Creating vibrant, healthy and enduring rural communities

Our mission

RCAC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides training, technical and financial resources and advocacy so rural communities can achieve their goals and visions.

Our vision

RCAC envisions vibrant, healthy and enduring rural communities throughout the West.

Core Values

  • Leadership: identifies innovative strategies to further rural community and economic development and inspires partners to achieve great outcomes
  • Collaboration: achieves superior results by respectfully and inclusively identifying partners
  • Commitment: works with passion and dedication to improve rural communities and the lives of their low-income residents
  • Quality: produces exceptional work products to help our partners meet their goals
  • Integrity: practices the highest professional standards and cultural competency in our work

Field offices and Environmental Finance Center

Project highlights map

 

EFC logo

 

Success Stories

Success stories are a compilation of staff written success stories and case studies that highlight our impact in rural communities.

 

 

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  • Recent News

    May 17, 2018

    RCAC sub-grantee wins fair housing settlement

    The Fair Housing Council of Riverside County, which partners with RCAC to provide fair and affordable housing, won a settlement last week against two apartment complexes that had unlawfully discriminated against prospective tenants.

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  • Upcoming Events

    June 21

    Water & Wastewater Infrastructure Finance Workshop

    Participants will learn and understand: Oregon funding programs and requirements; how to plan, develop and finance infrastructure projects; the value of water, cost of providing services and rate setting tips; how to better communicate system costs to decision makers and public; and agency and organizational resources, tools and contacts.

    View Event  | Register

  • Making an Impact

    Success Story Highlight

    BRE helps Hatch launch farmers, artisans market

    Hatch, New Mexico – While driving across southern New Mexico, you could easily believe you were traversing the moon. Despite Interstate 25 that bisects the state from north to south, the desert landscape appears mostly untouched and unpeopled. Some gas stations still maintain pumps with antiquated rotating meters. For long stretches, other cars are few and far between.

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    Video Highlight

    RCAP/RCAC Mora Cooperative

Programs & Services

RCAC works with low-income rural communities, where unemployment rates are high, housing is often sub-standard, and poverty is commonplace. Many of these communities also face daunting challenges to access affordable, safe drinking water and other vital infrastructure. Rural communities are often overlooked in the policy arena because they lack the resources, training or social network that larger communities have in place. RCAC includes Tribes and Native communities in all program areas.

Construction worker looking towards progress.

RCAC’s staff lives and works throughout the West. Our local presence allows us to develop partnerships with communities to identify needs, set goals, and select the best options to meet the goals. RCAC provides tools, through our programs and services, to create change and growth, but the communities chart their own course.

Irma Casteneda_Chaparral-web

  • Lending

    RCAC makes loans for affordable housing development, environmental infrastructure, community facilities and small businesses.

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  • Environmental

    RCAC works to make small community water, wastewater and solid waste systems sustainable.

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  • Housing

    RCAC partners with nonprofit housing organizations to develop, finance and operate affordable single- and multifamily housing.

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  • Native Communities

    RCAC works with Tribes and Native communities to maintain and develop drinking water, wastewater, solid waste and housing services.

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  • Community & Economic Development

    RCAC supports communities to create a vision, set goals and implement an action plan for community and economic development projects.

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    Programs & Services

  • Invest in & support RCAC

    We welcome donations and grants of any size for operating and program support. Help us meet the ever increasing demand for funds needed to sustain rural communities and small businesses. An investment in RCAC’s Loan Fund is an investment in your community.

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  • Read the latest press releases

    For breaking news on RCAC and other organizations in our network.

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  • How are we doing?

    Please take a few minutes and complete our customer satisfaction form to let us know how we’re doing. We are here for you.

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