Southeastern Montana Development Corporation (SEMDC)

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.

03/20/2026

Exciting news for Southeastern Montana! 📣

Thank you to the Montana Department of Commerce for investing in rural communities and supporting the organizations working hard every day to make Southeastern Montana stronger!

Commerce has awarded a total of over $700,000 in grant funding to 17 economic development organizations through its Opportunities in Rural Economies Economic Development Organization Capacity Building Grant Program.

The EDOs will use this grant funding to buy and install software and hardware, offer trainings and workshops as well as to improve their websites, better preparing them to serve businesses in their regions.

Congratulations to:

🔹 Bear Paw Development Corporation
🔹 Beartooth Resource Conservation and Development
🔹 Big Sky Economic Development
🔹 Eastern Plains Economic Development Corporation
🔹 Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
🔹 Great Northern Development Corporation
🔹 Headwaters Resource Conservation and Development, Inc
🔹 HWY 10 Synergies
🔹 Montana Business Assistance Connection
🔹 Mission West Community Development Partners
🔹 Montana Cooperative Development Center
🔹 Montana West Economic Development
🔹 Ravalli County Economic Development Authority
🔹 Sanders County Community Development Corporation
🔹 Southeastern Montana Development Corporation
🔹 Snowy Mountain Development Corporation
🔹 Sweetgrass Development

Read the full press release at https://tinyurl.com/2xvn68f.

📍: Havre, MT
📸: Commerce

03/04/2026

Community Impact Funding Now Available!

Southeastern Montana Development Corporation (SEMDC), is offering funding to support projects across Rosebud County!

Funding Opportunities:

• 🎓 High School Scholarships – Up to $30,000 ($5,000 per student)
• 🚑 EMS / Medical Recruitment & Retention – Up to $60,000
• ⚽ Youth Activities – Up to $10,000

Nonprofits, schools, municipalities, and community groups are encouraged to apply.

📅 Apply now and help strengthen our community!

https://semdc.org/scholarship-opportunities

https://semdc.org/grant-assistance

Serving Rosebud, Treasure, Custer and Powder River Counties in Montana

02/23/2026

We want to hear from you! 📊

Community CEDS Surveys demonstrate the needs and possible solutions that are community driven and may potentially be implemented for future grants and projects. While there is no right or wrong response, we want to hear ...

02/19/2026

We value your input! Please click the link below to share your feedback through the Community CEDS Survey.

📍Ashland
📍Broadus
📍Colstrip
📍Forsyth
📍Hysham
📍Lame Deer
📍Miles City

Community CEDS Surveys demonstrate the needs and possible solutions that are community driven and may potentially be implemented for future grants and projects. While there is no right or wrong response, we want to hear your feedback so we can keep improving the quality of life for each respective community. Once your survey is completed SEMDC shares the results with the public and appropriate stakeholders.

🗓 Deadline: March 1, 2026

Community CEDS Surveys demonstrate the needs and possible solutions that are community driven and may potentially be implemented for future grants and projects. While there is no right or wrong response, we want to hear ...

02/09/2026

✨Big things are happening in Colstrip! The new stacks are officially in place at the SEMDC building—one of the last big steps before they are complete. 🏭The milestone represents growth, opportunity, and a strong investment in our community's future.
Range is proud to support connectivity for projects like this and want to congratulate SEMDC on this exciting move forward. 🎉✨📶

01/30/2026

https://semdc.org/f/semdc-community-services-director-position

January 2026

12/08/2025

Shop Local or Else * * * * * * * *

“The Shopping Local” theme always comes up around the Holidays and it’s now even more important to support local businesses this year. As eastern Montana communities continue to lose population and businesses, economic issues and needs have become even more urgent. Most real economic development starts at the local level. That’s why supporting your local merchants is so important during these stressful holiday times. Here are a few reasons to shop local:

* Local stores and businesses provide much-needed jobs for our communities and pay taxes which supports local government services and schools. Consider that the next time you ask a local merchant for a donation. Do On-Line or out-of-town merchants give donations to our local groups or support our local government services and schools?

* Shopping “Out-of Town” only helps “Out-of Towner’s.” Sure, you may save a few dollars on products and services but consider the high cost of traveling in dollars and time. A shopping trip to another large Montana city would cost hundreds of dollars in operating vehicle expense. You would have to buy lots of stuff in that bigger city to offset that expense.

* Give local merchants first chance at your business. Vote with your dollars. Now it’s very easy to say that there are not any good stores in town, or they do not have what I need, etc., etc., but I would encourage you to make a special effort to find your goods and services at the local level. Most of what you need can be found at local stores if you look. If not, ask a merchant to carry it or to special order it. Whether it's buying clothes, a burger or perhaps something handmade at one of the arts and crafts shows, we all win if we support local businesses.

* Consumers vote with dollars, so merchants - you need to listen to them and then take action.

* Merchants should be pro-active as well - do not wait for customers to come in – go get them.

* For seer survival, merchants need to evaluate and provide better customer Service, better Savings and better Selections. During this stressful Holiday season, let’s remember to make a special effort to support our local merchants.

If we don't, who will?

08/19/2025

Employer Sponsored Child Care Grant - Applications due 08/24/25

For more information, use this link.

Employer-Sponsored Child Care Grant Program - 2nd Round of Funding Application Applications will be accepted until Aug. 24, 2025 - closing at 9 p.m. (Mountain Time) WHAT YOU WILL NEED: Review Eligibility Requirements. Most employers are eligible, with

07/08/2025

A landmark building that once powered the region’s telephone service is set to come back to life, thanks to a passionate husband-and-wife design team, creative funding and a vision for