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To help encourage the creation of new internships and assistantships, the state of South Dakota is making funding available to assist with the wages of these employees. Dakota Seeds will provide a grant that will cover up to one-half of the position's wages with a maximum of $2,000 for undergraduate students, $8,000 for masters degree students, and $10,000 for PhD students. The grant is paid on a reimbursement basis.
The Workforce Development Council meets quarterly the first week of January, April, July and October. Applications must be received by the 20th of the preceding month in order to be approved at the scheduled meeting.
Applications must be received before the internship begins in order to be considered. The internship may commence while awaiting approval from the Workforce Development Council.
A cap of five positions annually may be imposed, depending on the demand for funding.
In order to apply, the following requirements must be met:
- Positions must be newly created, with plans to continue the position in the future.
- Positions must provide a meaningful work experience for the student.
- Positions must have a link to science, technology (computer science), engineering or
mathematics. This may be accomplished through the nature of the business, the project or the position.- Companies must demonstrate how the funding will help meet a critical workforce need or help the company grow.
- Graduate students must be enrolled on a full-time basis at a South Dakota institution of higher learning.
- Students must be paid a minimum wage of $9/hour.
Steps to receive funding:
1. Company completes application for participation in the program
2. Application is reviewed and approved by the South Dakota Workforce Development Council
3. Position is posted to the Dakota Seeds website
4. Company signs letter of agreement and completes W-9 form
5. Company submits completion report and requests reimbursement
6.Reimbursement is sent to the company
7. Company responds to follow-up
Download Dakota Seeds funding application: Word | PDF
Please send completed applications to
Ann Gesick Johnson
Training Coordinator
Governor's Office of Economic Development
2329 N. Career Ave., Suite 109
Sioux Falls, SD 57107
P: 605-367-5340
F: 605-367-4519ann.gesick-johnson@state.sd.us.