In this issue:

Little Colorado Meats brings farm-to-table benefits, food justice to struggling family ranches

Arizona’s Round Valley is home to Apache County’s twin communities of Eagar and Springerville. Just 15 miles from the state’s border with New Mexico, the sister cities are the self-proclaimed “Gateway to the White Mountains.” Eagar-Springerville borders the oasis-like Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, which contains diverse ecosystems, abundant fishing streams, dozens of lakes, hundreds of mountains and part of the world’s largest contiguous Ponderosa pine forest. The Little Colorado River slashes through the valley, bringing milky, sediment-rich snowmelt and runoff to the greater Colorado River.

Case study: Rancho del Conejo Community Water Co-Op

Rancho del Conejo Community Water Co-Op, Inc. (RCCWC) serves a small colonia of approximately 900 people in the Saguaro National Park area near Tucson, Arizona. Water in the region naturally contains arsenic and the system has long struggled to collect sufficient revenue to cover its operating expenses, let alone make necessary repairs. RCCWC’s treatment plant was on the brink of failure before the system began working with Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC).

California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC): California Advanced Services Fund (CASF) Public Housing Account

Pursuant to Public Utilities (Pub. Util.) Code section 281, the Broadband Public Housing Account provides grants and loans to build broadband networks offering free broadband service for residents of low-income communities including but not limited to, publicly supported housing developments, and other housing developments or mobile home parks with low-income residents.

Application deadline: July 1 and January 1 each year

Training highlights

For questions about event registration, please email RCAC Events at registration@rcac.org or call (916) 447-9832 ext. 1429.

California Financing Coordinating Committee (CFCC) Funding Fair

May 4 (online), May 16 (online), May 25 (hybrid) | 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM Pacific Time

Seeking funding for your infrastructure project? Obtain information about currently available infrastructure grant, loan & bond financing programs, & options. Connect with federal, state, & local agencies to discuss the financial & technical resources available. The funding fair provides an opportunity for attendees to speak directly with program staff about specific projects & issues affecting their community.

Arsenic Treatment & Solutions (Nevada)

May 17, 2023 | 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM Pacific Time | Sparks, Nevada

This in-person learning event is intended to provide small water systems with a “roadmap” to Arsenic Rule compliance. We will begin with reviewing the requirements of the Arsenic Rule. We will then explore non-treatment options for compliance, which are almost always less costly than treatment. We will then assess the pros and cons of several of the most common arsenic treatment technologies.

Affordable Housing Loan Program

RCAC financing helps developers build single and multifamily affordable housing units for low-income families. RCAC’s housing loans allow for short-term acquisition, pre-development, site development and construction of single and multifamily affordable housing. If you are interested, please download our program flyer and learn more about loan application requirements.

RCAC is a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI).

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. Apply here!