CALED Rural Economic Development Exchange

In May of 2018, the CALED Board approved the creation of a Rural Economic Development Exchange that allows CALED to direct some resources to support our efforts to help rural economic developers connect, share resources, and engage in policy conversations/initiatives. Specifically, CALED is committed to:

Exchange Goals:
  • Convene rural economic development stakeholders at least one time per year (outside of CALED’s Annual Conference)
  • Include a Rural Exchange opportunity at the conference for resource providers to share updates on how they can support rural economic development as well as showcase best practices
  • Work with USDA Rural Development in California to identify ways CALED can support their priorities and promote their work/grants.
  • Share what we learn with partners that may be in a position to assist in addressing priorities, challenges, solutions, and resources to grow rural economies

If you haven’t seen it yet, make sure to check out the California Rural Infrastructure Finance Guidebook.

SAVE THE DATE – The Next CALED Rural Economic Development Exchange will be held in Sacramento, January 23, 2025

Rural Exchange Chair: Craig Schlatter, City of Ukiah

Craig Schlatter is the Director of Community Development at the City of Ukiah, overseeing the divisions of planning, building, housing, grants management, fire prevention, and code enforcement for the City, as well as implementing economic development programs and services. In the 10 years prior to Craig’s tenure at the City, he worked for the Mendocino County Community Development Commission, specializing in housing and community and economic development planning and programming.

While in this role, Craig facilitated the Revitalizing Business Investment and Lending Development (“ReBILD”) program, a business lending program designed and launched in 2010 to increase the flow of private investment to small businesses in Ukiah following the housing market lending crisis. The program has remained in existence for the last 13 years, producing significant job retention and job creation in Ukiah, and was expanded during the pandemic to assist struggling businesses.

Craig has long been a champion of rural communities, especially related to furthering the equitable access of resources to these communities. Given the multitude of challenges facing the world today, Craig believes that rural communities may be best positioned to develop innovative and practical solutions to these challenges.

Past Rural Exchange Events:

  • January 10, 2018–Winter Rural Exchange, Sacramento, CA
  • September 26, 2018–Fall Rural Exchange, Tehachapi, CA
  • January 15, 2019–Winter Rural Exchange, Sacramento, CA
  • March, 23, 2019–Rural Networking at CALED Conference, Anaheim, CA
  • August 8, 2019–Summer Rural Exchange, Eureka, CA
  • January 21, 2020–Winter Rural Exchange, Sacramento, CA
  • April 28, 2020–Rural Recovery Update Webinar
  • September 23, 2020–Virtual Fall Rural Exchange
  • February 11, 2021–Virtual Winter Rural Exchange
  • October 6, 2021–Virtual Fall Rural Exchange
  • February 16, 2022–Virtual Winter Rural Exchange
  • May 11, 2022–Rural Community Recovery Discussion at CALED Conference, Long Beach, CA
  • January 18, 2023–Winter Rural Exchange, Sacramento, CA
  • June 21, 2023–Rural Economic Development Discussion at CALED Conference, Los Angeles, CA
  • September 14, 2023–Late Summer Rural Exchange, Ukiah, CA
  • January 25, 2024–Winter Rural Exchange, Sacramento, CA
  • April 12, 2024–Rural Economic Development Discussion at CALED Conference, Santa Rosa, CA
  • July 30, 2024–Late Summer Rural Exchange, Shasta Lake, CA

If you’re interested in getting on the Rural Exchange email list to learn about upcoming events and resources, please email Laura Cole-Rowe, laura@bagmakerblog.com.