Mitchell Technical College Foundation announced over $945,000 in support through BlackRock Future Builders, a national philanthropic initiative funded by The BlackRock Foundation to train and support 50,000 American workers as they pursue careers in the skilled trades. BlackRock Future Builders is designed to help meet the country’s growing demand for skilled workers while expanding access to careers that can provide pathways to lasting financial security.
The grant will help Mitchell Technical College expand Rural Grid Builders, supporting rural energy trades training for 240 participants over two years across South Dakota and the surrounding region (North Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming and Montana). Funding will support training for utility pipeline technicians, electricians, HVAC/R technicians, automation and SCADA controls technicians, drone operators, and plumbers. A mobile outreach unit, virtual-reality simulations and energy trades camps will also help introduce rural students to career opportunities, with outreach targeting 3,000 students and 10 partner high schools. Together, these efforts will help address skilled-worker shortages and expand access to training and career exploration in rural communities in South Dakota and the surrounding region.
“We are grateful to BlackRock Future Builders for investing in students and in the future of the energy workforce.,” said Theresa Kriese, President of Mitchell Technical College. “The energy industry needs skilled professionals, and our students are eager to develop the knowledge and hands-on skills needed to succeed in these careers. Through BlackRock Future Builders, Mitchell Tech can bring training and career exploration closer to students in rural communities while strengthening the pipeline of skilled workers for energy employers across the region.”
Mitchell Technical College Foundation is one of 15 organizations to be selected from more than 1,000 applications for grants nationwide. BlackRock Future Builders partnered with Jobs for the Future (JFF), a national nonprofit with workforce development expertise, to support the application review process.
“Skilled trades careers create pathways to economic opportunity and financial wellbeing for individuals, families, and ultimately, communities,” said Claire Chamberlain, President of The BlackRock Foundation. “Through BlackRock Future Builders, we’re proud to partner with the Mitchell Technical College Foundation as it expands access to training and helps more people in South Dakota and the surrounding region gain the skills and experience needed to build lasting careers.”
The broader BlackRock Future Builders initiative launched in March 2026 as a $100 million, five-year philanthropic effort funded by The BlackRock Foundation. Through its first national RFP, BlackRock Future Builders has expanded into new communities across the U.S. and is supporting organizations in over a dozen skilled trades.
