PIERRE, S.D. – Seventeen South Dakota school districts will receive over $3 million in Career and Technical Education (CTE) Innovative Equipment Grants to implement emerging technology and modern equipment in CTE programs.
“The equipment schools purchase with these grants will open students’ eyes to amazing career opportunities in their backyards,” said Secretary of Education Tiffany Sanderson. “They are taking their CTE programs to the cutting-edge, helping students master industry standards, learn from employers in their local communities, and develop skills for high-demand, high-wage fields in South Dakota.”
| School District | Amount Awarded | Summary | Industry and Postsecondary Partners |
| Aberdeen | $189,049 | The A-TEC Academy will expand their transportation program by offering Switch Vehicles designed to meet the emerging demands created by electric vehicles and careers focusing on their manufacture and maintenance. | Aberdeen Area Chamber of Commerce, Lake Area Technical College, Steven Lust Automotive, Pierson Ford Lincoln, Inc. |
| Belle Fourche | $250,000 | Belle Fouche will tackle a significant workforce need by developing a training program to help students earn a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). Belle Fourche will purchase truck driving simulators and a semi tractor for their construction equipment program. | Lake Area Technical College, Western Dakota Technical College, SD Department of Transportation, Habeck Trucking, Inc., 3J Towing, Butte County Highway Department |
| Bon Homme | $193,500 | Bon Homme will purchase industrial welding and CNC equipment to augment their current Ag, Food, and Natural Resources program. This equipment will significantly expand opportunities and develop necessary skills for the modern workplace.
| Tyndall Development, Inc., P&M Steel Company, Dave's Welding and Repair, Rodale Institute, Hometown Floral and Gifts, A-OX Welding Supply, GT Repair and Autobody |
| Dell Rapids | $129,932 | As electric vehicle technology advances, the need for new skills grows. The mechanics of these vehicles are largely computer driven and require a high level of programming skill. Dell Rapids will add Switch Vehicles to their Information Technology (IT) program. | Lake Area Technical College, Switch Vehicles |
| Groton Area | $236,522 | The new Health Science program at Groton Area received support from a committee of industry partners to select multiple pieces of equipment to add to their program. The highlight is the purchase of Syndaver Synthetic Cadavers and a nursing simulator. | Avera, Sanford Health, a retired nurse educator, Sun Dial Manor |
| Harrisburg | $250,000 | Harrisburg proposed an innovative approach to careers addressing food insecurity. They will partner with a local landscape company to build a professional greenhouse aligned to urban farming and landscape operations. They will add a FarmBot and hydroponics to support a comprehensive project between Ag, Hospitality, and Business clusters. | Weller Brothers Landscaping, Sanford Health, Southeast Technical College, Augustana University |
| Huron | $250,000 | Huron has a multi-dimensional plan to support high-need workforce areas in healthcare and automotive mechanics in their community. The Health Science program will increase innovation with an Anatomage system, and the Transportation program will add Consulab Engine Trainers. | Mitchell Technical College, University of SD, Huron Regional Medical Center, Southeast Technical College, Iverson Auto, Lake Area Technical College |
| Meade | $174,442 | Sturgis Brown High School is developing a revolutionary hybrid program combining Robotics and Manufacturing. Through this program students will not only learn how to operate and use new technology like Switch Vehicles, CNC machines, and FarmBots, but they will also learn how to serve as technicians to repair, program, and maintain such equipment. | SD School of Mines, SRAM Corporation |
| Miller | $113,700 | Miller is advancing the technology and equipment used in their Ag, Food, and Natural Resources program by adding cobot robotic welders to prepare students for the growing number of careers incorporating automation. | Donlin Building, Inc., Vern's Manufacturing, Inc. |
| Mitchell | $232,868 | Labor shortage, the need for efficiency, and competition has pushed the world of manufacturing toward robotic welders. The Mitchell Career and Technical Education Academy will train students for the new equipment used in manufacturing jobs by including cobot robotic welders. | Hendrickson International, Marmen Energy, Twin City Fan Companies, Trail-Eze, Mitchell Technical College |
| Northeast Technical High School | $249,496 | In coordination with postsecondary partners, Northeast Technical High School is investing in a VRTEX virtual reality welding training simulator, Haas Desktop Mill machines, and CNC machining simulators for the Manufacturing program. | Lake Area Technical College, Dynamic Engineering, Terex Corporation |
| Parker | $121,569 | Parker's Ag, Food, and Natural Resources program will use augmented reality welding simulators to help students learn the fundamentals of welding and ag metal fabrication. This realistic new technology will allow students to safely build confidence as they develop skills. | A-OX Welding Supply |
| Platte-Geddes | $200,046 | The addition of a Switch Vehicles program will allow Platte-Geddes students the opportunity to learn about electricity, renewable energy, and other advanced technologies in the field of electric vehicles. | Trail-Eze, C&D Electric |
| Rapid City Area Schools | $242,026 | Rapid City Area Schools will purchase an Anatomage system for the Health Science program and heavy equipment simulators for the Architecture and Construction program. Rather than just introducing students to careers, this equipment will allow for industry certifications, real-world engagement, and rigor. | Scull Construction, Butler Machinery, Monument Health |
| Sioux Falls | $249,081 | The Sioux Falls CTE Academy is adding three Reconfigurable Training Device (RTD) Frasca flight simulators. This simulator will not only expose students to the field of aviation, but it also has the potential to impact the future educational and financial investment of students by allowing them to start earning flight hours sooner. | SD State University, Lake Area Technical College, SD National Guard, SD Air National Guard, Civil Air Patrol, Legacy Aviation, Iowa Lakes Community College |
| Tea Area | $118,702 | Tea Area will expand their STEM program by adding aviation simulators. Students will not only be able to explore the aviation pathway with hands-on experience, but also learn the importance of science, technology, engineering, and math within the field of aviation. | SD State University, SD National Guard |
| Webster Area | $181,454 | Through their Hospitality program, Webster Area will build an industrial food service lab equipped with commercial food service equipment to prepare students for careers in nutrition, dietetics, and culinary arts. | Sanford Health, Perebooms Café, Sun Dial Manor, The New Frontier Steakhouse, Strand-Kjorsvig Living Center, Webster Area Development Corporation, Mitchell Technical College, Waubay School District, Lake Area Technical College |
These grants are funded with federal dollars available to the Department of Education through the American Rescue Plan (ARP) and the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund (GEER).
Original source can be found here.
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