South Dakota Democratic Party Executive Director Dan Ahlers released the following statement after the U.S. Department of Labor announced that the U.S. economy added 303,000 new jobs in March, once again exceeding expectations and bringing the total number of jobs created under President Biden to over 15 million:

“President Biden has built the strongest economy in the world from the middle-out and bottom-up. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, South Dakota has created 34,500 new jobs, including 481 jobs in clean energy. The state has also seen nearly 34,000 applications to start new businesses. Thanks to President Biden’s leadership, South Dakota has one of the lowest lowest unemployment rates at 2.1%. This administration is also lowering costs for South Dakotans, including $68 million in home energy rebates. Nearly 200,000 seniors and other Medicare beneficiaries in South Dakota are also saving money on prescription drugs. This November, voters will remember that the Biden-Harris Administration is truly helping South Dakotans where it matters most.”

During the Biden-Harris Administration, South Dakota has been able to make huge investments across the state including:

- Gevo breaking ground on a $1 billion project to build a new biofuels facility in Lake Preston. This project is expected to create 1,000 construction jobs and 90 long-term, high-paying jobs.

- AEsir Technologies is investing $250 million to build a nickel-zinc battery manufacturing facility, creating 400 new jobs and strengthening the electric vehicle supply chain.

- The South Dakota Department of Transportation received $10 million to fund roadway reconstruction on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, providing good-paying jobs and workforce development training.

- The Department of Energy is awarding up to $925 million to the Heartland Hydrogen Hub in South Dakota, North Dakota and Minnesota. This Hub will help decarbonize the agricultural sector’s production of fertilizer and decrease the regional cost of clean hydrogen.

To see more ways that President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is helping South Dakota, click here.

For questions, you can contact the SDDP Executive Director Dan Ahlers at [email protected] or contact the state party office by phone at 605-271-5405 or 605-940-3071.