West Sacramento, Calif. — Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC) is honored to be recognized as one of 43 awardees in the Minority Business Development Agency’s (MBDA) Capital Readiness Program. With federal funding exceeding $2.2 million designated for RCAC, this award strengthens RCAC’s capacity to help small rural and Indigenous businesses access crucial funding sources, enhancing opportunities and overall resilience across the rural West.
Under this historic federal program, RCAC will establish incubators or accelerators and provide training and technical assistance specifically designed for rural small businesses and entrepreneurs. These platforms will ensure easier access to the $10 billion State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCCI) and other capital sources. Through this initiative, RCAC will reinforce its support systems, ensuring that historically underserved communities have steady access to the resources they need.
“We sincerely thank the MBDA for including us in the Capital Readiness Program,” said Suzanne Anarde, RCAC Chief Executive Officer. “This partnership enables us to better serve the rural and Indigenous small businesses who form the backbone of our communities.”
The collaboration with MBDA comes amid a focused federal effort to uplift the nation’s small and disadvantaged businesses. By joining MBDA’s nationwide network of 88 business centers and other projects which focus on minority business support and technical assistance, RCAC is poised to deepen its positive impact on the communities it serves.
Founded in 1978, RCAC seeks to collaboratively build the capacity of organizations that serve low-income people living in the rural West (13 states including Alaska and Hawaii). RCAC works in partnership with small rural and Indigenous communities and other local agencies to provide tools and resources necessary to improve their quality of life. RCAC offers a wide range of services to communities with fewer than 50,000 people including technical assistance and training for environmental infrastructure; affordable housing development; economic and leadership development; and financing to support community development. Since its inception, RCAC’s dedicated staff and active board have helped affect positive change in rural and Indigenous communities across the West.
To learn more about RCAC, visit http://www.rcac.org
Media contact:
Julia Helmreich, Director
Communications and Development
(916) 447-2854
