Building Rural Economies

RCAC’s programs and services deliver solutions to complex community needs. Our local presence allows us to develop partnerships with communities to identify needs, set goals, and select the best options to meet those goals. RCAC and our partners provide the tools to create change and growth, but the communities chart their own course. Collaboration, plus community effort will equal community change. How can we help you?

RCAC’s Loan Fund is a financial resource for rural communities. The Loan Fund fills financing gaps and serves in unconventional markets. We offer loans for affordable housing development, environmental infrastructure, community facilities and small businesses in rural locations.

Decent housing, safe drinking water, education, financing, jobs, community facilities, leadership, families are the many facets to RCAC's work.

RCAC expands the knowledge base of the rural public through education and training. Our training expertise is in technical, financial, and administrative issues that affect rural communities. We take great pride in our professional trainer team's capacity and effectiveness. Our trainers maximize audience participation to keep trainings relevant and memorable.

RCAC's news and publications are a compilation of timely news, announcements and accomplishments produced for the rural development world.

Sub-standard housing and poverty are commonplace in low-income rural communities. Many of these communities also face daunting challenges to access safe, clean drinking water and to develop other vital infrastructure. These issues are often overlooked in policy because rural communities lack the resources, training or social networks that are found in urban areas. Learn how you can advocate for the under-served population in the West.

Founded in 1978, 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. For more than 40 years, our dedicated staff and active board, coupled with our key values: leadership, collaboration, commitment, quality and integrity, have helped effect positive change in rural communities across the West. Learn more about who we are and how we operate.

Building Rural Economies

RCAC’s Building Rural Economies (BRE) initiative provides training in comprehensive community economic development to support and develop local assets and talents. We build the capacity for local sponsoring organizations to network, plan and implement economic development initiatives in rural communities.

BRE:

Increases local entrepreneurship and jobs
Develops catalytic projects that seed additional investments
Develops a supportive, entrepreneurial environment for economic development to thrive

Phase one

RCAC works with a local sponsoring organization to identify economic opportunities in the community and the leaders/entrepreneurs with the passion to take advantage of those opportunities. RCAC helps this local team analyze current economic conditions that need improving and prioritize action on the most realistic opportunities.

Phase two

RCAC has developed an innovative curriculum—Start, Grow, Revive Your Business. The curriculum emphasizes skills necessary to launch or expand local businesses and focuses on sustainable business principles and regional networking.

Phase three

After the curriculum is completed, entrepreneurs will have developed the skills necessary to understand how to make their businesses sustainable. Regional networking links are critical avenues to be nurtured. RCAC’s Building Rural Economies team offers no-cost, one-on-one small business coaching to entrepreneurs and small business owners in rural communities throughout our service area. For more information on assistance launching or growing your business, click HERE.

BRE webinar

Ensuring Operation Sustainability (recorded on May 20, 2020)

(Pictured above is Tammy Eckhardt owner of Sew Pieceful in Lewistown, Montana. Read “Sew Pieceful in Lewistown, Montana” here. Photo taken by Dustin Love, RCAC publications and graphic design specialist.)

For more information, please contact Carol Cohen, assistant director, economic development, via email at ccohen@rcac.org or call (435) 671-7068, or complete our Request for Assistance.

Rev. 2-2022