b'Regionalization is another tool to help small systems thrive. RCAC uses a flexible and proven facilitation framework and technical expertise to help communities form regional collaborations. This strategy creates economies of scale so that small water systems are sustainable and able to afford day to day operations and necessary upgrades. Today, RCAC is working with 62 communities to regionalize their systems, and 13 projects have been completed.RCAC has several environmental programs that are designed specifically to work with Native communities. RCAC circuit riders provide about 800 technical assistance/training visits to Arizona, California and Nevada Tribal communities annually. RCAC is also the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 10 Environmental Finance Center (EFC); and at the time of selection it was the only non-university to receive the award. The EFC, RCAC and our sub-contractor Eastern Washington University, develop solutions to infrastructure affordability for water and wastewater, along with training.During 2019, technical assistanceproviders (TAPs) worked with more than 500 systems to help them comply with regulationsRCAC also hosts quarterly Native American Water Masters Associationmeetings that bring together regional Tribal staff and agencies to share common issues related to their water/wastewater systems, receive training and build internal capacity to create stronger utilities.We completed 32 rate studies to help water and wastewater systems establish appropriate rates to operate and maintain their systems. We also completed 28 median household income surveys to help communities determine their eligibility for grant and loan programs.'