WCCRC ANNUAL REPORT 2026
In March WCCRC Turned 45! That is 45 years as a not for profit providing critical services to our community members. Bringing in over 32 million dollars in grant funding to our towns and villages, assisting over 1500 households with critical home repair. In addition, we have counseled hundreds of households with financial literacy and provided dozens of training courses on a variety of topics to residents and the business community.
And a lot has changed in 45 years…
WCCRC has branched out to offer enhanced services for Medicaid recipients through Healthy Alliance and Care Compass. Through these programs we have expanded into Otsego County and have set up a satellite office in Middleburgh. There our HUD certified Housing Counselor is available for appointments or walk-ins on Wednesdays to screen clients and navigate them to available resources.
Our Business Assistance and Training Program is booming with one-on-one technical assistance as well as numerous workshops and presentations tailored to assist the business community. In the fall, a highly successful Entrepreneurial Boot Camp was held at the beautiful MTC Conference Center in Margaretville. In the Spring, we offered an eight-part Microenterprise Training Program bringing in leaders in the field to teach local start-ups and established business about writing business plans, marketing, accounting, insurance, taxes, human resources and finding funding. This program was in conjunction with Delaware County Economic Development to prepare entrepreneurs with an application to Delaware County’s Microenterprise grant.
In addition, we launched WCCRC’s Creative Studio to address social isolation, strengthen community ties, and build resilience. This ongoing grant funded program hosts activities such as arts and crafts, gardening, cooking, chair yoga, wellness, and digital literacy.
This year we added to our portfolio of apartment buildings by purchasing a multifamily building near the crossroads in the center of Grand Gorge. We are planning extensive remodeling to bring this beautiful old building back to its historic grandeur. This is part of our ongoing mission to provide decent affordable housing to residents.
We are currently managing nearly 3 million dollars in grants including those from RESTORE for emergency repairs for seniors, Access to Home for accessibility repairs, housing rehabilitation through the Affordable Housing Corporation, and Manufactured Home Replacements through MMHR and HOME. We also are working on an Access to Home for Veterans Program and completing a Community Development Block Grant program in the Town of Lexington. Through these grant funded programs, we strive to remove environmental hazards such as Lead, Asbestos, and Radon from our homes. Our work is done by local contractors; our supplies are purchased locally. We support women, minority, and veteran owned businesses and fair housing initiatives.
As WCCRC plans for the next 45 years, please stop by our beautifully renovated office and community room and ask how we can help. We look forward to many more years of enriching the lives of our residents and thriving communities.
Antonia Besculides
Executive Director
July 4, 2026