USDA Hires Moran As Loan Specialist
U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Montana welcomes Shandy Moran as its new rural business cooperative services loan specialist to serve the eastern Montana region. This newly-created loan specialist position will allow USDA RD to build stronger relationships within the eastern part of the state and expand funding and resources to help rural Montana prosper.
“We are so pleased to welcome Shandy, who brings a wealth of knowledge and business-based expertise,” noted USDA RD state director Kathleen Williams. “Our team is critical to the success of USDA Rural Development’s programs, and we couldn’t be more excited to bring someone onboard who knows the area, understands the communities’ needs, and is driven to continue to make a positive impact in these rural areas.”
Prior to joining USDA RD, Moran served as the regional Small Business Development Center director in Northeastern Montana. She is a Rural Dynamics Inc. board member, was a Small Business Development Center State Star recipient in 2020, and is an active board member for the Montana Council for Economic Education. Moran graduated in 2014 with a bachelor’s in business administration with an option in finance from Montana State University Billings.
“This position is an important investment in delivering our programs in Eastern Montana,” Montana’s Business and Cooperative Programs director Lad Barney said. “We are excited to be doubling our efforts in that part of the state, and even more excited to have Shandy leading the way. She knows the area as well as anybody, and now we have the capacity to provide a targeted presence in Eastern Montana, build stronger partnerships with eastern Montana’s communities and leaders, and implement economically diverse projects in areas that have historically been underserved and underfunded.”
For more information about Business and Cooperative Programs in Eastern Montana, contact Shandy Moran at (406) 525-5236 or shandy.moran@usda.gov.
USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities and create jobs in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda. gov/mt.
