Sioux Empire Today

Valley Queen has completed its expansion project in Milbank, South Dakota. The company processes 1.8 billion pounds of milk annually from farms in South Dakota and Minnesota, producing 200 million pounds of cheese each year. This investment is seen as crucial for the state's dairy producers.

In addition to visiting the expansion site, a series of roundtable discussions were held along the I-29 corridor. Topics included South Dakota's tourism industry and workforce development strategies.

Vietnam veteran pinning ceremonies took place in Brookings and Watertown, offering recognition to 30 Vietnam-era veterans.

South Dakota boasts a low unemployment rate of 1.8%, significantly lower than the national average of 4.2%. Despite this, some communities face long-term vacancies. Discussions with business leaders at Lake Area Technical College in Watertown addressed workforce shortages and potential solutions.

Efforts are underway to enhance workforce capabilities through partnerships among businesses, local communities, state entities, and federal programs like the Build Dakota Scholarship and grants for high school career education.

Legislative initiatives such as the America Works Act, TEENS Act, and SHIP IT Act aim to improve work opportunities across various sectors. These efforts are designed to ensure that both employees and businesses not only sustain but thrive.

National Park Week offers an opportunity to highlight South Dakota's national parks including the Badlands, Mt. Rushmore, and Wind Cave which attract over four million visitors annually.