Industry News

SBA: Council on Underserved Communities Reconvened

Administrator Guzman restores Council to address the immediate needs and concerns of underserved and underrepresented communities hit hard by COVID-19 The U.S. Small Business Administration announced today that it is reconvening the Council on Underserved Communities (CUC) under the authority of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA). In conjunction with the Biden-Harris Administration’s agenda, the restoration of…

HUD: FHA Takes Steps to Remove Barriers to Homeownership for Those with Student Loan Debt

Updates to Single Family student loan monthly payment calculation expand access to FHA-insured mortgage financing for creditworthy individuals, particularly in communities of color The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) on Friday announced updates to its student loan monthly payment calculations to take steps to remove barriers and provide more access to affordable single family FHA-insured mortgage financing for…

EDA: $6.8 Million in CARES Act Recovery Assistance Invested to Support Business Expansion and Development in St. George, SC

Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $6.8 million CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to Dorchester County, South Carolina, to make roadway improvements at the Ridgeville Industrial Campus needed to support business attraction and expansion efforts and bolster the region’s ability to withstand…

EDA: $5.5 Million in CARES Act Recovery Assistance Invested to Build Critical Infrastructure and Boost Rural Workforce and Entrepreneurial Training Efforts in Texas

Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding $5.5 million in CARES Act Recovery Assistance grants to help the state of Texas prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus. “President Biden is committed to supporting communities as they not only recover from the pandemic but…

EDA: $3 Million Invested to Boost Workforce Development and Training Programs at Merced College

Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $3 million grant to Merced Community College District, Merced, California, to renovate a Merced College campus building that houses workforce development and targeted skills training programs. This EDA project, to be matched with $6.2 million in…

EDA: $2.8 Million in CARES Act Recovery Assistance Invested to Create LNG Center of Excellence in Lake Charles, LA

Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $2.8 million CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to McNeese State University Foundation, Lake Charles, Louisiana, to construct a Center of Excellence to serve as a hub of resiliency for the Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) industry and…

EDA: $1.7 Million Invested to Provide Critical Infrastructure for New Industrial Park in Fort Benton, MT

Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $1.7 million grant to Fort Benton, Montana, to provide transportation, water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure to support development of a new industrial park and foster economic resiliency. This EDA project, to be matched with $1.7 million…

EDA: $969,261 Invested to Help Southwest Michigan Prepare for Closure of Nuclear Facility

Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $969,261 grant to Southwestern Michigan Commission, Benton Harbor, Michigan, to develop an economic recovery strategy ahead of the closure of the Palisades Nuclear Generating Station. This EDA grant will be matched with $242,316 in state and…

FDIC: FDITECH Tech Sprint to Reach More Unbanked People Launched

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation today announced a ‘tech sprint’ designed to explore new technologies and techniques that would help expand the capabilities of banks to meet the needs of unbanked individuals and households.  The FDIC‘s tech lab, FDITECH, is launching a first-of-its-kind tech sprint by challenging participants to identify better resources and tools to help…

FDIC: New Policy Statement on Minority Depository Institutions Approved by FDIC Board

The Board of Directors of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) today approved a final Statement of Policy to enhance the agency’s efforts to preserve and promote Minority Depository Institutions (MDIs). The FDIC’s revised policy statement reflects public comment received in response to a proposal issued in August 2020 and updates, strengthens and clarifies the…