(Miles City) Southeastern Montana Development Corporation (SEMDC) recently announced that it has awarded the 2009 Energy Open Scholarship to Mr. Jon Brown of Miles City.

The Scholarship is sponsored by Southeastern Montana Development and Miles Community College (MCC). It is intended to be used with the Heavy Equipment program at MCC, which is in its 3rd year. The $500 Scholarship is used to off-set the cost of books and tuition. The very popular course is intended to train students and help bridge the employment gap with regional heavy equipment operations. The course is instructed by Jerry Forman who noted that numerous applications were submitted this year. For more information on the Heavy Equipment program contact MCC at 800-541-9281 or online at www.milescc.edu.

"It is our pleasure to partner with MCC on the Heavy Equipment Program and assist deserving students with their education through this Scholarship. It's good to see such committed and dedicated students as Mr. Brown," noted SEMDC Executive Director Jim Atchison.

The funding for the Scholarship is made available through SEMDC from the Energy Open Conference and Golf Tournament. The Energy Open was created to "showcase the economic benefits of responsible energy development." The 6th Annual Energy Open is scheduled for August 13th - 14th, 2009.

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 continues to work with various groups and individuals in the public, private and non-profit sectors to help create and retain jobs in eastern Montana. Since 1997, the Colstrip based group has documented assistance in creating or retaining over 700 jobs and over $13.5 million dollars in project assistance. For more information contact SEMDC at 748-2990 or visit their website at www.semdc.org.

Photo Credits: Jon Brown (left) accepts the 2009 Energy Open Scholarship from SEMDC Executive Director Jim Atchison.