Sanford Lab Begins $7M Education Center Campaign

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — The Sanford Underground Research Facility has kicked off a $7 million fundraising campaign to help develop an education center that will operate from three locations in the northern Black Hills of South Dakota.

The Sanford Lab Homestake Visitors Center will be built in Lead to tell the city's story and highlight the scientific research being done underground in the former gold mine. A Black Hills State University building is being converted to train science teachers, and a multimedia center at the underground lab will take science into classrooms across South Dakota.

Gov. Dennis Daugaard has committed $2 million in state matching funds for the campaign. The Lawrence County Commission and the Lead City Commission each recently voted to contribute $30,000 to the campaign.

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