Census Bureau: Number of Minority-Owned Employer Firms Increased in 2015
Minority-owned employer firms in the United States increased by approximately 4.9 percent in 2015 to 996,248 from 949,318 in 2014, according to findings from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2015 Annual Survey of Entrepreneurs. Payroll and employment for minority-owned employer firms in the nation also increased from 2014 to 2015 by approximately 7.0 percent ($237.5 billion…
FHFA: Final Rule Regarding Minority and Women Inclusion Regulations Amended to Require Diversity and Include Strategic Planning
Washington, D.C. — The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), is publishing a final rule that amends its existing Minority and Women Inclusion regulations to require Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, the Federal Home Loan Banks, and the Office of Finance (the regulated entities), to develop and implement strategic plans to promote diversity and inclusion of minorities,…
HUD: Winners for 2017 Healthy Homes Awards Announced
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development(HUD) and the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) today announced that four model programs around the nation are recipients of the HUD Secretary’s Award for Healthy Homes, an award recognizing excellence in making indoor environments healthier through healthy homes. For the third consecutive year, HUD and…
CFPB: Rule Issued to Ban Companies from Using Arbitration Clauses
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) today announced a new rule to ban companies from using mandatory arbitration clauses to deny groups of people their day in court. Many consumer financial products like credit cards and bank accounts have arbitration clauses in their contracts that prevent consumers from joining together to sue their…
Census Bureau: Census Business Builder Now Includes “My Own Data” Upload
The latest version of Census Business Builder — version 2.2 — now includes the ability for a user to upload their own data and to view it along with U.S. Census Bureau and other data. The Small Business Edition and Regional Analyst Edition of Census Business Builder allow business owners and regional planners to easily…
CFPB: Buying a Home? Watch out for Mortgage Closing Scams
Summer is a busy homebuying season. If you’re in the market for a new home this year, watch out for email phishing scams. According to reports, the scams target homebuyers who are nearing the closing date on their mortgage loan. The scammers attempt to steal the homebuyer’s closing funds—for example, their down payment and closing…
CFPB: Updates to “Know Before You Owe” Mortgage Disclosure Finalized
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) today finalized updates to its “Know Before You Owe” mortgage disclosure rule with amendments that are intended to formalize guidance in the rule, and provide greater clarity and certainty. The changes will facilitate implementation of the Know Before You Owe rule by the mortgage industry. The…
CFPB: New Advisory Board and Council Members Announced
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) announced the appointment of new consumer experts from outside the federal government to the Consumer Advisory Board, Community Bank Advisory Council, Credit Union Advisory Council, and Academic Research Council. The four bodies provide advice to CFPB leadership on a broad range of consumer financial issues…
Census Bureau: New Report on the Dynamics of Economic Well-Being
Today the U.S. Census Bureau released a new report on the Dynamics of Economic Well-Being: Fluctuations in the U.S. Income Distribution: 2009-2012 that highlights changes in annual household income by selected demographic characteristics of the householder. This report takes advantage of the Survey of Income and Program Participation’s longitudinal design that collected detailed monthly information…
HUD: $50 Million in Housing Counseling Grants Awarded
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today awarded more than $50 million in housing counseling grants to hundreds of national, regional and local organizations to help families and individuals with their housing needs and to prevent future foreclosures. HUD’s housing counseling grants and the additional funding they leverage will assist…