Sanford Health’s upcoming 168-bed Black Hills Medical Center in Rapid City will need to rely heavily on local workforce pipelines, including Western Dakota Technical College. The new facility will expand clinical training opportunities, helping students meet graduation requirements and enter the workforce faster.
To address staffing shortages, Sanford pledged $10 million over 10 years for K–12 outreach, scholarships, and technical college support. South Dakota is projected to face a shortage of 1,900 nurses by 2030.
Sanford leaders say partnerships with schools and graduate training programs are key to building a sustainable workforce. Most Western Dakota graduates stay in the region, and Sanford hopes to retain more through education incentives and expanded services.
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