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Wells Fargo Foundation supports RCAC with $50,000 grant

October 12, 2007

West Sacramento, Calif. — Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC) recently received a $50,000 grant from Wells Fargo Foundation. The funds will support RCAC’s Leadership Development training program.

RCAC provides technical assistance, access to resources and training to small, rural communities throughout the western U.S. As part of those efforts, several RCAC staff members have been certified to teach leadership development curriculum that was developed by the Ford Institute Leadership Program.

Taught over the course of four weekends in four months, leadership development training involves 60 class hours that include 16 modules. Participants — all volunteers from teenagers to senior citizens — learn leadership skills that will foster positive change in their small towns.

Thus far, RCAC has trained 220 new leaders in communities from Hawaii to New Mexico. This year, RCAC will offer leadership development training in at least three more rural communities in the West.

 “Wells Fargo has long supported RCAC’s work in rural communities, which we truly appreciate,” said Bill French, RCAC’s chief executive officer. “This new grant will allow us to offer leadership development training to more small communities in real need of enthusiastic new leaders.”

Founded 29 years ago, RCAC provides a wide range of community development services for rural and Native American communities, agricultural workers and community-based organizations in 13 western states. RCAC has strong core services and expertise in housing, environmental infrastructure (water, wastewater and solid waste), leadership and economic development and financing. RCAC was certified as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) in 1996 and operates a $65 million Loan Fund that finances affordable housing, community facilities, and water and wastewater systems.

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