Industry News

OCC: Brian Brooks Steps Down and Blake Paulson Becomes Acting Comptroller of the Currency Immediately

Acting Comptroller of the Currency Brian P. Brooks today announced he will step down on January 14, 2021, and pursuant to 12 USC 4, Chief Operating Officer Blake Paulson will become Acting Comptroller of the Currency. “It has been a great honor to serve the United States as Acting Comptroller of the Currency,” Acting Comptroller…

SBA: 1.1 Million PPP Loans Forgiven So Far Totaling Over $100 Billion

Small borrowers make up vast majority of forgiveness applicants The U.S. Small Business Administration has already forgiven more than 1.1 million Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans for over $100 billion, providing an extraordinary amount of critical relief to America’s small businesses just 3 months since the earliest PPP borrowers’ covered periods ended.  “Today’s news is a key…

SBA: PPP Re-Opened to Community Financial Institutions First

Community Financial Institutions get dedicated access starting January 11, 2021 The U.S. Small Business Administration, in consultation with the U.S. Treasury Department, re-opened the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan portal today at 9 am ET. SBA is continuing its dedicated commitment to underserved small businesses and to addressing potential access to capital barriers by initially granting PPP access…

SBA: New, Free Online Digital Learning Platform Launched

Ascent built to assist nearly 13 million women-owned small businesses The U.S. Small Business Administration Administrator Jovita Carranza, today announced the launch of Ascent, a first-of-its-kind, free digital e-learning platform geared to help women entrepreneurs grow and expand their businesses. Ascent has valuable content such as tips on preparing and recovering from disasters, strategic marketing and business financial strategy…

FDIC: Eleven Companies Selected to Compete in Final Phase of Tech Sprint

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) today announced the selection of 11 companies to compete in the third and final phase of the agency’s Rapid Phased Prototyping Competition, a tech sprint designed to develop an innovative new approach to financial reporting, particularly for community banks. The FDIC selected the following companies to continue to Phase…

SBA: PPP Re-Opening and New Guidance Announced

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), in consultation with the Treasury Department, announced today that the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) will re-open the week of January 11 for new borrowers and certain existing PPP borrowers. To promote access to capital, initially only community financial institutions will be able to make First Draw PPP Loans on Monday,…

EDA: $3.5 Million Invested to Boost Economic Development Efforts in Carneys Point, NJ Opportunity Zone

Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $3.5 million grant to the Carneys Point Township Sewer Authority, Carneys Point, New Jersey, to make sanitary sewer service infrastructure improvements needed to support the community and its growing business needs. The EDA grant, to be located…

EDA: $2.7 Million Invested to Facilitate Commercial Redevelopment in Lackawanna, NY Opportunity Zone

Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $2.7 million grant to the Buffalo Erie County Industrial Land Development Corporation, Buffalo, New York, to install new water and sewer systems that will spur new business growth and economic development at the Former Bethlehem Steel Plant…

EDA: $2.2 Million Invested to Boost Economic Diversification Efforts in Ohio’s 18-County Appalachian Region

Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $2.2 million grant to Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, to provide technical assistance to accelerate the economic transition to new industries in 18 counties in Appalachian Ohio. The EDA grant will be matched with $550,000 in local funds….

EDA: $5 Million Invested in CARES Act Recovery Assistance to Support Reopening of Tourism Economy in Florida

Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $5 million CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to the Florida Tourist Industry Marketing Corporation, Inc., Tallahassee, Florida, to develop and implement a collaborative statewide tourism recovery marketing campaign to respond to the extreme economic injury caused to…