Economic Inclusion

Federal Reserve: Series of Diversity and Inclusion Conferences Announced for November

The Federal Reserve Board announced on Monday that it will host a series of diversity and inclusion conferences in November focused on the experiences that underrepresented groups have as they participate in the economy, the economics profession, central banking, and finance. Federal Reserve Board Chair Jerome H. Powell will provide opening remarks at each event….

ABA: Six Banks Win ABA Foundation’s 2021 Community Commitment Awards

Banks of all sizes earn banking industry’s highest honor awards for community programs The American Bankers Association Foundation named six banks as 2021 Community Commitment Award winners. The annual awards recognize banks for extraordinary corporate social responsibility efforts in six specific categories ranging from affordable housing to economic inclusion. The winners will be recognized at ABA’s Annual Convention in…

EDA: $711,000 Invested to Support the Minority Business Development Initiative and Create Jobs in Charleston, SC

Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $711,000 grant to the South Carolina Association for Community Economic Development, Charleston, South Carolina, to support minority business owners and help create jobs through the Minority Business Development Initiative. This EDA grant will be matched with $180,000 in local investment. “With an…

Census Bureau: New Community Resilience Data Equity Estimates Released

The U.S. Census Bureau today released the CRE for Equity data tool. In an easy-to-use dashboard, this new tool pulls together existing data to measure social vulnerability and equity gaps at the community level while providing context about the varying needs of different communities. To measure these concepts, in the summer of 2020, the Census Bureau launched…

SBA: $5.4 Million in Prizes Announced to Nearly 100 Awardees to Support Inclusive Entrepreneurship in the Innovation Ecosystem

Today, U.S. Small Business Administration Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman announced 84 winners for the Growth Accelerator Fund Competition (GAFC) and eight winners for the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Catalyst competition, a new component aimed at spurring investment in underrepresented communities within the innovation economy at scale, receiving a combined total of $5.4 million in awards.  This important…

SBA: Awardees Announced for Two New Women’s Business Centers in Puerto Rico

The New Centers Will Increase Opportunities and Recovery Solutions for Women Entrepreneurs throughout the Island The U.S. Small Business Administration announced today the launch of two Women’s Business Centers (WBC) in Puerto Rico, hosted by Ana G. Méndez University, Gurabo Campus (UAGM-Gurabo), and Friends of Puerto Rico. The new centers will carry out the mission of helping…

FHFA: Equitable Housing Finance Plans for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Announced

Public input requested on how Enterprises can sustainably advance equitable housing finance Today, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) is announcing that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the Enterprises) will submit Equitable Housing Finance Plans to FHFA by the end of 2021. The Enterprises will update these plans annually. The plans will identify and address…

CFPB: New Proposed Rule Issued on Small Business Lending Data Collection Under Equal Credit Opportunity Act (Regulation B)

The Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (Bureau) is publishing for public comment a proposed rule amending Regulation B to implement changes to the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) made by section 1071 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act). Consistent with section 1071, the Bureau is proposing to require covered…

HUD and FHFA Collaboration to Advance Fair Housing and Fair Lending Enforcement Announced

Today, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) (collectively, the Agencies) entered into a first-of-its-kind collaborative agreement regarding fair housing and fair lending coordination. Under the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), the two Agencies will focus on enhancing their enforcement of the Fair Housing Act, which HUD…

FDIC: Minority Depository Institutions Subcommittee to Meet Virtually July 21st

July 21st virtual meeting to address issues important to minority banks The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) today announced the agency’s Minority Depository Institutions (MDI) Subcommittee to the Advisory Committee on Community Banking will hold an open meeting at 1 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, July 21, 2021. During the public portion of the meeting, subcommittee members…