b'Core CompetenciesI am very blessedWestern Rural Start UpRCACs Government Affairs and Rural Network Policy team advocated on COVID relief to have RCACfunding including CARES Act, HEROES Small business coaching provides no-provide so manycost direct technical assistance to ruralAct, American Rescue Plan, Consolidated Appropriations Act and the Paycheck resources forentrepreneurs and small businessesProtection Act. entrepreneursto launch or re-launch their business,The team participated in Rural operate, sustain, and grow their business, and the guidancesecure access to financing and buildCommunity Assistance Partnerships to understandnetworks. RCACs small business coachingVirtual DC Fly In where staff and Board team created the Western Rural Startmembers met with House and Senate and apply toolsUp Network (WRSUN), an interactive,offices to advocate for FY2022 federal for building aintentional network that connects smallfunding. The team met with more than 50 business owners, industry experts andoffices across the West to advocate for our small business.RCAC small business coaches. In additionrural and Indigenous communities.Aaron has givento one-on-one coaching, the WRSUNRCACs sponsored bill, SB 625, authored me invaluablehosts online webinars open to smallby Senators Caballero and Limon, will business owners in RCACs region and help becomingbeyond. create a state Community Development Financial Institution Fund (CDFI Fund), like an organizedDuring 2021, 63 small businesses receivedthe U.S. Treasurys federal program. The business ownerone-on-one assistance. As a result, thebill and $50 million in the state budget small businesses created 20 new jobs andwill be incredibly impactful to Community prepared forsaved 138 existing jobs.Development Financial Institutions in opportunities toI am very blessed to have RCAC provideCalifornia.grow. so many resources for entrepreneurs and the guidance to understand and applyPartnershipstools for building a small business. Aaron has given me invaluable help becomingRCAC is one of six steering committee an organized business owner prepared formembers of Partners for Rural opportunities to grow," says Bess Bennet,Transformation (PRT). The six partner owner of BluffBabe. CDFIs serve three-quarters of the Advocacy countrys persistent povertycounties, or counties where 20 percent or more CEO Suzanne Anarde and RCACsof the population has lived in poverty advocacy team continued to providefor over 30 years. The partners work insights on legislation related to ruralto increase capital, strengthen local communities. Anarde participated in acapacity, promote civic engagement and Administrative Conference of the Unitedcreate a positive narrative about rural Opposite: States (ACUS) panel, which focusedcommunities. PRT work is collaborative Wally the Water Drop,on identifying barriers that preventand carried out through working groups our Agua4All mascot,underserved communities from engagingthat coordinate on advocacy, contribution sits on a newly installed water bottle fillingin a meaningful way in regulatoryto publications, panel discussions and station. policymaking.fundraising for grants. 4 2021 Rural Community Assistance Corporation Annual Report'