The City of Pierre is continuing (Feb. 4, 2025) its partnership with the local business community to boost Pierre’s workforce.
The partnership, started in 2020, is an extension of the State’s Build Dakota Scholarship program. It brings the city, Pierre Economic Development Corp. and local businesses together to provide scholarships for students who agree to work in high-demand careers in Pierre.
Through the Build Dakota program, a qualifying student receives a full-ride scholarship for a degree from an in-state technical institute, with 50% paid by the Build Dakota program, and the other 50% paid for by the business the student will work for upon graduation.
Through Pierre’s industry match grant partnership, the city pays for one-eighth of the total scholarship, as does PEDCO. The partnering employer would pay for one-fourth, and Build Dakota would still pay for one-half. Pierre city government’s commitment to the program is about $55,000. The program will sunset in five years or when the funding is expended, whichever comes first.
PEDCO will administer the program.
To participate in the first-in-the-state industry match grant program, businesses must be PEDCO members.
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