Small Business

SBA: New Grant Opportunities Announced for Women’s Business Center Funding

The U.S. Small Business Administration has announced the availability of two new grant opportunities for established and aspiring Women’s Business Center host organizations to provide outcome-oriented business services for women entrepreneurs. The first grant funding opportunity is the Women’s Business Center Initial Phase Grant (#OWBO-2017-01-1) that will provide $75,000 for up to six eligible nonprofit…

Federal Reserve: Recent Trends in Small Business Lending and the Community Reinvestment Act

Tim Dore and Traci Mach In this note, we analyze data on small business loan originations collected under the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) to document heterogeneity in the recovery in small business lending since the financial crisis. Small business loan originations by CRA respondents declined significantly between 2007 and 2010 and, by 2016, have only…

FEMA: Disaster Assistance in Puerto Rico 90 Days After Hurricane Maria

GUAYNABO, Puerto Rico– More than $870 million in federal funds has been provided to Puerto Rico survivors of Hurricanes Irma and Maria. This includes money paid out in FEMA grants, U.S. Small Business Administration low-interest loans and National Flood Insurance Policy claims. These funds help make it possible to begin rebuilding homes and restoring communities….

FEMA: More Than $1 Billion in Assistance Approved for Puerto Rico

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Federal assistance to survivors, municipality governments and Puerto Rico as a result of Hurricanes Irma and Maria now tops $1 billion less than three months after Maria’s landfall. More than a million Puerto Rican residents registered for FEMA assistance. FEMA has provided funds to more than 366,000 families in Puerto…

FEMA: Applicants May Appeal an Initial FEMA Determination Letter

If you registered with FEMA following Hurricane Irma and received a determination letter regarding your eligibility for assistance, read the letter carefully. It might not be the final answer. You may just need to submit extra documents for FEMA to process your application. Examples of missing documentation may include an insurance settlement letter, proof of…

FEMA: Coping with Holiday Stress after a Disaster

If you lost your home, business or personal property due to Hurricane Irma, you or your family may be struggling to cope with the emotional impact of the disaster. For individuals and families looking to rebuild, the approaching holidays may be especially difficult. FEMA’s online information, Coping with Disaster provides suggestions that may ease the…

SBA: Veterans Business Outreach Center Fund Opportunity Announced

Private organizations, colleges and universities, private sector firms, nonprofit organizations and state, local or tribal governmental agencies are eligible to apply for funding from the U.S. Small Business Administration to provide training and counseling to aspiring and existing veteran small business owners as a Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC). The grant awardees will be providing training…

SBA: Economic Injury Disaster Loans Offered to Small Businesses in Florida Affected by Hurricane Irma

Small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations located in the declared counties of Florida that have suffered financial losses as the result of Hurricane Irma, should consider applying for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration. The SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs)…

FFIEC: Federal Financial Institutions Regulatory Agencies Announce Availability of 2016 Small Business, Small Farm and Community Development Lending Data

The three federal banking agency members of the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) with Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) responsibilities — the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency — announced today the availability of data on small business, small…