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

 

COVID-19 resources and notices

RCAC is monitoring COVID-19 notices and resources for our communities and partners. We have compiled and posted information such as federal funding/relief bills, resources specific to the states in our region, homeowner and renter resources, and links to informational websites.

Access the resources here

  • Recent News

    May 07, 2020

    Biomass Utilization Fund has $17 million to finance Tuolumne County businesses

    The Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC), and Sierra Nevada Conservancy (SNC) are pleased to announce a new $17 million program that will provide loans to increase the use of low- and no-value wood from Tuolumne County forests and provide an alternative to pile burning of forest waste.

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  • Upcoming Events

    June 2

    Consumer Confidence Report

    Consumer Confidence Report is offered as a two-part online course; for maximum effectiveness we recommend taking both parts in the same day. Part 1 will take place from 10am to 12:00pm and Part 2 will take place from 1:00pm to 3:00pm. Contact hours are for New Mexico residents only.

    View Event  | Register

  • Making an Impact

    Success Story Highlight

    RCAC borrower rises to meet COVID-19 challenge

    With the nation’s attention largely fixed on how the COVID-19 pandemic affects urban areas, rural America is bracing for its own case wave. Many rural healthcare facilities’ perilous state was already a national story before the current health crisis onset. As COVID-19 began making its way into rural communities, real concerns took shape—there will be no stadiums to convert into treatment centers and no offshore hospital ships. Amidst this looming threat, Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC) borrower Breath of My Heart Birthing Center (BMH) in Espanola, New Mexico, is an example of rural grit and adaptability.

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    Video Highlight

    Water Sampling at the Kotlik Landfill and River

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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  • California Lenders License

    Licensed by the California Department of Business Oversight — #60DB0 83068

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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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