Tag Archives: RCAP Inc.

Brian D. Scales Named Permanent President & CEO of RCAP Solutions

Posted on by

The RCAP Solutions Board of Directors is pleased to announce the permanent appointment of Brian D. Scales as President & CEO of the organization. This position will go into effect on July 1, 2022.

Mr. Scales was named Interim President & CEO in March of this year, assuming all responsibilities upon the retirement announcement of Karen A. Koller, CAE, after 21 years of service.

“We are very excited to formally announce Brian D. Scales as President & CEO of RCAP Solutions,” stated Laura McGee, Chair of the RCAP Solutions Board of Directors. “Brian is a trusted leader who has played an integral role in the organization’s leadership and strategic direction during his 14 years with the organization. We are confident in his ability to ensure the highest level of support is delivered to our constituents. In addition to Brian’s achievements, he embodies the organization’s vision of a world made up of strong and resilient communities and individuals and has the flexibility to meet the ever-evolving needs and objectives of the broader community. The Board and I are confident that Brian is the right choice to lead RCAP into its next chapter.”

Mr. Scales joined RCAP Solutions in 2008 with a diverse background in nonprofit development and strategic planning. He has gained extensive experience in all aspects of program management and development and has built strong relationships with the organization’s diverse funders, partners, and state and federal legislators. Mr. Scales has a distinctive understanding of the varied community and economic development challenges, making him uniquely qualified for the position of President & CEO.

“This is a pivotal time for RCAP Solutions as we emerge from the pandemic, preparing for new opportunities with a continued focus on our constituents,” stated Brian D. Scales, President & CEO. “Our dedicated staff has adjusted to unprecedented change and worked tirelessly to support underserved communities in the past two years. I recognize and applaud their demanding work and focus on reconnecting and supporting our team to be even stronger stewards of our mission. As we look to the future of this organization, we emphasize strategic planning and expanding our Board of Directors as the organization continues to grow in the coming years. I am honored that the Board has placed their trust in me to lead us in exciting new directions and do not take this responsibility lightly.”

Mr. Scales received a Bachelor of Arts in English from Florida Atlantic University and a Master of Arts from the University of Central Florida. He has also served on multiple regional nonprofit boards as a director and advisory board member.

RCAP Solutions is the Northeast affiliate of the Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP, Inc.), a national network of nonprofit partners with over 300 technical assistance providers across the country. RCAP works to improve the quality of life in rural America starting at the tap. RCAP Solutions provides services in all six New England states, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. RCAP Solutions is also the Worcester County affiliate of The Regional Housing Network of Massachusetts, which delivers progressive, affordable housing solutions and education to families and individuals in every community throughout the state.

RCAP Solutions services approximately a half million people each year with a wide array of environmental, housing, economic development, and education and training programs.

About RCAP Solutions:
RCAP Solutions is an integrated community development corporation working with a multi-faceted suite of services in communities throughout the northeastern part of the U.S. and the Caribbean. Established in 1969 (as Rural Housing Improvement), RCAP Solutions has supported the power and potential of communities for over half a century as strategists of community-wide well-being. Our mission is to foster personal and public self-reliance and improve the quality of life for individuals, families, and the communities in which they live. For more information, please visit www.rcapsolutions.org.

RCAP Solutions Receives USDA Disaster Assistance Funds for Puerto Rico Communities Affected by Hurricane Maria

Posted on by

Contact: Maegen McCaffrey, RCAP Solutions

978-630-6714, mmccaffrey@rcapsolutions.org

Washington, DC (September 10, 2019) – The Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP) and our northeastern regional partner RCAP Solutions is pleased to announce the receipt of disaster assistance funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for three rural communities in Puerto Rico. These communities were badly affected by Hurricane Maria in September 2017.

The communities receiving assistance are: Acuedouctos Barrio Guayabota Yabucoa, Inc.; Pozo de Agua, Inc.; and Comunidad Sector Los Gomez, Inc. The three communities combined received $169,571 in federal assistance from USDA.

“2017’s Hurricane Maria created a monumental shift in how we think about disaster recovery,” said Karen A. Koller, RCAP Solutions President and CEO. “We were fortunate to have the first boots on the ground as our organization worked around the clock to assist communities and assess the tremendous damage done to Puerto Rico’s small water systems. We applaud the USDA for providing the necessary resources for the revitalization and rebuilding of the Island. Access to safe and clean drinking water will only become more important as we see continued climate change. Creating sustainability for the long term in the Caribbean will continue to be an ongoing priority for our team, who lives and breathes their vitally important work at RCAP Solutions.”

Acueductos Barrio Guayabota Yabucoa is in Yabucoa, the eastern region of Puerto Rico. This water system serves 600 families, and several small businesses and community organizations. The water system is still severely affected by Maria and without power. The funding they received will provide generators and lab equipment needed for the system to increase compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA).

Pozo de Aqua is in Caguas, the central mountain range of Puerto Rico, and provides drinking water to approximately 183 families. The water system needs extensive repairs from damages caused by Maria. The funding they received will replace pipes, wells and other equipment and help prepare the system for any future disaster.

Comunidad Sector Los Gomez is in the central eastern part of Puerto Rico. Prior to Hurricane Maria, the system provided drinking water to 60 families, but the system lost power for six months following the disaster. The USDA funding will allow the community to replace damaged equipment and purchase a new generator. Because Maria damaged the water tank and well, the community is planning a second phase of funding to evaluate soil conditions to determine if next steps are needed to ensure the system is safe for all citizens.

“Even before Hurricanes Irma and Maria came through Puerto Rico, our team has been working with some of the smallest, most remote areas across the island. The tremendous support that our team in Puerto Rico provided to these communities was critical in securing these funds for three of the island’s hardest hit and lowest capacity areas,” said RCAP CEO Nathan Ohle. “The success each community had in securing these funds is exactly the reason the RCAP network is working to build capacity in small communities across the country and is a testament to the incredible work the team at our partner RCAP Solutions is accomplishing every day.”

About RCAP:
RCAP is a network of nonprofit organizations working to ensure rural and small communities throughout the United States have increased capacity to drive access to safe drinking water, sanitary wastewater, economic development and disaster recovery that leads to economic prosperity. To learn more about this work visit: rcap.org.

About RCAP Solutions:
Established in 1969 as Rural Housing Improvement, RCAP Solutions’ mission is to foster personal and public self-reliance and improve the quality of life for individuals, families and the communities in which they live. RCAP Solutions is an integrated community development organization serving the rural northeast, Caribbean, and Worcester county region for housing assistance. RCAP Solutions is the Worcester County affiliate of The Regional Housing Network (RHN) of Massachusetts and the Northeast affiliate of the national Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP) Network based in Washington D.C.