CRA Newswire

HUD and Census Bureau: Residential Construction Activity Report for April 2020

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Census Bureau jointly announced the following new residential construction statistics for April 2020. Building Permits Privately owned housing units authorized by building permits in April were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,074,000. This is 20.8 percent (±0.9 percent) below the revised…

FHFA: Refinance and Home Purchase Eligiblity for Borrowers in Forbearance Announced

Agency also extends the Enterprises’ ability to buy loans in forbearance Today, to support borrowers and mortgage servicers, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the Enterprises)  have issued temporary guidance regarding the eligibility of borrowers who are in forbearance, or have recently ended their forbearance, looking to refinance…

EDA: $2.5 Million Invested to Support Manufacturing Workforce Training Opportunities in St. Cloud, MN

Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $2.5 million grant to St. Cloud Technical & Community College, St. Cloud, Minnesota, to build a new Advanced Manufacturing Training Lab. The lab will provide the necessary training to workers to meet the demand of regional manufacturers….

EDA: $2 Million Invested to Construct Resilient Water Infrastructure and Support Manufacturing in South Carolina

Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $2 million grant to the Powdersville Water District in Easley, South Carolina, to make water infrastructure improvements needed to serve a major advanced manufacturing exporter of power tools and other businesses in the region. The EDA grant,…

HUD: More than $75 Million in Fourth Wave of CAREs Act Funding Allocated to Assist People Living with Disabilities

Fourth wave of relief funds provides additional housing choice vouchers to public housing authorities Today, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Ben Carson announced nearly $77 million in a fourth wave of CARES Act funding, supporting up to 8,300 additional vouchers. Provided through HUD’s Section 811 Mainstream Housing Choice Voucher Program, this…

EDA: $562,000 Invested to Install New Boat Moorings to Boost U.S. Virgin Islands Tourism Industry

Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $562,000 grant to the Virgin Islands Professional Charter Association of Saint Thomas, U.S.V.I., to support the tourism sector by installing moorings in the bays of the U.S. Virgin Islands as part of the recovery effort following Hurricanes Irma and Maria. The EDA…

EDA: $800,000 Invested to Establish Revolving Loan Fund to Serve Small Businesses in Seven Disaster-Impacted South Dakota Counties

Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding an $800,000 grant to the West River Foundation for Economic and Community Development in Sturgis, South Dakota, to establish a Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) to assist small businesses impacted by natural disasters in Bennett, Butte, Custer, Fall River, Meade, Pennington, and Perkins counties….

Census Bureau: COVID-19 Interactive Data Hub Update Released

The Census Bureau has released an updated version of the interactive data hub on its COVID-19 resource page. The resource page is designed to help federal agencies, businesses and communities make decisions related to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Version 1.2 of the interactive data hub includes: Improved search and navigation functions for impact reports Additional variables for: Nonemployer Statistics impact report…

SBA: Treasury and SBA Release Paycheck Protection Program Loan Forgiveness Application

Today, the Small Business Administration (SBA), in consultation with the Department of the Treasury, released the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan Forgiveness Application and detailed instructions for the application. The form and instructions inform borrowers how to apply for forgiveness of their PPP loans, consistent with the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES…

CFPB: CSBS and CFPB Issue Consumer Guide on Mortgage Relief Options

To guide homeowners with federally backed loans through the process of obtaining mortgage relief, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Bureau) and the Conference of State Bank Supervisors today released a Consumer Relief Guide with borrowers’ rights to mortgage payment forbearance and foreclosure protection under the federal CARES Act. Kathleen L. Kraninger, CFPB Director: “CFPB is working hand-in…