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

 

Loan Programs & Rates

Do you need financing for affordable housing, environmental infrastructure, community facilities or small businesses? RCAC’s Loan Fund could be a perfect fit! Our rates are competitive, our staff is easy to work with and they provide quick turnaround on applications. Give us a call to discuss your project in detail. RCAC is a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), with an Aeris rating of 4 Stars AA plus Policy Plus.

Programs & Rates At-A-Glance

  • Recent News

    Jul 11, 2018

    Two major housing measures before California voters in November

    California voters will decide later this year on two significant housing measures that would help the state’s growing homeless population. One of those is a $2 billion bond measure, which hit a snag in 2016 after some lawmakers argued that the money was initially earmarked for mental health services; not housing.

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  • Upcoming Events

    July 19

    Sustainable Management of Rural and Small Systems

    This workshop, originally developed by USDA and EPA, is intended to help rural and small systems and communities. It will provide background information on ten key management areas for sustainable water and wastewater utilities, as well as instruction and assistance on how to conduct the utility assessment process and developing an action plan.

    View Event  | Register

  • Making an Impact

    Success Story Highlight

    Tribal circuit riders build water and wastewater capacity

    On a sunny fall day, Santos Obedoza approaches a fire hydrant on the Upper Lake Rancheria here in northern California. With wrench in hand, he gingerly begins turning the hydrant’s lock and valve to open and flush them. In minutes, the water gushes across the road. It’s a hard job, clearly, but someone has to do it. Alongside Obedoza stands Lee Schegg, RCAC rural development specialist and Tribal circuit rider.

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    Video Highlight

    Tribal Circuit Riders: A day in Lake County, California

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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