FCA Labs

With every site visit and project completed, a new program is inspired. While these programs may launch next year or in ten years, here are a few examples of FCA’s programs working their way up the ladder:

FCA Hydro
Need: With more than 300,000 water diversions on the West Coast of the United States, and a growing demand for renewable energy sources, low-impact, fish-friendly hydro provides a significant opportunity to address the energy and environmental challenges faced by rural communities. Due to past issues of fish passage, over allocation of water, and surplus energy, hydro projects have been stalled since the last energy crisis of the 70s. Now, with increasing need for renewable energy sources, technologies such as the Farmers Screen that allow for safe fish passage, and thoughtful leaders working to address allocation issues, low-impact hydro is starting to resurface as one solution to address our energy needs.

About: Low-impact hydro could and does play an important role in rural communities. The limited number of professionals working on these issues creates a great opportunity for FCA. Low-impact hydro is environmentally friendly, uses currently diverted water, and is built into irrigation diversions as a great opportunity to address financial and energy needs of rural communities. Because low-impact hydro can tie into existing irrigation infrastructure, FCA has already gained extensive knowledge and relationships in this market thanks to the Farmers Screen.

Through this program, FCA will focus on developing case studies and providing resources to educate people about the low-impact hydro industry. In addition, FCA expects to develop a “consulting type” program that will help advise people on how to improve current hydro operations, educate people about existing opportunities and the potential of hydro for individual projects as well as methods for new installations.

FCA Ventures
Need: The magnitude of issues facing agrarian communities is greater than any one person or organization. In order to increase our impact of social good for rural communities, FCA is focused on developing relationships and connections that will further benefit our target communities. FCA is interested in supporting industry experts and social entrepreneurs working to bring new solutions and technologies to our communities. While FCA will continue to launch its own programs, FCA knows that in order to achieve our vision, we must support other people proposing innovative, cutting edge projects that address the root cause of issues facing rural communities.

About: FCA will work to fund social entrepreneurs developing market based and community-driven solutions addressing rural community needs. FCA is especially interested in the following issues facing agrarian communities:

• energy and water solutions and technologies
• supporting natural resource stewardship (habitat restoration, salmon protection, in-stream flow)
• building a sustainable agricultural work force (affordable farm worker housing and health care programs)
• supporting the next generation of rural leaders

FCA expects to support these priorities through one or all of the following mechanisms:

• Sponsor innovative thinkers and projects through loans that are above debt service interest and below venture capital returns like Investors Circle and many new PRI funds
• Provide funding for competitions to address key issues facing rural communities similar to methods used by investment groups like Gotham Capital and the Gotham Prize for Cancer Research
• Encourage and support new entrepreneurs through mentoring and funding of initial planning efforts

FCA is expecting the formal launch of FCA ventures by 2012 or once FCA has reached organizational financial stability and has surplus revenue to invest in next generation of leadership.