Industry News

HUD: New Uses for Communities’ Coronavirus Relief Funds Approved

New flexibilities allow communities to effectively use over 3 billion in HUD relief funds  U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Ben Carson today announced new flexibilities states and local government can use in order to best utilize Community Development Block Grant (CDBG-CV) funds appropriated by the CARES Act, as well as other…

OCC: Minority Depository Institution Advisory Committee Remote Meeting Scheduled for September 1st

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) today announced it will host a public meeting of the Minority Depository Institutions Advisory Committee (MDIAC) on Tuesday, September 1, 2020, via remote means. The meeting is open to the public and will begin at 1 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). The MDIAC advises the OCC…

EDA: $2 Million Invested to Develop Food Processing Business Incubator in Battle Creek, MI

Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $2 million grant to Battle Creek Unlimited, Battle Creek, Michigan, to develop a food processing incubator to serve the region’s food processing firms. The EDA grant, to be matched with $2 million in local funding, is expected…

SBA: New Reduced 504 Loan Debenture Rates Announced

The U.S. Small Business Administration announced the updated interest rates for the 504 Loan Program offered by Certified Development Companies (CDC). Small businesses can now apply for the lowest interest rates since July 2018 as the program is now allowing 20 and 25-year interest rates at 2.214% and 2.269%, respectively.  “These are very encouraging terms and very…

EDA: $3 Million Invested to Make Critical Water Infrastructure Improvements in Clinton County, IN

Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $3 million grant to Clinton County, Indiana, to make wastewater infrastructure improvements needed to support business growth throughout the region. The EDA grant, to be matched with $5.1 million in local funds, is expected to create 150…

EDA: $3.7 Million Invested to Make Critical Water Infrastructure Improvements in Greene County, OH

Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $3.7 million grant to the Greene County Board of Commissioners, Xenia, Ohio, to provide modern sanitary sewer infrastructure needed to protect businesses against damage from future severe weather events. The EDA grant will be matched with $2.5…

SBA: Small Businesses Received Historic $132.9 Billion in Federal Contracts in New FY19 Procurement Scorecard

Every year, the federal government spends over $400 billion on goods and services, making it the largest purchaser of goods and services in the world. Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration released the annual Fiscal Year 2019 Small Business Federal Procurement Scorecard, which tracks and assesses each agency’s yearly and individually negotiated small business prime and…

EDA: $2 Million Invested to Aid Fourche Dam Pike Road Corridor in Pulaski County, AR Opportunity Zone

Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $2 million grant to Pulaski County, Arkansas, to make critical roadway infrastructure improvements to the Fourche Dam Pike Road Corridor to support new business and job growth in the region. The EDA grant, to be located in…

CDFI Fund: Virtual Public Meeting of the CDFI Fund’s Advisory Board Scheduled for August 27th

The Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund) is convening a meeting of the Community Development Advisory Board (the Advisory Board) from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on Thursday, August 27, 2020. This meeting will be conducted virtually. The function of the Advisory Board is to advise the Director of the CDFI Fund on the…

EDA: $4.4 Million Invested in Tennessee to Support Local Stratgies or Job Growth in Opportunity Zones

Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is investing $4.4 million in the state of Tennessee to build critical infrastructure needed to support business growth. The EDA grants, to be matched with more than $2 million in other federal or local funds, are expected to help create…