SoDak Renewable Workforce Development Program —
Full Program Overview

Help Build South Dakota's Energy Workforce

Establish a school‑agnostic, industry‑driven workforce program that finances technical education, mentors students, and places graduates into high‑need renewable energy and utility roles across South Dakota.

SoDak Renewable Workforce Development Program —
Full Program Overview

Help Build South Dakota's Energy Workforce

Establish a school‑agnostic, industry‑driven workforce program that finances technical education, mentors students, and places graduates into high‑need renewable energy and utility roles across South Dakota.

MISSION:

Fund high‑demand technical training, pair each student with a SoDak Renewables member mentor, and accelerate job placement in wind, solar, storage, substation/distribution, natural gas utility, plant/process operations, SCADA/automation, and grid communications.

Fund high‑demand technical training, pair each student with a SoDak Renewables member mentor, and accelerate job placement in wind, solar, storage, substation/distribution, natural gas utility, plant/process operations, SCADA/automation, and grid communications.

PROGRAM OPPORTUNITY

DEMAND

South Dakota’s clean‑energy buildout is constrained by a shortage of qualified field technicians, operators, and controls specialists.

TRAINING EXISTS
ACCESS DOESN'T

LATC and MTC offer strong programs, but tuition/fees, tools, and living costs remain barriers.

INDUSTRY ALIGHMENT

Members need earlier engagement (mentoring/internships) and faster hiring pathways.

SCHOOL-AGNOSTIC FLEXIBILITY

Unlike school‑specific models, SoDak can direct funds to any approved program at LATC or MTC (and other SD technical colleges if later included) based on member demand and workforce gaps.

PROGRAM OBJECTIVES (ANNUAL)

Fund 10–25 students in priority programs (mix of Build Dakota‑eligible and critical non‑BD programs).

MENTOR
%

of scholarship recipients
(monthly check‑ins; structured touchpoints)

PLACE
%

of graduates into SD energy/utility roles within 2 months

RETAIN
%

at 12 months post‑hire

Report quarterly outcomes to sponsors and the SoDak board

PROGRAM OBJECTIVES (ANNUAL)

Fund 10–25 students in priority programs (mix of Build Dakota‑eligible and critical non‑BD programs).

MENTOR
%

of scholarship recipients
(monthly check‑ins; structured touchpoints)

PLACE
%

of graduates into SD energy/utility roles within 2 months

RETAIN
%

at 12 months post‑hire

Report quarterly outcomes to sponsors and the SoDak board

Priority Education Pathways (Aligned to LATC & MTC)

Lake Area Technical College (LATC)

Energy Operations – plant/process operations; monitoring & control systems; internship required.

Energy Technology – hands‑on O&M (mechanical, hydraulics, vibration, alignment) for wind, power, pipelines, and process industries.

Electronic Systems Technology / Robotics / CIS (Networking & Cyber) – electronics, PLCs, industrial automation, and OT networking supporting SCADA/substation comms.

Natural Resources Management (as needed) – environmental monitoring & compliance for utility/generation sites.

Mitchell Technical College (MTC)

Electrical Utilities & Substation Technology – substation equipment, protection & controls, testing.

Automation Controls/SCADA – PLCs, remote ops, industrial networking for grid/plant automation.

Wi‑Fi & Broadband (Telecom) – field comms/backhaul supporting grid devices.

Electrical Construction & Maintenance; Heating & Cooling; Welding & Manufacturing; Automation/Advanced Manufacturing – strong feeders into facilities O&M and reliability teams.

Build Dakota alignment: When possible, SoDak awards may stack/coordinate with Build Dakota. Where rules allow, SoDak could also cover gaps (tools, fees, housing, required certifications).

These tracks are mission‑critical to SoDak members and prioritized for direct scholarship support administered by SoDak:

Critical Programs (Not Currently on Build Dakota) — MTC

Power Line Construction & Maintenance — overhead/underground line work, pole‑top rescue, CDL; foundational to distribution reliability.

Utilities Technology (AAS) — cross‑trained utility techs with multi‑system exposure; ideal for rural utilities & municipal ops.

Natural Gas Technology (Diploma) — pipeline fundamentals, measurement, corrosion basics, field safety/compliance for gas utilities.

Wind Turbine Technology (Diploma) — climb/rescue, electrical/mechanical troubleshooting, PM for wind sites.

Funding approach for critical programs: Scholarships and awards are administered by SoDak Renewables (not MTC); funds may be paid directly to students or applied to MTC billing per school policy. Awards may include tuition/fees and essential gear & certifications (e.g., PPE, meters/tools, required safety/industry credentials) as permitted by school policy.

Award Types & Funding Tiers (Member‑Friendly)

Apprenticeship Sponsor
$
Tools, fees, early coursework; mentor match; first‑look interviews.
Technical Track Scholarship (1‑Year)
$
Named scholarship; recognition; internship priority; resume book access.
Turbine & Grid Fellowship (1–2 Years)
$
Named fellowship; capstone/campus collaboration; early hiring windows.

Offer a pooled Workforce Circle so smaller gifts combine to fund full awards.

How We Differ from School‑Specific Models

Stretch‑the‑Million (LATC)
& Double Edge (MTC)

  • Use Build Dakota to fund a portion of tuition and require a company sponsor for the remainder.
  • Apply only to Build Dakota‑listed programs at their respective school.

SoDak’s model

  • School‑agnostic: We can award to LATC or MTC, based on member demand and workforce gaps.
  • Program‑flexible: We can stack with Build Dakota when eligible or partially/fully fund high‑need programs not on Build Dakota (e.g., Wind Turbine Technology at MTC).

Industry‑led: Mentor matching, internship priority, first‑look interview windows, and a curated resume book.

90‑Day Launch Plan

Days 0–30

Finalize program name/brand; create one‑pager & sponsor deck; build web landing page + online application; draft mentor toolkit; align with LATC/MTC on calendars and billing mechanics.

Days 31–60

Recruit Founding Sponsors across tiers; publish donor wall; open student applications; begin mentor onboarding.

Days 61–90

Select first awardees; announce publicly; begin mentor matches; schedule site tours/shadow days; deliver first quarterly report template.

Join Us in Shaping a Sustainable Future

  • Become a Member: Strengthen your impact by joining SoDak Renewables.
  • Stay Informed: Sign up for updates and be part of the renewable energy movement.
  • Support Clean Energy: Find out how you can advocate for renewable energy policies that make a difference in South Dakota.
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