Rural Community Assistance Partnership Incorporated Awarded $150,000 Grant from Global Water Challenge to Strengthen Rural Water Leadership and Resilience
WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Rural Community Assistance Partnership Incorporated (RCAP) has been awarded $150,000 from Global Water Challenge (GWC). The funding will expand efforts to build leadership capacity in underserved rural communities by supporting participation in the Water Leadership Institute's workshops and eliminating financial and logistical barriers that may prevent individuals from participating.
'Global Water Challenge is committed to removing barriers to last-mile clean water access in the United States and across the world," said Monica Ellis, CEO of Global Water Challenge. 'Cultivating and quipping local champions with the skills to serve their communities with clean water access is a key strategy for reaching those at the last mile.'
GWC's funding will enable individuals from disadvantaged rural communities to attend a series of leadership workshops focused on strengthening water system governance, operations and community engagement. Participants who complete at least 75% of the sessions will receive a direct financial stipend upon graduation of the Institute, easing the financial and logistical barriers that may otherwise prevent participation of these sessions. Participants will take the knowledge and experience they achieved from participation in the Water Leadership Institute to strengthen the capacity of rural water systems within their own communities. GWC and RCAP anticipate that up to 50 rural communities will be positively reached with improved capacity from this support.
'This initiative directly invests in the people, the human capital, who are on the front lines of ensuring clean and safe water in their communities,' said Olga Morales-Pate, CEO of RCAP. 'Removing barriers to participation and prioritizing local, emerging leaders bolsters our mission to ensure long-term solutions for rural water challenges and improves the quality of life of rural community residents.'
Funding for this program was made possible through the generosity of the Kohler Clean Water Trust, who selected GWC to manage programming, including this key initiative with RCAP, that will drive last-mile water access in high-need American communities.
To learn more about RCAP's mission and impact, visit www.rcap.org. To learn more about GWC, visit www.globalwaterchallenge.org.
About Rural Community Assistance Partnership Incorporated (RCAP)
The Rural Community Assistance Partnership Incorporated (RCAP) is a national network of nonprofit partners working to provide technical assistance, training, resources and support to rural communities across every state, the U.S. territories and Tribal lands. Through RCAP's regional partners, more than 350 technical assistance providers (TAPs) build long-term capacity through trusted relationships with thousands of communities across the country.
About Global Water Challenge (GWC)
Global Water Challenge (GWC) is a sector leader in mobilizing clean water access, advancing water security and community empowerment in high need regions around the world. Since 2005, GWC has positively impacted more than three million people across Africa, the Americas and Asia with improved WASH delivery while providing critical tools, data and best practices to reach millions more. With our 100+ multi-sector partners, GWC engages for action – catalyzing financial resources and driving innovative programming for sustainable, local solutions. For more information, please visit globalwaterchallenge.org.
About Water Leadership Institute (WLI)
The WLI aims to build capacity and leadership skills in rural communities so members can effectively engage in broader water discussions and decision-making that could have a direct impact on their lives and communities. The purpose of the WLI is to develop volunteer leaders, connect them to each other and to regional resources, and to forge strong relationships that support community interests. The WLI ultimately aims to empower communities to be self-sufficient and sustainable.
RCAP and its western regional partner Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC) began the first Leadership Institute in 2004. In 2013, the first Water Leadership Institute was held as a partnership program between RCAC, Self-Help Enterprises, and Environmental Defense Fund. It has since grown and evolved, with an average of two to four cohorts per year, and over 60 communities served across the rural west.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Fresh blow for London as US buyers mount £5bn raid on stock market
Two major British companies are poised to join the exodus from the London stock market after American rivals made multibillion-pound takeover offers for each. On Monday, semiconductor company Alphawave recommended a $2.4bn (£1.8bn) sale to US chip giant Qualcomm while high-tech equipment maker Spectris urged shareholders to back a £4.4bn sale to private equity house Advent International. The deals would mean both companies would cease to be listed in London, dealing a fresh blow to the City just days after Wise, the British financial technology champion, announced it was moving its main listing to New York. Both takeovers will also see the American buyers pay substantially above the share prices that their British targets commanded beforehand, prompting suggestions they may have been undervalued by London investors. Qualcomm's offer is more than 90pc above Alphawave's share price before talks began in April and the Spectris bid is 84pc higher than its stock price on Friday. Charles Hall, head of research at Peel Hunt, said: 'The bids for Spectris and Alphawave show how undervalued UK listed companies are given premiums of 85pc and 96pc respectively.' 'It continues the constant theme of companies leaving the market, with 30 takeovers of scale and just one initial public offering on the London Stock Exchange in 2025.' 'Urgent action is required if we want a healthy UK equity market that supports our listed companies and encourages the next generation of companies to list.' Qualcomm said it was buying Alphawave to aid its expansion into data centres, which are becoming increasingly important in the race to develop artificial intelligence (AI) software. Alphawave is a specialist in technologies that 'drive faster, more reliable data transfer with higher performance and lower power consumption', a joint statement by the companies said. This means its products 'form a part of the core infrastructure enabling next-generation services in a wide array of high growth applications, including data centres, AI, data networking and data storage'. Silicon Valley giants such as OpenAI, Google and Amazon are racing to acquire more data centre capacity to help train their AI programmes. Tony Pialis, the president and chief executive of Alphawave, said: 'Together, we will unlock new opportunities for growth, drive innovation, and create a leading player in AI compute and connectivity solutions. 'For our shareholders, the Alphawave board is pleased that Qualcomm's offer provides an opportunity to realise compelling value for their shares.' Spectris, which is headquartered in London, makes various high tech instruments, including particle measuring systems used in the pharmaceutical industry. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
