Established in 1999, Rural Advancement Institute then known as Rural Alliance, Inc.  was formed as a nonprofit public benefit corporation designed to support the Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC), a forty-member county service organization, by providing technical support, assisting with program administration, and facilitating applied research projects to support rural California.

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In its early years, Rural Advancement Institute oversaw several programs, including homebuyer assistance programs, scholarship programs for students in RCRC member counties, educational initiatives, and rural tours for urban legislators.

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In 2004, Rural Advancement Institute and its programming went dormant, where, despite a significant push to revive the program in 2014, it largely remained until recent years. In late 2021, the Rural Advancement Institute Board of Directors decided to resurrect the organization's programming, focusing on facilitating educational tours and sponsoring research. In 2024, the Rural Advancement Institute Board of Directors formally changed its name from Rural Alliance, Inc. to the Rural Advancement Institute to better align its name with the mission of facilitating research and educational opportunities that advance the understanding of issues impacting rural California amongst policymakers and the public.

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Today, the Rural Advancement Institute looks toward a promising future, as we actively develop and implement programs that increase knowledge of rural issues. We look forward to collaborating with our partners to support rural communities with solutions that are essential to meet both local and statewide challenges.