South Dakota GOED

GOED team members were proud to attend this week's announcement of a new gunsmithing program at Western Dakota Technical College. The new program will expand training opportunities and support industry growth. Investments like this help ensure South Dakota remains competitive and ready to meet the needs of key sectors.

Learning, connecting, and bringing new ideas back to South Dakota. GOED staff members Adam Moleseed, Curtis Egan, and Bill Wendling are in Missouri this week for the Heartland Economic Development Course, joined by local leaders Andrew Nilges (North Sioux City), Jason Anderson (Beresford), and Mark O’Loughlen (Box Elder). Opportunities like this help strengthen collaboration and support continued growth across our communities.

We are excited to welcome Chris Larson to GOED as State Energy Development Director. Chris’s decades of experience in the energy sector and commitment to long-term planning will help support reliable energy and continued growth across South Dakota. Looking forward to the work ahead!

South Dakota producers and manufacturers, this is your opportunity to be heard. Join upcoming SBA Regulatory Roundtables with Regional Advocate Trent Staggs to discuss how federal regulations impact your business and get assistance navigating federal agencies. 📅 Manufacturing April 29 | Sioux Falls 📅 Agriculture April 30 | Near Humboldt

Celebrating a big win for Madison! The new EmBe Education childcare and preschool center will expand access to quality childcare and early learning opportunities for families in the community. The facility opens for children on April 6. Congratulations to everyone who helped make this project a reality. This is truly an investment in South Dakota's future. #MadisonSD #EarlyLearning

Celebrating an incredible milestone! 🎉 GOED Business Analytics Director Ann Gesick Johnson is marking 30 years of service with the State of South Dakota. For three decades, Ann has dedicated her work to strengthening our state through data, insight, and a deep commitment to serving the people of South Dakota. We are grateful for her leadership, expertise, and the lasting impact she continues to make every day. Thank you, Ann, for your service and dedication! Special thanks to Governor and First Lady Rhoden for stopping by to surprise Ann and help us celebrate this well-deserved milestone.

Thank you to Mitchell Area Development Corporation for hosting partners as we connected with local businesses, heard updates firsthand, and discussed opportunities to support continued growth in the Mitchell area. Partners: GOED South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation South Dakota Manufacturing & Technology Solutions NorthWestern Energy Central Electric Cooperative Businesses visited: POET Bioprocessing The Abbott House Pepsi-Cola of Mitchell Patzer Woodworking Inc. Strong partnerships and strong businesses continue to move communities forward.

Many of the culverts supporting roads and communities across South Dakota are made right in Huron. Since 1957, TrueNorth Steel’s Huron facility has played an important role in building essential infrastructure through the manufacturing of tanks and culverts. During a recent tour, we got a firsthand look at the culvert production process and the skilled work behind it.

Ground was officially broken in Faulkton for Agtegra Cooperative’s new feed mill. The 100,000-ton-per-year facility will expand feed production for swine and poultry operations while strengthening South Dakota’s agricultural supply chain. Governor Rhoden, Commissioner Even, and GOED staff joined partners and community leaders to celebrate.

Lankota is a company built around innovation with a clear purpose: solving challenges farmers face every day. From concept to prototype to finished product, Lankota takes ideas through a thoughtful process to create equipment solutions that improve planting and harvesting operations. Owner Lance Tschetter shared how the company continues to work directly with customers to ensure each solution delivers real value in the field. A great example of South Dakota ingenuity supporting agriculture. #SDag #AgInnovation

Thank you to our farmers, ranchers, and producers across South Dakota.

Agriculture drives South Dakota forward every day. Last week, the Governor’s Office of Economic Development attended the Central Plains Dairy Expo in Sioux Falls, where Development Representative Curtis Egan connected with regional producers and industry partners and visited with many South Dakota businesses. Today, on National Ag Day, we recognize the farmers, ranchers, and agricultural businesses whose work strengthens our economy and supports communities across our state. #NationalAgDay #SouthDakotaAg #EconomicDevelopment

South Dakota is well represented in Japan this week as part of the South Dakota Trade delegation. Meetings with government officials, industry leaders, and potential partners are focused on expanding trade opportunities. Japan depends on imports for food and energy, making it an important market for South Dakota producers and manufacturers. We are working to strengthen partnerships that support long-term growth back home.

Honoring leadership that moves South Dakota forward. Congratulations to Dana Dykhouse, recipient of the Excellence in Economic Development award. A well-deserved recognition for his continued impact on our state’s growth and success.

Strengthening South Dakota’s future workforce starts with strong partnerships. GOED’s Sheldon Jensen was invited by Southeast Tech to present at the Eastern South Dakota Perkins Consortium Annual Meeting, where educators and administrators from 36 rural school districts gathered to collaborate on advancing Career and Technical Education programs across the state.

We’re hiring! Join the South Dakota Governor’s Office of Economic Development Finance Team as a Special Assets Manager and help support the projects and businesses driving South Dakota’s economy. This role serves as a key leader in managing and evaluating GOED’s loan portfolio, working with lenders and businesses across the state to monitor credit risk, support responsible lending, and protect public investment. It’s an opportunity to apply your financial expertise while contributing directly to economic growth in South Dakota. 📅 Apply by March 18, 2026 Learn more: bit.ly/46Tmqer

The 2026 Governor's Conference on Economic Development was a success! Pulling off a conference like this takes a lot of work behind the scenes. Thank you to the GOED team for the planning, coordination, and commitment that made this year’s event such a success. Proud to work alongside this group.

South Dakota has officially received its Notice of Award for the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program, marking an important step forward in expanding reliable, high-speed internet across our state. This investment will help connect more South Dakota homes, businesses, farms, and communities to the infrastructure they need to grow and thrive. Learn more about the BEAD program and next steps at the link below: bit.ly/4rIYkLT #SouthDakota #Broadband #BEAD #OpportunityForAll

Thank you to our outstanding speakers and panelists who helped make this year’s Governor’s Conference on Economic Development a success. Your expertise, insights, and willingness to share ideas helped equip leaders across South Dakota to go further in their communities and industries. #GritToGoFurtherSD

A big congratulations to this year’s award winners! Governor Larry Rhoden announced the 2026 Excellence in Economic Development and Community of the Year Award recipients, recognizing outstanding leadership and collaboration across South Dakota. 👏 Dana Dykhouse 👏 Vermillion Well deserved. Well earned. Read more here: bit.ly/4u0EJIO