SBA: Over $5.4 Million in Grants Awarded to Strengthen Research Funding Opportunities Across the U.S.
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 over $5.4 million in funding to 44 awardees through the Federal and State Technology (FAST) Partnership Program. FAST provides small businesses and startups, particularly those in underserved communities, with specialized training, mentoring, and…
EDA: Over $85 Million in American Rescue Plan Funds Invested Last Week
The following grants were made under the American Rescue Plan Funds program: September 21, 2022 – U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $2.5 Million in American Rescue Plan Funds to Boost High Speed Internet Connectivity in Southwest Louisiana September 20, 2022 – U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $5.3 Million in American Rescue Plan Funds for Wastewater Infrastructure to…
EDA: $604,114 Invested to Spur Collaboration and Innovation and Create Jobs in the Life Sciences and Healthcare Industries in the Greater Washington Metropolitan Region
Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $604,114 grant to Connected DMV, Arlington, Virginia, to develop the Life Sciences & Healthcare Quantum Innovation Hub, a 12-month pilot program to accelerate those industries in the in the Greater Washington, D.C. metropolitan region. This project will spur collaboration and innovation across…
EDA: Kathi Vidal Appointed to Serve as Third Federal Co-Chair of National Advisory Council on Innovation & Entrepreneurship
Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced that Kathi Vidal, Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), has been appointed as the third Federal Co-Chair of the National Advisory Council on Innovation & Entrepreneurship (NACIE). NACIE is a federal advisory committee managed by the U.S. Economic…
Federal Reserve: FedNow Service Release Timing Updated to Mid-2023, Marking the Beginning of Full-Scale Pilot Testing
The Federal Reserve Banks have narrowed the timing of the FedNow Service launch to mid-year 2023, specifically targeting a production rollout of the service in the May to July timeframe. This further defines the previously communicated 2023 launch window for the anticipated instant payments service and comes as the FedNow Pilot Program prepares to enter…
Census Bureau: The Opportunity Project Innovation Expands Its Focus to Puerto Rico
Each year, the U.S. Census Bureau brings together cross-sector collaborators to solve some of the nation’s biggest challenges with data and technology through The Opportunity Project (TOP) product development sprints. TOP is an innovation program led by the Census Open Innovation Labs at the Census Bureau. TOP engages government, technologists and communities to co-create digital products that serve…
EDA: Over $54 Million in American Rescue Plan Funds Invested Last Week
Last week, the following grants were made under the American Rescue Plan Funds program: August 16, 2022 – U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $6.4 Million in American Rescue Plan Funds to Develop a New Business Facility in Duffield, Virginia August 16, 2022 – U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $4.5 Million in American Rescue Plan Funds for Wastewater…
ABA: Brooke Ybarra Named as New Head of Office of Innovation
Brooke Ybarra has been named senior vice president of innovation and strategy at the American Bankers Association and will lead the group’s Office of Innovation. In this position, Ybarra will play a key role in helping ABA member banks keep pace with technological innovation by identifying promising startups and emerging technologies that benefit the banking…
FHFA: Office of Financial Technology Announced
Agency issues request for information on the role of technology in housing finance The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today announced the establishment of the Office of Financial Technology. This Office will serve as a centralized source of information to support FHFA in addressing emerging risks and advancing Agency priorities related to the adoption and deployment…
CFPB: Special Regulatory Treatment for Payactiv Rescinded
Termination Follows Request by Company in Order to Change its Product The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued an order today terminating Payactiv’s Sandbox Approval Order relating to its earned wage access products. The CFPB had given Payactiv special regulatory treatment, including as to liability under a relevant federal consumer financial law with respect to…