PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota businesses are poised for growth. That’s the message Gov. Dennis Daugaard, Lt. Gov. Matt Michels, and the Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) have heard since beginning a business retention and expansion campaign in September.
The state leaders have visited nearly 250 South Dakota businesses to find out how the state can help companies continue to succeed and overcome challenges. The Governor is encouraged that most of the businesses indicated growth potential.
“Of the companies we’ve had the opportunity to meet with, about 58 percent expect to expand their workforce in the next three years,” Gov. Daugaard said. “That’s excellent news. It tells me our businesses are healthy, the South Dakota economy is growing, and career opportunities are expanding for our workforce.”
State leaders learned that about 34 percent of the businesses visited are concerned about the availability of workers. One of those companies is Raven Industries, a Sioux Falls-based design and manufacturing firm that needs a supply of engineers for its workforce.
“A conversation with Raven Industries leadership caused our economic development team to come up with a creative solution that involves the School of Mines and Technology and a Rapid City business incubator,” Gov. Daugaard said.
Thanks to that connection, Raven announced this month that it’s opening a research and development facility in the Black Hills Business Development Center on the university campus to help support the company’s growth plans.
“We’ll use this opportunity to introduce our company to students coming out of the School of Mines and Technology,” said Dan Rykhus, President and CEO of Raven Industries. “We want our home-grown talent to know about the leading-edge work we’re doing and the career opportunities we can provide.”
Raven will initially hire nine people to work at the Black Hills Business Development Center.
Gov. Daugaard’s business development and expansion campaign has also connected many other South Dakota companies with business opportunities and workforce solutions.
The Governor’s Office of Economic Development reaches out to South Dakota businesses to understand their needs and help connect the companies with appropriate resources. For additional information about GOED and the services it provides, visit sdreadytowork.com.
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