Industry News

SBA: Makerspace Training, Collaboration and Hiring (MaTCH) Pilot Competition Announced

Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration Acting Administrator Chris Pilkerton announced the launch of the Makerspace Training, Collaboration and Hiring (MaTCH) Pilot Competition. The MaTCH Pilot Competition seeks to address the job skills and placement gaps faced by U.S. businesses by providing funding to create or expand programs with job-specific and soft skills training within existing makerspaces….

FEMA: President Trump Approves Major Disaster Declaration for California

FEMA announced that federal disaster assistance has been made available to the state of California to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by severe winter storms, flooding, landslides, and mudslides on Feb. 24 to March 1, 2019. The President’s action makes federal funding available to state, eligible local governments and certain…

HUD: GSA, HUD Issue Requests for Information for Phase II Centers of Excellence Work

The U.S. General Services Administration’s (GSA) Technology Transformation Services’ Centers of Excellence (CoE) and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued six Requests for Information (RFI) and their accompanying draft Request for Quotation (RFQ) to gather feedback related to the HUD Phase II work on Friday, May 17. With these RFIs, GSA…

HUD: $5 Million Offered for Carbon Monoxide Detectors in Public Housing

Funding Comes from Emergency Safety and Security Funding WASHINGTON – U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Ben Carson today announced $5 million will be made available for the purchase and installation of carbon monoxide (CO) detectors in public housing units where they are necessary. Provided through HUD’s Emergency Safety and Security Program, these funds represent…

EDA: Investment Made to Support the Growth of Georgia’s Manufacturing Sector

Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) announced that it is investing $960,000 in sewer infrastructure improvements needed to support the growth of manufacturing and other businesses in the town of Braselton, Georgia, an investment that will be matched with $240,000 in local funds. The project is expected to create 183 jobs…

EDA: U.S. Department of Commerce to Boost Manufacturing and Entrepreneurship Activity in Kearny, NJ Opportunity Zone

Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is helping upgrade and improve Hackensack Avenue in Kearny, New Jersey, in support of the Kearny Point business center development. The investment will be matched by $1.3 million in local funds. The project is located in a Tax Cuts and…

EDA: U.S. Department of Commerce Announces Eleventh Americas Competitiveness Exchange

Senior Officials from Across the Globe Visit Puerto Rico’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship Hubs From May 18-25, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) and International Trade Administration (ITA), in coordination with the U.S. Department of State and the Organization of American States (OAS), will participate in the Eleventh Americas Competitiveness Exchange (ACE) on…

SBA: Certification Rule Proposed for Women-Owned Small Businesses

Seeking Comments by July 15 Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration published a proposed rule that will provide a free online application process for women-owned small businesses to be certified and eligible to participate in the SBA’s Women-Owned Small Business Program or access contracts as a Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) or Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small…

HUD: $85 Million Awarded to Revitalize Three Low-Income Neighborhoods

Federal investments expected to generate more than $620 million in neighborhood reinvestment U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Ben Carson today announced three communities across the country will receive a combined $85 million to redevelop severely distressed public or assisted housing and to revitalize surrounding neighborhoods. Provided through HUD’s Choice Neighborhoods Initiative, these grants, and the…

HUD: FHA Proposes New Lender Certification Requirements

Effort designed to improve clarity and certainty of compliance rules, expand financing options for borrowers The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) today proposed several revisions to its lender certification requirements with the goal of providing lenders and servicers greater certainty in how to satisfy the agency’s compliance requirements. In providing greater certainty to the process, FHA…