PIERRE - The National Governors Association has selected Barrick Gold of North America as a recipient of its Public Private Partnership Award.

Barrick was nominated by Gov. Mike Rounds for its partnership with the South Dakota Science and Technology Authority. The partnership helped South Dakota secure the Homestake Mine in Lead as the National Science Foundation's site for the proposed Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory.

The DUSEL will produce advanced scientific research in several fields, create new educational opportunities for students wishing to pursue science and potentially have an economic impact of more than $1 billion, according to a news release from the governor's office.

The NGA Public-Private Partnership Awards were established last year to recognize companies that have partnered with a governor's office to create a program or project that positively affects a state's citizens.

"Thanks to the wonderful generosity of Barrick, our state has had an opportunity to create a new tomorrow for Homestake and for South Dakota," Rounds said. "This laboratory will bring together some of the brightest minds in the world and create an immeasurable educational opportunity for our country's youth who want to pursue a career in science. Its impact on science, research, and education will be realized for generations."