Three hundred (300) technical assistance providers across RCAP’s six regional partners allow RCAP to serve every state and territory in the United States, working to build the capacity of rural and tribal communities.
Where We Work:
Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Tennessee, Mississippi and Alabama
Communities Unlimited
Over the past 22 years, Communities Unlimited has served thousands of entrepreneurs of color through its innovative lending and entrepreneurship programs that align capital with intensive technical assistance to serve entrepreneurs that are often left out by traditional lending models. Communities Unlimited has loaned more than 80% of its small business lending to entrepreneurs of color. This approach has served CU’s clients well. During COVID-19, CU’s clients defied the national statistics of business closures.
Communities Unlimited is a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) serving seven Southern U.S. States, providing communities with a range of services including, rural water and wastewater systems, rural community facilities, lending to micro entrepreneurs and more.
Where We Work:
Montana, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Nebraska, Alaska, Hawaii
Rural Community Assistance Corporation, RCAC
RCAC works with low-income, rural communities across 13 states in the American West, including Alaska and Hawaii. RCAC’s specific expertise includes working with Native American tribes, Native Hawaiians, Alaskan Natives and Latino entrepreneurs including those in the Colonias region (area located along the Mexico–United States border).
RCAC’s flagship entrepreneurship program, Building Rural Economies (BRE), is distinct in that it provides culturally appropriate training and support for Native communities and entrepreneurs to create a supportive entrepreneurial environment for economic development to thrive. Tribal entities and entrepreneurs receive direct training and technical assistance from RCAC, as well as assistance in accessing government grants and private microloans to launch entrepreneurial ventures.
Where We Work:
Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida
Southeast Rural Community Assistance Partnership (SERCAP)
Communities large and small are fueled by the drive of small business owners. SERCAP knows the important role entrepreneurs play in local communities and is proud to deliver programs to support their unique needs. SERCAP’s programs provide small business owners and would-be owners with both general education AND “Mindset” training to prepare them for success through the Entrepreneurial Learning Initiative (ELI). Coupled with available loan funds, small businesses have ample support from SERCAP in order to start, grow and thrive.
Where We Work:
Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont and the two territories of Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands
Rural Community Assistance Partnership Solutions (RCAP Solutions/RSOL)
RCAP Solutions began as a Rural Housing Improvement organization in Massachusetts but after 50 years has grown to a multi-State resource for housing, community building and rural Small Business development beacon. Rural communities (typically under 10,000 residents), especially those of color, look to RCAP for aid in economic development, infrastructure such as clean water and waste water treatment, and entrepreneurial training and loan programs.
Where We Work:
Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia and Wisconsin
Great Lakes Community Action Partnership (GLCAP)
GLCAP works to build resilient and sustainable ecosystems that allow for small business growth and opportunity. Continually expanding its work with small communities located in Opportunity Zones, GLCAP focuses on cultivating local leadership, spurring collaboration and connecting entrepreneurs and small businesses to training and capital through their Entrepreneurial Communities initiative.
Where We Work:
Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming
Midwest Assistance Program (MAP)
Imagine needing water and waste water disposal capacity to run your business and having access to neither. In rural America this is common, and MAP helps entrepreneurs help themselves and their community with economic opportunity as MAP aids in water projects as well as economic development and entrepreneurship coaching and financing across their 9 State region.