West Sacramento, Calif. — Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC) received a $78,000 grant from Capital One, which will support an entrepreneurial and economic development pilot program for Tribes in Montana.

The Capital One grant will help RCAC train and support local Native American entrepreneurs under a Tribal Building Rural Economies (BRE) pilot program, which will create new businesses and jobs. RCAC will build the Tribes’ capacity to identify and carry out economic development activities and access resources to move catalytic projects forward; train and support Tribal entrepreneurs; and create positive economic changes that will have a lasting impact. The loans RCAC can provide as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) for the new small businesses that will be created is an important program component.

The Chippewa Cree Tribe, the Ft. Belknap Indian Community and the Blackfeet Nation will participate in the pilot, which will take place in Havre, Montana, a central location for them all. Based on lessons learned during the pilot, RCAC expects to replicate the Tribal BRE program in Indian Country throughout the West.

“We are very excited to be working with three Montana tribes to help build a stronger local economy, and especially grateful to have Capital One support our work,” said Stanley Keasling, RCAC Chief Executive Officer.

Founded in 1978, RCAC provides training, technical and financial resources, and advocacy so rural communities can achieve their goals and visions. RCAC serves rural communities in 13 western states and the western Pacific islands. Services are available to communities with populations of fewer than 50,000, other nonprofit groups, Tribal organizations, Native communities, farmworkers, colonias and other specific populations. RCAC staff provides direct services in collaboration with local and community partnerships in three program areas: affordable housing, environmental services and lending. RCAC also offers leadership and economic development assistance to rural communities and nonprofit organizations in its service region. To find out more about RCAC’s Loan Fund products, go here.

Contact:
Julia Helmreich, Director
(916) 447-9832 ext. 1008
jhelmreich@rcac.org