To expand housing in Utah, Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC) will collaborate with four rural housing agencies to increase leadership and organizational capacity. The four agencies comprise the Utah Capacity Building Collaborative and will focus on comprehensive capacity building, operational support and housing development training so the Utah agencies can expand affordable housing development in the areas they serve.

The Utah Capacity Building Collaborative (UCBC) is a robust two-year initiative directed to efficient and innovative rental housing construction in Grand, Emery and Tooele counties. Funding for the collaborative comes from both private and public sources and includes: the Olene Walker Housing Trust Fund; American Express; Morgan Stanley Bank; Ally Bank; and CIT Bank.

The four Collaborative partners are Community Rebuilds and Housing Authority of Southeastern Utah in Moab; Goshute Housing Authority in Ibapah; and Epicenter in Green River. All four agencies are receiving direct operating support coupled with technical assistance training to increase organizational capacity and increase affordable housing options.

Proposed projects through the Collaborative include a single family rental project called Frontier House, which is a prototype for a small energy efficient design appropriate to replace dilapidated trailers in Green River. Epicenter is also continuing a feasibility study for a multi-family rental project. The Housing Authority of Southeastern Utah proposes to expand its capacity and submit a Low Income Housing Tax Credit application for a multi-family project in Moab. The Goshute Housing Authority plans to increase rental options for tribal members in Wendover; and Community Rebuilds is initiating a partnership with a private landowner to construct strawbale, energy-efficient rental units in Moab.

RCAC is a nonprofit organization that provides training, technical and financial resources and advocacy so rural communities can achieve their goals and visions. Headquartered in West Sacramento, California, RCAC serves rural communities in the western United States and the Pacific islands. RCAC has strong core services and expertise in housing, environmental infrastructure (water, wastewater and solid waste), leadership training, economic development and financing. To find out more about RCAC, visit www.rcac.org.

Contact: Dawn Van Dyke
Communications Mgr.
916-539-6696
dvandyke@rcac.org