CRA Newswire

OCC: CRA Evaluations for 15 National Banks and Federal Savings Associations Released

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) today released a list of Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) performance evaluations that became public during the period of October 1, 2021 through October 31, 2021. The list contains only national banks, federal savings associations, and insured federal branches of foreign banks that have received ratings. The…

CFPB: New Research Finds Credit Report Disputes Far More Common in Majority Black and Hispanic Neighborhoods

Report Provides Additional Insight into Previously Observed Trends The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) today released research finding that consumers in majority Black and Hispanic neighborhoods, as well as younger consumers and those with low credit scores, are far more likely to have disputes appear on their credit reports. The new research is a part…

HUD: More than $2 Billion Allocated to Advance Equitable Disaster Recovery, Build Climate Change Resilience

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today announced the allocation of more than $2 billion ($2,040,617,000) in CDBG-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) and CDBG-Mitigation (CDBG-MIT) funds appropriated in the continuing resolution, the Extending Government Funding and Delivering Emergency Assistance Act (PL 117-43; the Act), signed into law on September 30, 2021. These allocations underscore HUD…

FEMA: President Biden Approves Major Disaster Declaration for Connecticut

FEMA announced that federal disaster assistance has been made available to the state of Connecticut to supplement state, tribal and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by the remnants of Hurricane Ida during the period of Sept. 1-2, 2021. The President’s action makes federal funding available to affected individuals in Fairfield and New London…

SBA: $44.8 Billion through Signature Small Business Lending Programs Announced

In fiscal year 2021, 7(a) and 504 loan programs provided more than 61,000 loans, but gaps in access to capital for underserved communities remain Today, U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman announced the agency reached $44.8 billion in funding to small businesses through more than 61,000 traditional loans for fiscal year (FY) 2021. “In the midst…

EDA: Build Back Better Regional Challenge Applicants Announced Showing Incredible Enthusiasm for Transformational Investment in Regions Across the Country

529 Applications Received from Regions across all 50 States and Five Territories Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) announced that it has experienced strong interest in its American Rescue Plan Build Back Better Regional Challenge, receiving 529 applications from regions across all 50 states and five territories. The $1 billion Build Back…

Census Bureau: New Data on Minority-Owned, Veteran-Owned, and Women-Owned Businesses Released

The U.S. Census Bureau today released new estimates on the characteristics of employer businesses. According to the 2020 Annual Business Survey (ABS), which covers reference year 2019, approximately 18.7% (1.1 million) of U.S. employer businesses were minority-owned, veteran-owned businesses made up about 5.7% (331,151) of all businesses.  About 20.9% (1.2 million) of businesses were owned by women. Additional highlights:…

SBA: Community Navigator Pilot Program Grantees Announced

51 Grantees Selected Nationwide to Serve as Hubs Connecting Disadvantaged Small Businesses with Government Resources  Today, U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman  announced grantees for the Biden-Harris Administration’s Community Navigator Pilot Program, an American Rescue Plan initiative designed to reduce barriers that all small businesses, including those owned by disadvantaged groups such as veterans, women, and those from rural communities and communities of color, often face in accessing critical support. The Community Navigator Pilot Program will provide $100 million in funding to 51 organizations that will work with hundreds of local groups to connect America’s entrepreneurs to government resources so they can recover…

FEMA: President Biden Approves Major Disaster Declaration for Virginia

FEMA announced today that federal disaster assistance has been made available to the Commonwealth of Virginia to supplement commonwealth, tribal and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by flooding, landslides and mudslides that occurred Aug. 30-31, 2021. Federal funding is available to state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for…

Census Bureau: Analytical Report on the COVID-19 Impact on the 2020 American Community Survey Released

The U.S. Census Bureau today released an analytical report in advance of publishing experimental data from the American Community Survey (ACS), one of the nation’s most comprehensive sources of population and housing information about the U.S.   The report, An Assessment of the COVID-19 Pandemic’s Impact on the 2020 ACS 1-Year Data, describes how the pandemic…