In this issue:

Investment collaborative helps fund Native-owned business

Zuni Indian Reservation, N.M. – Some three decades ago Darrell Tsabetsaye opened a convenience store called Major Market on the Zuni Indian Reservation on the Arizona-northern New Mexico border. Though such stores are fixtures on many street corners, Tsabetsaye’s was neither common nor convenient to establish. Read more

RCAC honors rural California volunteer, Isabel Solorio, with biennial award

West Sacramento, Calif. — Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC) is pleased to announce that Isabel Solorio has been selected to receive RCAC’s Yoneo Ono Outstanding Rural Volunteer Award. Read more

RCAC receives $1 million USDA Rural Development loan to help rural communities

West Sacramento, Calif. – Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC)’s Loan Fund received a $1 million 30-year low-interest loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development. This loan, made through the department’s Intermediary Relending Program (IRP), will ensure that RCAC helps small high-need communities address their essential infrastructure needs. Read more

Looking for a new and exciting career path?

Join our passionate team and make a difference in rural communities throughout the West! We work in diverse and low-income communities to increase access to affordable housing and safe drinking water, promote economic opportunity and job creation, and provide financing for community and economic development projects. We have several positions currently open in the western United States. Read about our job opportunities here.

Community development loans available to Tribes, Tribal entities and individuals in Arizona and New Mexico

RCAC’s Loan Fund has low interest, long- and short-term loans available for Tribes, Tribal communities and individual Native Americans in Arizona and New Mexico for small business, housing and community facility projects. Eligible projects include: energy efficient affordable housing, infrastructure, community facilities, Native owned small businesses, sustainable agriculture, nonprofit organizations working in Indian County or with Native populations, and other mission driven social enterprises. For more information and contacts, download the brochure here.

Conference and Workshop Calendar

Practical mapping for small community water systems

November 9, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm

Toney Anaya Building
2550 Cerrillos Rd
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505

This workshop provides an overview of mapping concepts and technology that can support asset management for small water utilities. Students will determine what assets within an organization should be considered for mapping, and what descriptive information should be captured when mapping these assets. Map and geographical information system concepts will be presented. The workshop will conclude with a practical exercise in mapping water system related features using a smart-phone or tablet and free mobile data collection software. More information and registration

Asset Management Workshop

November 14, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm | November 15 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

Grant County Veterans Memorial Conference Center
3031 Highway 180 E
Silver City, New Mexico 88061

This one and a half-day workshop will help you to develop a practical asset management plan that you can use to optimize system performance and improve access to system funding. We will provide expertise, resources and tools. Please bring your engineering plans, records and a personal laptop. There are two programs you will need to download to your computer prior to the workshop. More information and registration

Network News, published monthly, is a compilation of timely news, announcements and accomplishments produced for the rural development world at no cost to subscribers. We encourage correspondence and welcome contributions. Subscribe here

Chief Executive Officer: Stanley Keasling

Executive Editor: Dawn Van Dyke

Managing Editor: Sharon Wills

RCAC
3120 Freeboard Drive, Suite 201
West Sacramento, CA 95691

Network News is funded by: RCAC’s Loan Fund and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

For further information on RCAC’s services or additional office locations, visit www.rcac.org or call (916) 447-2854.

RCAC is the western RCAP partner.