SBA: Interim Guidance Released for 8(a) Program Participants in Light of Recent Lower Court Ruling
Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration released interim guidance regarding the 8(a) Business Development Program in light of a United States District Court ruling in Ultima Servs. Corp. v. Dep’t of Ag. affecting the program’s determination of social disadvantage. The updated interim guidance for 8(a) Program participants and applicants can be found on the SBA’s website here. The SBA, in…
SBA: Implementation Announced for Transformational SBIC Program Reforms
Reforms of SBA’s Small Business Investment Company Address Gaps in Equity and Debt Financing for Underserved and Undercapitalized Small Businesses Effective August 17 Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman announced the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Small Business Investment Company’s (SBIC) Diversification and Growth Final Rule is effective today. Under the new rule, which supports the Biden-Harris Administration’s economic and…
HUD: Federal Housing Agencies Issue Reminder of Mortgage Assistance for Those Impacted by the Maui Wildfires
Today, Federal Housing Agencies – Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae), Federal Housing Administration (FHA), Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and United States Department of Veterans Affairs (Veterans Affairs) – issued the following joint statement pledging their offices’ ongoing support for Hawaiian residents affected by the devastating wildfires on…
HUD: Changes Approved to Housing Choice Voucher Program to Accelerate Homelessness Solutions in Los Angeles
Today, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) approved requests by the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles County Development Authority to modify Housing Choice Voucher Program admissions requirements to expedite their efforts to help people experiencing homeless. “HUD is committed to supporting every community’s effort to…
FEMA: New Webpage Launched to Dispel Myths, Address Rumors and Answer Frequently Asked Questions Related to Hawaii Wildfires
After a disaster, rumors and myths can harm disaster survivors by causing confusion and can even prevent people from seeking assistance. To address this problem, FEMA recently launched a rumor control and frequently asked questions web page to keep survivors of the Hawaii wildfires aware of rumors and scams, and to help them better understand the federal…
HUD: Nearly $140 Million Awarded to Protect Low-Income Families from Lead and Other Home Health and Safety Hazards
Funding to make low-income families’ homes safer and healthier. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded today nearly $140 million to 36 state and local government agencies in 19 states to protect children and families from lead-based paint hazards and other home health hazards. HUD is providing these grants through its Lead-Based Paint…
Federal and State Financial Regulatory Agencies Issue Interagency Statement on Supervisory Practices Regarding Financial Institutions Affected by the Hawaii Wildfires
The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs’ Division of Financial Institutions, the National Credit Union Administration, and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, collectively the agencies, recognize the serious impact of the recent Hawaii wildfires on the customers…
Census Bureau: Household Pulse Survey Phase 3.9 Monthly Data Released
The U.S. Census Bureau today released new data from phase 3.9 of the experimental Household Pulse Survey (HPS). The HPS is an effort by the Census Bureau and other federal statistical agencies to inform federal and state response and recovery planning by providing near real-time data on the social and economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and…
HUD: Waiver Package Announced to Help Hawaii Communities Recover from Fires
Today, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced a package of regulatory and administrative waivers to allow the use HUD funding to help communities in Maui and the Island of Hawai’i accelerate their recovery from the wildfires. Today’s announcement represents follows initial support HUD provided to families in the wake of the fires. “We’re…
FEMA: President Biden Approves Major Disaster Declaration for Illinois
FEMA announced today that federal disaster assistance has been made available to the state of Illinois to supplement recovery efforts in the areas affected by a severe storms and flooding June 29 to July 2, 2023. The President’s action makes federal funding available to affected individuals in Cook County. Assistance can include grants for temporary…