the national average and we broke ground on a nearly $1 billion food processing facility with cj schwan's. last year we won the governor's cup as the top state in america for economic development projects. [applause] now we are poised to do that again this year and it will be announced in a few weeks. our gdp has grown consistently and it's been the fastest growing gdp in the nation as well. rising income means even during a historic inflation crisis, south dakota families have better been able to keep food on the table. new jobs mean our kids don't have to leave our state to pursue their career or their dreams and new-home is mean we are able to welcome more americans to come and join us in south dakota. our biggest challenge has been our workforce and when i started the freedom works here campaign in june 2023, we had more than 25,000 open jobs in south dakota. today that number is down by over 7000 jobs, and we are felling some of the most important job needs like nurses, electricians, plumbers and accountants. our apprenticeship programs have completely changed how south dakotans get