Governor talks about Huron’s successes, including federal grant for Cornerstones
By
Roger Kasa, Huron Daily Plainsmen
Cornerstones Career Learning Center in Huron has received a $75,000 federal grant to help people looking for jobs, Gov. Mike Rounds announced Wednesday night.
Addressing the final session of Huron’s Capital for a Day at the Event Center, Rounds said Cornerstones competed against 557 other organizations from across the country for the federal grant.
It was one of 55 applications to be funded, he added.
“It’s a pilot project that will help people get jobs,” he said.
According to a press release from the office of Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., the grant is from the Department of Labor to help adults, dislocated workers and youth to learn necessary life skills.
The project will provide adult education and literacy services, general equivalency diploma preparation and testing, job development, employment follow-up activities, personal issues intervention services, family literacy education and a certified child-care center that works with the development needs of participants' children.
Rounds told the audience the Huron community “has many good things going for it.”
In a 60-minute talk, Rounds reported on what the people of Huron had told him state government was doing right and what it needed to work on.
Prior to Rounds’ address, Huron native Jerry Hofer, of the state Department of Game, Fish & Parks, read the Capital for a Day proclamation.
And when Rounds took the stage. he introduced Callee Bauman of Huron, the new Miss South Dakota.
This was the first time Huron hosted Capital for a Day since 1988 when George Mickelson was governor.
In an interview earlier in the day, Rounds reminisced about the day he met with Dakota Provisions’ officials in North Dakota before they made the commitment to locate the turkey processing facility in Huron.
Rounds said he told them, “This is about giving your children the same opportunities you had.”
As for the day’s recap, he said the one thing he’s learned is that much can be accomplished “if people work together.”
He reviewed some of the good things that have occurred in South Dakota over the past year.
“South Dakota is on the right path,” he said.
Although Rounds is seeking another term as governor, he didn’t want to talk politics during his day in Huron.
“It’s not fair for the opposition for me to do that,” he said. “They are not here, and I think the people want to see me functioning as their governor and not as a candidate for governor.”
Joining the chief executive in Huron were representatives from 18 departments of state government. Among them were Education, Social Services, Health, Military and Veterans Affairs, Human Services, Labor, Transportation, Public Safety, Corrections, Tourism and State Development.
He spoke briefly about the Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad project, noting he has sent letters of support to the proper authorities.
He said the local economy has improved with 260 new jobs created in Huron, and the city has a good supply of water. On the state level, unemployment is less than 3 percent.
Regarding Huron University, he said his office of economic development is willing to work with the local committee that has been appointed to try and find a new owner for the property.
He also paid tribute to the Huron Public School System saying, “It is child-centered.”
Rounds said the School District is providing a full-day kindergarten program, “something it doesn’t have to do.”
He called attention to the recent expansion of the ethanol plant in Huron, increasing its capacity from 12 million gallons to 30 million.
The November ice storm and blizzard was an example of South Dakotans taking care of one another, he said.
At one time, he said, 72 substations were out and, at one time, 52,000 people were without power.
“No one got mad,” he said. “We didn’t have any riots in the streets. The people just rolled up their sleeves and went to work to solve the problem.”
As for the future of the State Fair, Rounds said a number of changes have been made to the fair’s lineup this year.
“We need to get the vendors back,” he said. “We need good entertainment, and it’s got to have good cash flow.”
He said it’s also important that usage of the fairgrounds is developed year-around.
And he said, “We’ve got to get people that live in the state’s larger cities to come.”
Meanwhile, Agriculture Secretary Larry Gabriel said in an interview he’s optimistic about the fair’s future.
Interest in open class beef has increased, and the 4-H people have indicated they will stay for the duration of the event, he said.
He said the state Legislature appropriated $750,000 for the year and that, he believes, is a step toward permanent funding for the exposition.
But the key to the fair’s future depends on what happens this year.
“It’s critical we do well this year,” he said. “If the people of South Dakota want the fair to continue, it’s imperative they come.”
The governor also accepted a Civil War rifle that belonged to his great-grandfather. It was presented by Leon Baye of rural Cavour.
The musket will be taken and displayed at the Cultural Heritage Center in Pierre.
In conclusion, he saluted the veterans in the audience and the military personnel serving in Iraq. He invited everyone to the Vietnam Memorial dedication Sept. 15-16 in Pierre.
He said 28,000 South Dakotans served in Vietnam, and 208 were casualties of war.
