HUD and Census Bureau: New Residential Sales Report for December 2020
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Census Bureau jointly announced the following new residential sales statistics for December 2020: New Home Sales Sales of new single-family houses in December 2020 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 842,000. This is 1.6 percent (±15.8 percent)* above the revised November…
OCC: Promoting Earned Income Tax Credit Awareness Day
In an effort to make more eligible working families aware of the benefits of the earned income tax credit (EITC), the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency is promoting the 15th annual EITC Awareness Day on January 29. “We continue to encourage more eligible Americans to take advantage of EITCs,” Acting Comptroller of the Currency Blake…
FEMA: Agency Supporting COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution
In alignment with President Biden’s plan to respond to COVID-19, FEMA is supporting vaccination sites by providing expedited financial assistance, federal equipment and supplies and deploying federal personnel to states, tribes, territories and other eligible applicants for vaccination efforts. FEMA has deployed staff to support coordination efforts in Arizona and Nevada at their state vaccination centers…
Census Bureau: 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 2019 Annual Business Survey (ABS), covering reference year 2018, approximately 18.3% (1.0 million) of all U.S. businesses were minority-owned and about 19.9% (1.1 million) of all businesses were owned by women. Additional statistics released include: In the United States, the…
HUD: First Week Swift Actions to Support Homeowners and Tackle Nation’s Housing Crisis
In the first week of the Biden Administration, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) took swift action to address immediate housing needs during the COVID-19 pandemic while laying the groundwork to address the nation’s larger, systemic housing challenges and restore sound management to the department. “HUD and the new administration are quickly addressing…
OCC: Fair Access Rule Put on Hold
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) today announced it has paused publication of its rule to ensure large banks provide all customers fair access to their services. The agency proposed the rule in November 2020 to codify more than a decade of OCC guidance stating that banks should conduct risk assessments of individual customers,…
Census Bureau: Household Pulse Survey Phase 3 Biweekly Data Released
The U.S. Census Bureau today released new data from the extension of the third phase of the experimental Household Pulse Survey. The extension includes intent-to-vaccinate and stimulus payment questions. The Household Pulse Survey is the result of an effort by the Census Bureau and other federal statistical agencies to document temporal trends in how individuals are experiencing…
SBA: One Year 8(a) Program Extension Provided to Participants Due to COVID-19
Public Comments Due by March 15, 2021 The U.S. Small Business Administration published an interim final rule effective January 13, 2021 allowing 8(a) Program participants to elect a one-year program extension in the SBA’s 8(a) Business Development Program due to the challenges of COVID-19. Eligible 8(a) firms must meet the following qualifications: Any firm that participated in the 8(a) Program…
CDFI Fund: Target Market Waiver Extended for Lending Under Round Three of Paycheck Protection Program
Target Market Waiver Extended for Lending Under Round Three of Paycheck Protection Program The U.S. Treasury Department and Small Business Administration (SBA) recently announced the reopening of a third round of the Paycheck Protection Program with $284 billion in funding that was authorized by the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (Pub. L. 116-260). This includes…