Mitchell Technical College Foundation announced on October 5, 2026 that it received over $945,000 through BlackRock Future Builders. The funding will expand Rural Grid Builders, an energy-trades training program serving South Dakota and surrounding states. The college says the grant will support training for 240 participants over two years. Covered occupations include utility pipeline technicians, electricians, HVAC/R technicians, automation and SCADA controls technicians, drone operators and plumbers. The region includes North Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming and Montana as well as South Dakota. A mobile outreach unit, virtual-reality simulations and energy-trades camps are planned to introduce rural students to career options. The outreach target is 3,000 students and 10 partner high schools, separate from the 240-participant training target. The foundation is one of 15 organizations selected from more than 1,000 applications, according to the college. Jobs for the Future supported the national application-review process. The broader BlackRock Future Builders initiative is a $100 million, five-year philanthropic effort launched in March 2026. These figures describe funded program plans. They do not mean every participant receives a share of the grant in cash, or that 240 jobs are guaranteed. The announcement does not give an enrollment deadline, individual tuition award or wage guarantee. Prospective trainees should look for the college's program-specific enrollment details rather than treat this award announcement as an application opening. The verified development is new support for regional energy-trades training and outreach.