Economic Development

SBA: New Disaster Loans Offered with No Interest and No Payments for First Year

Today, Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the voice in President Biden’s Cabinet for America’s 33 million small businesses, announced the Agency will waive the interest rate for the first year on new disaster loans and extend the initial payment deferment period automatically to 12 months. “We must ensure that communities…

CDFI Fund: Public Comments Sought on the NMTC Allocation and Qualified Equity Investment Tracking System

The Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund), U.S. Department of the Treasury, is soliciting comments concerning the New Markets Tax Credit Program (NMTC Program) Allocation and Qualified Equity Investment Tracking System (AQEI). The NMTC Program provides an incentive to investors in the form of tax credits over a seven year period and stimulates the…

SBA: Statement on the Restaurant Revitalization Fund

Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) issued the following statement regarding the status of the Restaurant Revitalization Fund. “This week, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) began distribution of returned funding in the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) program, following the program’s closure in June 2021. In doing so, the SBA worked with the advice of the Department of…

SBA: Administrator Guzman Calls on Americans to “Shop Small” on Small Business Saturday Across America

Today, Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the voice in President Biden’s Cabinet for America’s 33 million small businesses, calls on Americans to “Shop Small” throughout this holiday season and on Small Business Saturday, which falls on November 26. “As our economy continues to stabilize, it’s more important than ever that…

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

The U.S. Census Bureau today released new estimates on the characteristics of employer businesses. According to the 2021 Annual Business Survey (ABS), which covers reference year 2020, approximately 1.15 million or 19.9% of employer businesses in 2020 were minority-owned; 320,864 (5.6%) were veteran-owned; and around 1.24 million (21.4%) were owned by women. This release also includes demographic data by…

SBA: New SBA Program Launched for Veteran Small Business Certification

New SBA program launch to include one-year extension for certified veteran-owned small businesses Today, during National Veterans Small Business Week (NVSBW), Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the voice in President Biden’s Cabinet for America’s 33 million small businesses, announced consequential updates to the planned launch of SBA’s new Veteran Small Business Certification Program—including…

EDA: U.S. Department of Commerce Launches First of its Kind Economic Recovery Corps with $30 Million CARES Act Investment

Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) has awarded a $30 million CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to a coalition of organizations to establish and operate a nationwide Economic Recovery Corps program. This EDA funded program will recruit and place at least 65 Fellows in economic development…

EDA: $1.8 Million Invested to Improve Stormwater Infrastructure and Support Business Growth in Sebring, FL

Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $1.8 million grant to the Sebring Airport Authority, Sebring, Florida, for stormwater drainage improvements at Sebring Regional Airport’s Multimodal Logistics Center. This EDA project will increase the region’s capacity to create and grow new businesses in the…

SBA: 2022 National Veterans Small Business Week Launches October 31st

Virtual and in-person events highlight the Agency’s efforts to support the nation’s nearly two million veteran-owned small businesses Today, Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the voice for America’s 33 million small businesses in President Biden’s Cabinet, announced that the SBA will celebrate National Veterans Small Business Week (NVSBW) Oct. 31 – Nov….

SBA: Funding Awarded to Organizations Delivering Service-Disabled Veteran Entrepreneurship Training Program

Today, Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman , head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the voice for America’s 33 million small businesses in President Biden’s Cabinet, announced the awarding of $300,000 in funding to four organizations to deliver existing training programs through the SBA’s Service-Disabled Veteran Entrepreneurship Training Program. “Our veterans and military families are an important source of…