Industry News

EDA: $21 Million Invested to Accelerate Entrepreneurship Across the Nation

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross today announced that 40 organizations — including nonprofits, institutions of higher education, and entrepreneurship-focused organizations — from 28 states and two territories will receive $21 million to create and expand cluster-focused entrepreneurship and technology transfer programs, and early-stage seed fund support under the Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) 2018 Regional…

EDA: $3.1 Million Invested to Support Disaster Resiliency Efforts in Laurens, SC

Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $3.1 million grant to Laurens County Water and Sewer Commission of Laurens, South Carolina, to make critical water infrastructure improvements needed to keep businesses open in the wake of future severe weather events. “The Trump Administration is…

FHFA: Maximum Conforming Loan Limits for 2019 Announced

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Baseline Limit Will Increase to $484,350 The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today announced the maximum conforming loan limits for mortgages to be acquired by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in 2019.  In most of the U.S., the 2019 maximum conforming loan limit for one-unit properties will be $484,350, an…

CDFI Fund: Application Demand for FY 2018 Round of Capital Magnet Fund Released

The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund) released today the application data for the fiscal year (FY) 2018 round of its Capital Magnet Fund program. A total of 116 organizations submitted eligible applications requesting more than $570 million in funding. The applicants propose to serve 49 states, the District…

OCC: New Publication Discusses the Importance of Bank Financing for Rural Broadband Initiatives

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) today published the latest edition of its Community Developments Investments newsletter, “Expanding Internet Access: Bank Financing for Rural Broadband Initiatives.” This edition of Community Developments Investments discusses the important role national banks and federal savings associations can play in helping rural communities gain reliable, high-speed internet…

HUD: $30 Million Awarded to Help Children in Foster Care

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today awarded $30 million to public housing authorities nationwide, which will work closely with local public welfare agencies to identify youth at risk of homelessness and families whose lack of adequate housing is the primary reason their children are in foster care. This funding will make…

EDA: $749,000 Invested to Boost Workforce Training Opportunities in West Virginia

Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $749,000 grant to Bridge Valley Community and Technical College of South Charleston, West Virginia, to help establish the Bridge Valley Construction, Telecommunications, and Energy Workforce Training Center, which will be located on Bridge Valley’s Montgomery campus. “Bridge Valley Community and Technical College…

SBA: Small Business Saturday Kicks-off in Neighborhoods across America

Annual celebration attracts more than 100 million consumers U.S. Small Business Administrator Linda McMahon is encouraging Americans to support local communities by shopping at small businesses on Saturday, November 24. Celebrated each year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, Small Business Saturday allows consumers to make a tremendous impact in their neighborhoods by supporting a local…

CDFI Fund: Update for FY 2019 CDFI Bond Guarantee Program Applicants – Applications Now Available in AMIS

The electronic applications for the fiscal year (FY) 2019 round of the CDFI Bond Guarantee Program are now available in the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund’s (CDFI Fund’s) Awards Management Information System (AMIS). In addition, the CDFI Fund has posted a PDF version of the Qualified Issuer and Guarantee applications along with an AMIS Bond…

FDIC: Banker Teleconference on November 28th to Cover FDIC 2017 National Survey of Unbanked and Underbanked Households

FIL-73-2018 Summary: The FDIC will discuss the results of its 2017 biennial National Survey of Unbanked and Underbanked Households during a teleconference scheduled for Wednesday, November 28, 2018, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time. Other topics to be discussed include economic inclusion resources pertinent to community banks, including the Money Smart for Adults…