West Sacramento, Calif. — Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC) recently appointed former Port of Skamania County Executive Director, Skamania County resident and small rural business owner Anita Gahimer Crow, to its 11-member board of directors.
“Anita has a broad base of hands-on rural community experience and understanding that will be a great complement to our diverse board and the communities we serve,” said RCAC Chief Executive Officer, William French.
Headquartered in West Sacramento, California and serving 13 Western states, RCAC provides technical assistance and training to rural communities seeking to develop a wide range of community services including, among other things, affordable housing and water treatment facilities. RCAC has an office in Lacey, Washington with a total of six staff members working in the state and a Portland, Oregon office with four employees working in that state. The organization also operates a loan fund with $60 million in lending capital that provides low-interest loans and grants to further these communities’ goals.
RCAC’s board members serve three-year terms and may remain on the board for up to four consecutive terms. Anita’s first term began in February of this year. The RCAC board is currently made up of members who provide regional representation as well as individual talents and experience contributing directly to the board’s purpose and mission.
Crow is a small business owner operating RiverBrook LLC, providing professional services to rural entities, agencies and businesses. Anita is also the CEO of Kinetics, Inc. a software research and design firm conducting work for the defense industry.
With 35 years of management and leadership experience as well as hands-on experience in working with small rural communities, Crow is a born-and-raised rural citizen who has kept close ties with her heritage. She and husband, Dennis, live on their family Little White Salmon River properties near Mill A in Skamania County in Washington State.
Crow has three grown children. Her oldest daughter, Michelle, graduated from University of Washington, received her Masters from Southern California Institute of Architecture, and is an associate with Hennebery Eddy Architects in Portland. Son, Robert, is a dual BA graduate from Washington State University and works in theatre management. Youngest daughter, Sarah, graduated from Stevenson High School in 1997 and is a dual degree graduate student with both the Daniel J. Evans and the Henry M. Jackson Schools at the University of Washington.
“I’m looking forward to fulfilling my responsibilities as a board member and working once again in support of rural communities,” said Crow. This is a chance of a life time in my viewpoint, as RCAC is unique in its mission and its abilities to get projects completed. I am honored to be part of this successful organization.”