West Sacramento, Calif. – Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC) received a $50,000 grant this week from Pacific Western Bank (PWB) to work with Pueblo Unido Community Development Corporation (PUCDC) to promote small business development in the Coachella Valley.
Through its Motivating Sustainable Communities program, PWB seeks to advance minority-owned businesses and support innovative strategies that remove barriers to small businesses accessing capital or technical assistance.
RCAC will conduct leadership and business development training and provide technical assistance to a group of mobile home owners to form small businesses. There are approximately 400 mobile home parks, known as Polanco parks, in the towns of Thermal, Oasis and Mecca. PUCDC will facilitate access to capital so park owners can make much-needed improvements, including construction or repair of park infrastructure.
“RCAC’s proposal stood out as an outstanding opportunity to support the growth of small businesses in minority communities,” said Gregory Matthews, PWB Senior Vice President, CRA/Community Development Officer.
“We are excited about the opportunity to bring our economic development work to the Coachella Valley and to work with PUCDC to create new business opportunities and employment in the lowest income communities in the Valley. This grant from Pacific Western Bank will give our efforts a real boost,” said RCAC Chief Executive Officer Stanley Keasling.
Founded in 1978, RCAC provides training, technical and financial resources and advocacy so rural communities can achieve their goals and visions. RCAC serves rural communities in 13 western states and the Pacific islands. Services are available to communities with populations of fewer than 50,000, other nonprofit groups, Tribal organizations, farmworkers, colonias and other specific populations. RCAC provides loans, including small business loans, technical and economic development assistance to rural communities and nonprofit organizations in its service region. To find out more about RCAC’s Loan Fund products, visit https://www.rcac.org/programs-services/
Contact: Pamela Higgins
Rural Planning &
Capacity Building Manager
phiggins@rcac.org
(406) 366-0902
