04/10/2026
Kisman Expands Role with Economic Development Group
(Colstrip) Southeastern Montana Development Corporation (SEMDC) has announced that they have recently hired additional staffing to assist the regional non-profit economic and community development group within their service region of Custer, Rosebud, Powder River, and Treasure Counties. Julie Emmons Stoddard has served as the SEMDC Community Services Director productively for over 18 years. When Julie announced her pending retirement last fall, SEMDC has been actively searching to fill this key position as she winds down her time at SEMDC.
After considering four very qualified candidates, SEMDC officially announced today that they have selected Sarah Kisman to be the next Community Services Director at SEMDC. Sarah has worked part-time with Julie on nights and weekends as the Grants Coordinator for the past 1.5 years. She filled a vital role assisting with all sorts of Grant Administration, Invoicing and Reporting Duties for SEMDC. With this expanded role, she brings a proven skill set and knowledge already seasoned with the SEMDC structure and processes.
Kisman will be based at the SEMDC Office in the new Business Innovation Center (BIC) in Colstrip with some remote work in Forsyth. Her primary focus will be managing the SEMDC Grant Operations as well as directing the multiple SEMDC Planning Programs with SEMDC members.
Jim Atchison, SEMDC Executive Director stated “We are very pleased to promote someone with her
experience and communication skills. Sarah will certainly continue be an asset to our members.”
Atchison also added “I am very confident that Sarah will be able to step up into this full-time role and continue to assist SEMDC and our members with grant writing and administration duties plus our numerous planning obligations. Sarah will officially start fulltime on May 1st after she transitions away from her 6-year role as the Rosebud County Commissioner Administrative Assistant.” Kisman can be reached at [email protected] or 406-748-2990.
SEMDC is a regional non-profit economic development group that was established in 1997 to stimulate and encourage economic activity in the four (4) Counties of Custer, Powder River, Rosebud, and Treasure. Today, SEMDC works with the private, public, and non-profit sectors to help create and retain jobs in these four counties. SEMDC’s track record has assisted over 1,249 jobs created or retained and over $100 million dollars in project assistance since 1997. Since 2005, SEMDC has been designated by the State of Montana as a Certified Regional Development Corporation (CRDC) and the federal Economic Development Administration (EDA) as an Economic Development District. For more information contact SEMDC at www.semdc,org.