B.C. premier defends new LNG pipeline with terminus near Prince Rupert
B.C. Premier David Eby is defending the provincial government's approval to continue construction on a new pipeline project that will supply natural gas to a proposed floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal north of Prince Rupert, saying his government would not turn away investment in the province. The Prince Rupert Gas Transmission project is a joint venture between the Nisga'a Nation and Texas-based Western LNG to supply natural gas to the proposed Ksi Lisims LNG facility, a project the province says is still undergoing environmental assessment. "The Ksi Lisims project is an Indigenous-owned project led by the Nisga'a Nation. They are a treaty nation that has control over their jurisdiction," Eby said, speaking from Seoul, South Korea, as he nears the end of his 10-day trade mission to Asia. "They have a vision for economic growth in the area, for their people, which includes selling B.C. resources into the Asian market, where I am right now." The Nisga'a Nation and Western LNG say the Ksi Lisims project would be a floating production facility capable of producing 12 million tonnes of LNG per year. The project faces opposition from several environmental groups and the Gitanyow hereditary chiefs, who argue it will have negative environmental consequences, including a risk to important salmon habitat. Tara Marsden, sustainability director for the Gitanyow hereditary chiefs, previously told CBC News there are concerns about Western LNG's financial backing from Blackstone Inc. Blackstone is a major American asset manager whose CEO publicly endorsed U.S. President Donald Trump and contributed to his election campaign — with Marsden saying the investment undermines any notion that the project is needed to push back against Trump's tariff threats. CBC News asked Eby whether the bulk of the profits from the Prince Rupert Gas Transmission project would enrich a U.S. company. "We're not in the business of turning away investment in British Columbia," the premier responded. "Especially investment that assists us in diversifying our customers for our resources and allows us to get a higher price for those resources." The pipeline was first approved in 2014 under the ownership of Calgary-based TC Energy Corp, when it was meant to supply the now-cancelled Pacific NorthWest LNG terminal spearheaded by Malaysian energy giant Petronas. It was purchased by the Nisga'a Nation and Western LNG in 2024 under their revised proposal for the Ksi Lisims facility. Eby says he wants to work with Alberta Eby was also asked Monday about comments from Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, who said she could convince him to drop his opposition to a second crude oil pipeline from Alberta to B.C.'s North Coast. "I'm not the one who stands between Premier Smith and a pipeline to the coast. There's no proponent, there's no money, there's no project right now," Eby said. "In the event that Premier Smith is successful in assembling those things, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it." Prime Minister Mark Carney said last week he supports "nation-building projects," including a possible decarbonized oil pipeline — if he can find consensus among the said companies in South Korea that he's talking to are focused on bringing in hydrogen. He said that would involve Alberta using blue hydrogen, and B.C. exporting green hydrogen, which he said would aid in carbon transition. "I'm happy to talk to Premier Smith about our shared goals of increasing prosperity, about uniting the country," he told reporters. "Focusing on a project that currently does not exist, and focusing on our differences rather than where we can work together, is not the spirit." Eby travelled from Malaysia to Seoul where he met with officials from conglomerates like Hyundai and Samsung as well as the Canadian ambassador to South Korea. His trade mission to Asia, a bid to diversify the province's trading relationships amid the tariff war with the U.S., will wrap up Tuesday.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
US hotels brace for second-half downturn
The pace of mergers and acquisitions in the US hotel industry has slowed in the first half of 2025, as economic uncertainty prompts caution among investors. Ongoing concerns over fluctuating tariffs and shifting trade policy have contributed to a lack of conviction among potential buyers. This has created a holding pattern in the hospitality sector, with some hotel owners opting to pause major decisions around expansions and staffing. Although some deals are still progressing — such as Noble Investment Group's recent acquisition of 16 Woodspring Suites in two separate transactions — overall deal volume has declined. Industry analysts note that this pattern reflects wider hesitation across the economy, with many businesses opting for a 'wait-and-see' approach. According to Bernard Baumohl, chief global economist at The Economic Outlook Group, firms are not currently engaging in significant hiring or capital expenditures, but are also not making large-scale cutbacks. Despite a challenging economic backdrop, travel demand among American consumers remains resilient. However, inflation, high interest rates and concerns about job security are altering the way people choose to travel. A recent report from MMGY Global revealed that while 83% of surveyed consumers still intend to travel in the next 12 months, 80% plan to modify their behaviour — opting for shorter trips, domestic destinations, and more cost-effective transport options. Simon Moriarty, vice president of syndicated research at MMGY, noted that although consumer appetite for leisure travel remains high, the industry must be prepared for continued volatility. Destinations and travel providers are being urged to adapt to these evolving behaviours and prioritise clear, value-driven offers. For destinations reliant on long-haul or international visitors, especially from countries like China, a fall in inbound tourism — already down 11.6% year-on-year as of March — may be particularly difficult to offset. The financial strain on the US hotel industry is most apparent at the lower end of the market. According to data from CoStar, revenue per available room (RevPAR) declined in April across most chain scales, with the exception of luxury and upper-upscale segments, which recorded modest growth. Analysts suggest that tighter household budgets are pushing travellers to seek better value, which is reducing margins for midscale and budget hotel brands. Baumohl warned that in a price-sensitive market, hoteliers will need to avoid aggressive discounting that could damage long-term competitiveness. Instead, offering temporary incentives — such as complimentary parking or breakfast — may help maintain guest loyalty. However, clarity around these offers is essential to avoid customer dissatisfaction in future stays. The ongoing shifts in travel trends, combined with persistent geopolitical and economic instability, present a complex landscape for the hospitality industry. Experts suggest that while short-term challenges will continue to shape travel and hotel performance into late 2025, conditions could begin to stabilise by 2026 if broader economic indicators improve. "US hotels brace for second-half downturn" was originally created and published by Hotel Management Network, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
