Western Dakota Tech Launched Home Construction Partnership
The college partnered with the Black Hills Home Builders Association to give students hands-on residential building experience.
Updated on Oct. 10, 2026 in Construction
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Western Dakota Technical College has teamed up with the Black Hills Home Builders Association to launch a hands-on construction program. Students will build a residential home on the Rapid City campus throughout the upcoming school year.
Why it matters
The initiative connects construction trades students directly with local firms and job openings, aiming to keep skilled labor within the state.
Currently, 97% of Western Dakota Tech graduates secure employment within South Dakota. The project, funded by the Black Hills Home Builders Association, involves building a full home that will be sold following the academic year.
The players
Western Dakota Technical College
This educational institution in Rapid City provides career and technical training for students across South Dakota.
Black Hills Home Builders Association
This professional organization represents the residential construction industry across the Black Hills region.
The details
Construction trades students work under the oversight of the association and local trade partners to complete the project on campus. Once finished, the structure will be transported to New Underwood for sale.
Timeline
Construction takes place throughout the 2026-2027 school year.
The home will be moved to New Underwood after the school year concludes.
Market Landscape
This partnership reflects a growing industry trend of community colleges integrating directly with local trade organizations to solve labor shortages. By establishing a student chapter of the association, the program aligns regional educational goals with the competitive needs of the construction sector.
The program creates a local pipeline for students to enter the workforce with real-world project experience. Residents in New Underwood will eventually have the opportunity to purchase the completed home built during this academic initiative.
The takeaway
These industry-academic partnerships serve as a critical bridge for students moving from the classroom to the workforce. Practical building experience during the school year provides students with a competitive edge when pursuing local employment.
Further reading
For more on the building sector, see our Construction section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KNBN NewsCenter1.
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