b'RCAC secures two major BUF is moving forward. At the time of this report, our first deal is in underwriting. The financing will include roughly contracts in 2020$4.5 million from BUF and $4.5 million from RCAC with a U.S. Department of Agriculture Business & Industry (B&I) Guarantee. RCAC continued to carry out its core programs even as itSafe and Affordable Funding for Equity andresponded to the pandemic. In 2020, RCAC was awardedResilience (SAFER) in California two key contracts that created new, innovative programs:Biomass Utilization RCAC received a $9.8 million contract for the Safe and Affordable Funding for Equity Resilience (SAFER) program The Biomass Utilization Fund is a $17 million fund createdfrom Californias State Water Resources Control Board. in partnership with the California Department of HousingGov. Newsom created the fund to help local water sys-and Community Development and Sierra Nevada Con- tems provide safe drinking water. Preparation for SAFER servancy. The program provides loans to boost the use ofis already well underway, and RCACs environmental de-low- and no-value wood from Tuolumne County forestspartment is recruiting staff to implement it in California. and provide an alternative to pile-burning forest waste. The loans are available to small businesses, nonprofit organizations and public entities including federally recognized Tribes that are in or relocating to TuolumneRCAC contracted with LEH Consulting to County. Funding applicants are required to provide newprovide coaching to RCAC team members. and permanent job opportunities, mainly for low- and moderate-income individuals. RCAC oversees the applica- These activities will continue into 2021.tion process and manages the fund.RCAC Annual Report | 15'