Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP)

Our Annual Impact Report is slated to be released soon but we wanted to provide a little preview of the work completed in FY25, with the help of all six regional partners in the RCAP Network. As we release the full report, we will dive more into how many residents were served, how many infrastructure funds were leveraged, and various case studies throughout our served areas.

Keep an eye on our socials as we move closer to its release date!

Check out our newest micro-learning video on YouTube, "Understanding Wells and Groundwater Treatment", https://youtu.be/akulUCAkEdA. This is part of RCAP's micro-learning series on YouTube, dedicated to providing free educational resources to those wanting to learn about the water and/or wastewater industry.

Understanding Wells and Groundwater Treatment Groundwater is one of the most important sources of drinking water for small and rural communities. It's reliable, cost effective and often naturally filtere...

Today, RCAP hosted its first day of a cybersecurity train-the-trainer. The training was delivered by American Water Works Association using its own cybersecurity tools and resources, in order to prepare RCAP Technical Assistance Providers (TAPs) to teach small rural water and wastewater utilities how to recognize and reduce cyber risks. It blends core fundamentals (threats, EPA/CISA guidance, cyber hygiene, incident response) with adult-learning techniques so TAPs can confidently coach operators, Superintendents, and Boards with limited IT staff or budgets.

In collaboration with Cavanaugh and Great Lakes Community Action Partnership, RCAP is hosting a Water Loss training in Indianapolis, Indiana on June 2. This pilot workshop provides a comprehensive introduction to the AWWA M36 methodology, the gold standard for water loss control. Participants will receive expert training on the AWWA free water audit software (version 6). Tailored for small utilities, this course offers the essential tools needed to evaluate system performance and manage water losses after the audit.

For any interested folks in the area, you can register here, https://site.pheedloop.com/event/EVEGXAWTZVJBD/home/. We encourage attendance from anyone in the industry interested in water loss.

Earlier this week, RCAP was able to make it out to a site visit in City of Estacada - Government, Oregon with RCAC. Estacada is a town of about 5,000 people, right on the Clackamas River. This town is one of the many communities being served by RCAP's Department of Transportation, Thriving Communities Program.

During this site visit, there was a stakeholder session that discussed infrastructure improvement, safety and growth initiatives within the school district, and the redevelopment of a former 90-acre mill site. The goal of this redevelopment project is to bring stable economic growth to this growing community, allowing its residents to meet their needs without having to leave the community. Attendees included the Mayor of Estacada, representatives from the school district, and representatives from the Economic Development Commission.

A little late, but we have finally published our first Rural Matters of 2026! As many of you know, RCAP publishes a quarterly magazine, focusing on specific technical assistance (TA) provided by our regional partner's technical assistance providers. Specifically in this issue, we are focusing on wastewater systems, community resilience, and watersheds. Be sure to flip through our newest edition here --> https://online.flippingbook.com/view/344425965/

During DC Water Week 2026, RCAP convened a group of national funders to engage in a focused dialogue on the capacity challenges and emerging opportunities facing rural communities. The discussion centered on advancing community-led regionalization, strengthening partnerships, and developing coordinated national strategies to support sustainable rural development.

The gathering fostered meaningful networking and collaboration, with intentional opportunities to align around a shared vision for community-driven, regional solutions. Conversations highlighted the critical role of cross-sector partnerships in addressing infrastructure needs, particularly in the water sector, while also exploring how these approaches can extend beyond water to drive broader economic and community development outcomes.

Last week, RCAP made its way to Smyth County, Virginia, conducting a site visit for a possible project funded under RCAP's Department of Transportation Thriving Communities Program grant. Under this program, RCAP and its six regional partners support under-resourced communities to effectively plan critical community projects and compete for federal funding opportunities. Rural communities deserve infrastructure investment and RCAP is here to help them obtain that investment, as well as utilize it effectively.

For more information on RCAP's DOT TCP program, click here --> https://www.rcap.org/programs/dot-tcp/

Check out our latest op-ed in The Daily Yonder, "Commentary: PFAS and the Rural Implementation Gap". In this op-ed, our CEO Olga Morales-Pate makes the argument that federal agencies must step up to ensure clean drinking water for rural towns. Although PFAS continues to be a threat in water systems, this issue is specifically more difficult for smaller and more rural communities due to tight budgets or lack of technical support. Fortunately, federal agencies are making steps to address these challenges, and organizations like RCAP are equipping rural systems with the technical knowledge and support to provide safe drinking water.

Full article here -->

Commentary: PFAS and the Rural Implementation Gap | The Daily Yonder Clean water should not depend on your ZIP code, yet for many rural communities, the discovery of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) can trigger an

In April, TAPs from all RCAP regions gathered for a Rural Leadership Institute (RLI) Train-the-Trainer week to learn new leadership curriculum and practice implementing the trainings in their own regions. The RLI strengthened trainers’ leadership capacity by building facilitation, communication, and group-management skills so they could lead effective learning experiences. Participants also practiced tools and frameworks to develop leadership in community members through inclusive engagement, shared decision-making, and clear, strategic communication.