Rural Community Assistance Corporation announced that Carissa Patrone Maikuri has been selected as a fellow with the Economic Recovery Corps to work alongside RCAC’s Building Rural Economies team. This exciting partnership aims to breathe new life into Northern California’s rural economies through strategic community economic development, planning and technical assistance.

Carissa, born in Riverside, California, and raised in Michigan, returns to the state for this opportunity. She will spend 2.5 years on the ground with RCAC in Plumas County, integrating into the community to build strong relationships. Her long-term commitment will allow her to understand local challenges deeply and create lasting, positive change by working closely with community members.

In her role, Carissa will implement a three-year work plan to enhance local economies by advancing the rural recreation plan and facilitating community capacity building in Plumas County. She will focus on community-driven projects, leveraging local assets to promote economic resilience and sustainable development. Her responsibilities include assessing Plumas County’s unique needs, co-creating strategic plans and identifying resources to accelerate impactful community-led projects. Carissa aims to bridge the gap between research, planning and implementation—a core principle of RCAC’s BRE program, known for enhancing community self-sufficiency, supporting business growth and encouraging innovation through inclusive community engagement.

The ERC, funded by the CARES Act and supported by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration, deploys skilled professionals to support under-resourced communities. Led by the International Economic Development Council in partnership with six national organizations, the ERC intends to develop the next generation of economic development leaders while enhancing host organizations’ capacity. The program currently supports its inaugural cohort of 65 fellows working on catalytic economic development projects in 42 states and U.S. territories, including nine tribal nations and five multi-state collaboratives. Fellows commit two and a half years to working directly in these communities, building deep relationships to ensure their efforts lead to sustainable, positive outcomes.

RCAC stands alongside Carissa and is confident in her ability to lead impactful projects within the ERC. This collaboration exemplifies RCAC’s commitment to empowering rural communities across its service region through diverse partnerships.

To learn more about this initiative or explore potential collaborations, visit the ERC website at www.economicrecoverycorps.org. You can also contact Carissa Patrone Maikuri directly at carissa.patronemaikuri@rcac.org  and Carol Cohen, assistant director, RCAC Community & Environmental Services, at ccohen@rcac.org.

Also in this issue of Network News:

Golden Eagle 2 takes flight as elderly and disabled residents fight to preserve affordable housing

In the heart of Oregon Coast’s dairy country, a quiet battle raged as residents of the Golden Eagle 2 Apartments – a lifeline for low-income seniors – faced the threat of displacement. Their fight, backed by the the financial and strategic support of Housing Assistance Council and RCAC’s Loan Fund, ultimately preserved not just homes, but an essential piece of Tillamook’s community fabric.

Building Bridges with RCAC: An interview with Economic Recovery Corps Fellow Carissa Patrone Maikuri
RCAC Network News sat down with Carissa Patrone Maikuri, an Economic Recovery Corps (ERC) Fellow, who has joined forces with RCAC’s Building Rural Economies team to bring fresh energy and ideas to the team and several rural communities. For the next two and a half years, Carissa will work alongside Plumas County to focus on revitalizing the local economy through community-driven projects and strategic development initiatives.