South Dakota GOED

The #SouthDakota Governor's Office of #EconomicDevelopment works to create jobs, support companies, and foster business growth.

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South Dakota’s dairy sector continues to deliver remarkable growth.

Milk production is up 73.8%, milkfat is up 87.2%, and the state has added 240,000 cows since 2020- ranking #1 in the nation across all three growth areas. This momentum highlights industry innovation that strengthens communities, workforce opportunities, and agriculture statewide.

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Strong partnerships drive strong economies.

This week, Commissioner Even joined Governor Larry Rhoden, USDA leadership, and agriculture stakeholders from across South Dakota for the @USDA Leadership Roundtable hosted by South Dakota Trade.

The discussion focused on key issues impacting producers, processors, and rural communities, including food safety, international trade, market access, research, and the future of agricultural production.

Agriculture remains a cornerstone of South Dakota's economy, and conversations like these help ensure our producers and businesses remain competitive in a rapidly evolving global marketplace.

Thank you to South Dakota Trade for hosting and to all participants for sharing their insights and expertise as we work together to expand opportunities for South Dakota agriculture.

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South Dakota’s beef industry continues to show impressive economic strength. USDA reports $5.57B in gross income from cattle & calves in 2025, which supports jobs, investments, and rural communities statewide.

This National Beef Month, the GOED is proud to recognize the partners driving growth in one of our state’s most important industries.

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It was a great day touring the North Sioux Metro! Local leaders and residents came together to celebrate the milestones achieved in our small communities and to discuss new opportunities for growth at these stops:

- Mapleton Golf Course
- Thermo Bond
- Valley Springs
- Foundation Park & Crooks
- Dell Rapids
- Walk Thru Plans

Thank you to the sponsors and SMGA (@SiouxMetro) for making this event possible!

To learn more about the Sioux Metro Growth Alliance's mission, click here: https://t.co/GSmreYaPNp

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The South Dakota Board of Economic Development approved two SD Works loans to support business expansion and local economic development in De Smet and Lemmon.

Read the full press release here: https://t.co/kJ0TG0QNt5

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It was a pleasure attending the AI+ Expo in Washington D.C last week in partnership with Dakota State University (@DakotaState) and DARC. It was great to build partnerships and gain insights to help strengthen our nation’s technological edge. Thank you for having us, Special Competitive Studies Project (@scsp_ai)!

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Our Development Representative, Laure, visited Swine Robotics in Leola, to check out their newest product, the WashRail! The WashRail is an overhead barn wash system that helps prevent disease spread, saves on labor, and uses less water. They’re also the manufacturer of the Boar Bot, a tool that cuts down the time and labor needed for heat checking sows while improving safety and efficiency.

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Hannah Sage, our Senior Development Representative, discussed the opportunities South Dakota offers through state development programs to manufacturing leaders across the state at the Black Hills Manufacturing Alliance on Tuesday, May 5th.

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Congratulations to these South Dakota businesses for their well-deserved recognition during National Small Business Week!

Pictured:

- Jitter Joint Play Cafe- Spearfish Economic Development Corporation Emerging Business Achievement

- John Willard, CAW Industries Inc.- South Dakota Small Business Exporter of the Year

- Kelli Ewert, Tropical Smoothie Cafe- South Dakota Veteran Owned Small Business of the Year

- Chris O'Bryan, LaCreek Development Corporation- Small Business Person of the Year

-Ellen and Serena Harmon, RLH Inc., South Dakota Women Owned Small Business of the Year

We’re proud to celebrate the people behind these awards who dedicate themselves to their work and make our communities thrive.

@SpearfishEDC
@SBAgov
@TSmoothieCafe

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Governor Rhoden cut the ribbon on the new Edmunds County Detention Center in Ipswich this Wednesday! This 40-bed facility is vital to keeping local residents of Edmunds County and the surrounding regions safe. The facility can also digitize legal mail and hold virtual court hearings to save on transportation costs.

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To wrap up National Small Business Week, we’re looking back at our recent roundtables where manufacturing and agriculture leaders connected with the Small Business Administration (@SBAgov), United States Department of Agriculture (@USDA), and SD Manufacturing & Technology Solutions (@SoDakMTS). Watch this video to see why South Dakota remains the best place for small businesses to grow.

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Economic Development Week is all about celebrating the work happening behind the scenes to help South Dakota grow. From supporting business expansion to strengthening communities, GOED is focused on creating opportunities across the state. Check out our breakdown to learn more about how we’re keeping South Dakota Open for Opportunity.

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On Tuesday, team members Bill Wendling, Ari Jungemann, Laure Swanson, and Commissioner Even attended the Brookings Economic Development Summit, hosted by the Brookings Regional Growth Alliance. Attendees learned about local economic trends and insights, workforce development and attraction initiatives, community and economic development success stories, and more!

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Happy National Travel & Tourism Week!

South Dakota’s tourism industry continues to break records, welcoming nearly 15 million visitors and generating more than $5 billion in spending. Tourism is essential to keep our businesses strong, our communities vibrant, and fuel growth in every corner of the state.

Keep exploring, South Dakota!

@southdakota

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Last week’s Liberty & Labor Apprenticeship Summit was a great opportunity to highlight the strong apprenticeship work happening across the state and how it supports employer needs and strengthens South Dakota’s workforce. Thank you to the Department of Labor and Regulation (@SouthDakotaDLR) for hosting a great event that brought partners together!

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Team members Allison Kinner, Hannah Sage, and Lily Bruckner had the opportunity to tour Center of the Nation Wool, Next Generation Supplements and H‑S Precision last week. These businesses are essential to South Dakota’s advanced manufacturing industry and help drive innovation across the region!

@HSPrecisionInc

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Last Thursday, SD GOED co‑hosted an Agriculture Regulatory Roundtable at the Even Farm in Humboldt with the SBA (@SBAgov) and SD Manufacturing & Technology Solutions (@SoDakMTS). Local producers and ag‑business leaders gathered to discuss federal regulations, share challenges, and explore solutions that support growth and innovation in South Dakota’s agriculture sector. Thank you to the Even family for hosting and to everyone who contributed valuable insights to the conversation!

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Congratulations to Maguire (@maguirewater) for being named the 2026 South Dakota Small Business Champion!

We were proud to co‑host a manufacturing roundtable with the Small Business Administration (@SBAgov) and SD Manufacturing & Technology Solutions (@SoDakMTS) where they were recognized. Maguire is a family‑owned and operated Sioux Falls company that has constructed and maintained water towers since 1915, employing more than 200 people and supporting critical water infrastructure across thousands of communities in 34 states.

Thank you, Gene Jr. and Scott Jones, for your leadership and the impact you continue to make in South Dakota.

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It's Apprenticeship Week in South Dakota!

In celebration, we're highlighting apprenticeship opportunities across our key industries.

Learn more about these pathways at https://t.co/i8E29EEesW

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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.