April 30, 2026

This piece is sponsored by South Dakota Biotech.

South Dakota biotech organizations combined to become one of only six teams nationwide awarded national funding for an effort to develop a workforce training program aimed at building the next generation of biomanufacturing talent.

Dakota BioWorx  in partnership with South Dakota Biotech was awarded an education and workforce grant through BioMADE, a national public-private partnership advancing U.S. bioindustrial manufacturing. It is the only funded team based outside the coasts.

The project will focus on designing a pre-apprenticeship training program to prepare workers for careers in biomanufacturing, a rapidly growing industry that uses biological systems to convert agricultural products into high-value materials, chemicals and fuels.

The program will center on work-based learning at Dakota BioWorx’s pilot-scale facility in Brookings, where participants will gain hands-on experience with equipment, process controls and safety protocols that mirror commercial operations.

That approach is intended to better prepare workers for large-scale biomanufacturing, which requires different skills than traditional lab-based training.

“This funding allows us to build a workforce pipeline that matches the scale and sophistication of modern biomanufacturing,” said Dr. Neal Connors, chief scientific officer for Dakota BioWorx and principal investigator on the grant. “By training individuals in an industry-relevant environment from day one, we are strengthening South Dakota’s competitive position in the national bioeconomy.”

South Dakota Biotech is partnering with Dakota BioWorx and South Dakota State University to help shape the program and align industry, education and workforce systems across the region.

“Workforce development is foundational to the growth of the biotech sector,” said Dr. Kara McCormick, director of science and operations for South Dakota Biotech and co-principal investigator on the grant. “This initiative brings together key partners to ensure South Dakota companies have access to the skilled talent they need to grow.”

The Midwest — and South Dakota in particular — is well-positioned to benefit from the industry because of its access to agricultural feedstocks, she said.

“South Dakota and our regional counterparts are uniquely positioned to support bioproduct development due to the easy access to raw agricultural products,” McCormick said.

An initial pilot course is expected to launch this summer in partnership with Start Today SD, a program of the South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation. Organizers are actively recruiting both participants and industry partners.

The training is expected to serve as the foundation for a future registered apprenticeship program and will be paired with a regional workforce analysis, including a “voice of the customer” survey and job impact report spanning a five-state area.

The effort comes as BioMADE announced 14 new projects nationwide, representing more than $21 million in combined public and private investment across 23 organizations.

“Global competition for bioindustrial manufacturing is at a critical tipping point,” said Douglas Friedman, CEO of BioMADE, in a statement. “If the U.S. is to remain competitive, we must continue investing in biotechnology innovation and commercialization.”

BioMADE initiatives are supported by federal partners including the U.S. Department of Defense and the National Science Foundation, with a focus on strengthening domestic supply chains, advancing national security and expanding workforce pathways.

Leaders say projects like the one in South Dakota are especially important for rural and agricultural regions, where bioindustrial manufacturing can create new markets for crops such as corn, soybeans and sugar beets while supporting job growth.

“This grant is not only providing new workforce pathways to a critical needs area, but also helping us better understand regional workforce demand,” McCormick said.

The initiative also comes amid broader federal momentum in biotechnology, including plans to establish a new office focused on accelerating development in the sector.

As BioMADE continues to expand its national efforts, South Dakota’s project is expected to help demonstrate how rural states can build scalable workforce models and play a larger role in the growing U.S. bioeconomy.

“We’re learning a lot, and moving quickly,” McCormick said. “We are in heavy recruitment stages of both participants for the pilot training program, getting launched this summer, but also for companies that want to partner in this project.”

To get connected, visit here or email kara@sdbio.org.