology program for Mitchell Technical Institute (MTI).
The new welding and manufacturing program is one of the components of Gov. Dennis Daugaard’s South Dakota WINS (Workforce Initiatives).
“A vibrant economy demands a well-trained workforce” the Governor said. “When we grow our economy and train our citizens for more good jobs, all of South Dakota wins.”
The new program, brought to the board by state Director of Career and Technical Education Mark Wilson, proposes to begin training new welders and advanced manufacturing employees in the fall of 2012. The first class will have capacity of 24 students, who can earn Associate of Applied Science degrees in welding or manufacturing technology within 18 months.
“South Dakota’s technical institutes are very excited to be engaged in the Governor’s South Dakota WINS initiative,” Wilson said. “Our technical institutes stand ready to train the workforce of today and tomorrow. The new welding program will help us do that.”
MTI worked with area businesses, the Governor’s Office, and the Department of Education to develop the program in response to a high demand for welders and manufacturing employees in the James River Valley and across South Dakota.
“We want to thank the Board of Education and the Governor for helping us get this welding and advanced manufacturing program off the ground,” said MTI President Greg Von Wald. “The Governor understands the critical workforce needs of growing manufacturing companies in the James River Valley and beyond, and we look forward to responding to his leadership in addressing these issues by training South Dakotans to meet those needs.”
South Dakota WINS (Workforce Initiatives) is Gov. Daugaard’s 20-point effort to address professional and skilled worker shortages across the state. The endeavor is a high-impact, collaborative effort among leaders in business, education, health, and labor to bolster short- and long-term workforce needs in South Dakota.
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