WATERTOWN, S.D.(KWAT)–An effort is underway to bring refugees from war-torn Ukraine to South Dakota to find work and start a new life.

It’s called Freedom’s Haven.

Mike Cartney is the now retired President of Lake Area Technical College, and is working on getting refugees to Watertown, and get them employed. He says some have already arrived.

Cartney says these refugees aren’t looking for a government handout. They want to fill some of South Dakota’s thousands of job openings.

He explains the process for matching up the refugees with business owners who need help.

The Watertown Chamber of Commerce was hosting a forum on Freedom’s Haven this afternoon at the Watertown Event Center’s Heritage Theater.

More information can be found here: https://freedomshaven.org/