Where: Eagar and Springerville, Apache County, Arizona

Problem: The natural assets in the region offer great potential, but economic opportunities historically have been limited.

Solution: RCAC facilitates economic development and community revitalization in rural communities through technical assistance and workshops.

Eagar and Springerville are two adjoining cities in Apache County, Arizona, with a combined population of 7,000. The local economy is historically based on commodities like agriculture and timber, making it susceptible to boom-bust cycles.  Most banks are reluctant to invest in the area due to its socioeconomic status, scarce infrastructure and rural nature.

In 2015, residents formed the Foundation for Little Colorado Revitalization (FfLCR). In 2019, the foundation called on Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC) for assistance in obtaining grant funds from U.S. Department of Agriculture – Rural Development (USDA-RD). After securing USDA-RD grant funding, the foundation established a revolving loan fund for small and emerging businesses.

RCAC then hosted two Recharging Our Community Economy (ROCE) workshops where a new vision emerged: the foundation could create its own meat processing facility, a social enterprise capable of producing high-quality, responsibly raised, USDA-certified beef. Little Colorado Meats was thus born. RCAC returned in 2021 to resume the ROCE workshops and technical assistance while USDA-RD stepped up to provide the foundation with some of the necessary capital for the project.

The foundation obtained land and established a facility consisting of three uniquely designed modular units where cattle are processed and inspected by USDA staff. The facility also has a USDA-approved mobile Meat Harvest Unit that travels directly to ranches to process cattle. After the meat is inspected and graded, ranchers can sell it directly to consumers or to Little Colorado Meats. The team hopes the social enterprise can meet the demands for regional food insecurity solutions while strengthening value-added production. Little Colorado Meats recently launched a local sales website and hopes to ship beyond its region once it irons out logistics.

“RCAC helped us […] step up, clear the weeds, look around, and say, ‘we can do this!” said FfLCR Board President Karalea Cox.