Community Resources Program Update, Fall 2016

Posted on September 26, 2016 by admin

Scott Mueller, Chief Rural Affairs Officer & Director of Community Resources

Over this past year, the focus on drinking water and health has been more important than ever before. Close attention needs to be made on quantity, quality, and maintenance of water and the system is critical to a communities overall health and ability to serve its residents and businesses. The lead issue in Flint Michigan has also brought national awareness to this issue with many states now testing their school systems for lead. As well regulatory agencies are now more critically looking at compliance and trying to work more closely with communities to insure such.

One key activity to look at is knowing where your system components are such as valves, pumps, distribution and collection lines, laterals and the list goes on. By knowing where they are assessments can be made on their condition, lifespan, and the ability to plan for replacement or upgrade and prior to it being needed to be made so it is a proactive activity rather than a reactive one focusing on having the financial means available to make the replacement. Geographical Information Systems [GIS] combined with Asset Management planning is now becoming a very good way to guide this process. Here institutional knowledge of the system characteristics and physical components can be maintained providing information to operators and decision makers insuring proper operation of the system in a holistic manner.

RCAP Solutions now has programming in this area and can provide technical assistance to rural communities across our region which covers 9 north eastern states and 2 territories [ME, NH, VT, MA, CT, RI, NY, PA, NJ Puerto Rico and USVI]. Whether it be working with a specific community issue or developing a new infrastructure system they have the experience to assist you with your effort. Most always these are challenging efforts which cost significant dollars and there is an ever growing maze of regulation and process that needs to be navigated. By knowing your system and components, you will be better able to manage its operations.

This year we are pleased to say that again we have funding available to assist in this area along with many others if eligible. We can assist your community effort through our trainings, and onsite technical assistance or through our remote resource team. Whether it be direct technical assistance or training provided to or your project team we would enjoy hearing from you and seeing how we may assist. In those cases where communities are not eligible for assistance under our federal and state funding guidelines we also offer an affordable bee based approach to gaining this assistance and are more than happy to discuss your needs.

We wish every community the best in the upcoming year and to find out more about our services please contact Scott Mueller, Director of Community Services and Chief Rural affairs officer at 315-482-2756 or email smueller@rcapsolutions.org.

RCAP Solutions Staff Receive National Awards

Posted on September 26, 2016 by admin

Robert Stewart, Executive Director for the Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP) presented two RCAP Solutions Employees with prestigious national awards during the RCAP annual conference last year in Memphis, Tennessee.

Robert B. Stewart, Executive Director, RCAP, Inc. with Candace Balmer, Community Development Specialist, RCAP Solutions, receiving The Bill French Bridge-builder Award.

Candace Balmer, Community Development Specialist, New York, was the recipient of the The Bill French Bridge-builder Award, given to an RCAP staff member who has been successful in building his/her state RCAP program, whether in reputation and credibility or in funding. She has advanced her state program to a higher level of operations through new and enhanced relationships with funding and/or primacy agencies or other partners, new services offered to communities, and/or new grants or contracts obtained. This award is named for Bill French, one of RCAP’s founding members who leveraged the RCAP program to build a strong and well-respected agency, and is given to a recipient who has successfully advanced her state program to a higher level of operations. The recipient has, in the sense of being a bridge, enabled a program to cross over barriers, led a program along a road to realize a vision, and brought a plan to fruition. The person has been a true connector and has led programs to success.

Scott Mueller, Chief Community Services Officer & Director Rural Assistance with Karen Koller, President & CEO, RCAP Solutions after being presented with the Outstanding Mentor Award.

Scott Mueller, Chief Community Services Officer & Director Rural Assistance, received the Outstanding Mentor Award for teaching and mentoring new Technical Assistance Providers and helping them become productive members of the RCAP team. This award is given to a State/Regional Coordinator who has made a difference in the program through his expert guidance and valuable knowledge and being a nurturing, fostering leader.

Community Resources Program Update, Fall 2015

Posted on October 3, 2015 by admin

Scott Mueller, Chief Rural Affairs Officer & Director of Community Resources, RCAP Solutions

Perhaps one of the most important activities and investments a community can make is providing safe, efficient, and sustainable infrastructure for its residents. In fact for many rural communities a water system or wastewater system can be the single most expensive investment it makes for itself. Along with these also are affordable housing, electricity, safe transportation routes, and telecommunication opportunities. In this day and age many communities are looking at all of these as basics for community life and economic betterment. Without water and wastewater disposal two of the critical elements necessary for a safe and clean community life needed to prosper are missing and due for some challenges. Can you imagine living in a location where there was no drinking water?

All these activities require proper planning and a critical understanding of the system to insure that they not only operate correctly but also provide the intended opportunity and or sustainment of a healthy environment. With the availability of water in many of our states coming into question those that do have access to clean water it is becoming more and more, perhaps, one of the most important resources a community has. And they are looking to protect it along with finding ways to sustain its availability and quality.

RCAP Solutions has been a long standing leader towards this end in providing such counseling and technical assistance to rural communities across our region which covers 9 north eastern states and 2 territories [ME, NH, VT, MA, CT, RI, NY, PA, NJ Puerto Rico and USVI]. Our experienced staff which is located in each state focuses on assisting those small rural communities in need trying to promote their locality and provide a safe environment to live. Whether it be working with a specific community issue or developing a new infrastructure system they have the experience to assist you with your effort. Most always these are challenging efforts which cost significant dollars and there is an ever growing maze of regulation and process that needs to be navigated. We can help.

This year we are pleased to say we have funding available to assist eligible communities. Whether it be direct technical assistance, or training provided to you or your project team, we would enjoy hearing from you and seeing how we may assist. In those cases where communities are not eligible for assistance under our federal and state funding guidelines, we also offer an affordable approach to gaining this assistance and are more than happy to discuss your needs.

Community Resources Program Update

Posted on March 12, 2014 by admin

Scott Mueller,Â Director of Community Resources &Â Chief Rural Affairs Officer

Rural communities across the country are all experiencing challenges with keeping their localities clean, healthy, and economically vibrant.Â This past year has certainly shown that the federal and state governments are tightening the purse strings further impacting local communities, but in particular the small rural communities.

RCAP Solutions Community Resources Program focuses on providing technical assistance at the local level to these smaller underserved communitiesÂ focusing on providing Technical, Managerial, and Financial [TMF]Â technical assistanceÂ to those seeking to build capacity in these areas at the local level.

In particular one area which has shown to be of great benefit toÂ communities is in the area of Water and Wastewater Asset ManagementÂ Planning [AMP] and Effective Utility Management [EUM].Â Â In order support or bolster any local economy it is important toÂ haveÂ the necessary infrastructure to support its existing workforce, businesses, and in many cases tourism economies which demands clean water.

The current trend is to operate and maintain existing systems in a long term and sustainable approach and there are manyÂ approaches smaller communities can take towards this end as the monies from the federal and state entities are shrinking.Â As such the responsibility for community systems are ultimately lying with the community itself.Â This can often be a daunting responsibility and we are here to help communities through this process.

RCAP Solutions is pleased toÂ be able toÂ again this year offerÂ in many cases free technical assistance in these areas to those communities which qualify.Â Â We also provide an array of other Direct Service ContractÂ services to those seeking special and individualized services.

We wish all communities the best in the upcoming year and to find out more information as toÂ our programs and services please contact Scott Mueller, Director of Community Services and Chief Rural affairs officer at 315-482-2756 or email smueller@rcapsolutions.org.