The $1000 Workforce Incentive program is a brand-new cash bonus program designed to address the workforce shortage in retail, restaurants, hospitality, grocery, trades, and many other businesses. Individuals from out-of-state who come to work in South Dakota can receive $1,000.
 
This $1,000 cash payment from the South Dakota Retailers Association would supplement any hiring bonuses or other incentives an individual business offers.

The $1,000 workforce incentive will be paid directly to an employee hired from out-of-state to work in an SD Retailers Association member-business. The first incentive installment of $500 will be paid after 90 consecutive days of employment at a physical location in South Dakota, averaging at least 30 hours worked per week at that business. The second $500 will be paid after 180 days of employment. View application and eligibility requirements below.
​“We know that workforce is the number one issue facing businesses in South Dakota,” said Retailers Association Executive Director Nathan Sanderson. “As workers around the country look to South Dakota as a new place to call home, we hope this incentive will make our great state even more attractive.”

Program Eligibility

  • Businesses must be a regular (non-Associate) SDRA member.

  • The business must have been an SDRA member prior to the employee’s start date.

  • A business (each location) is eligible to apply for no more than two workforce incentive payments in any calendar year.

  • Employee must have lived outside of South Dakota immediately prior to starting work at a South Dakota Retailers Association member-business physically located in South Dakota.

  • Employee must work an average of 30 hours per week for 90 days prior to the application date for the workforce incentive payment.

  • Employee must work on-site in South Dakota and is only eligible for one incentive payment.

  • Employee is only eligible to receive the incentive once.

  • Applicant must be hired after November 1, 2021.

  • Open to current U.S. citizens only, age 18 or older.
 
SDRA reserves the right to change or cancel the program at any time and has sole discretion on the eligibility of applicants.