Industry News

HUD: Research Grant Opportunity and Event Announced Focused on Office-to-Residential Conversions Announced

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) to study office-to-residential conversions. Later today, HUD’s Office of Policy Development and Research (PD&R) will host a virtual event featuring developers, researchers, and local officials to discuss the challenges of executing these conversions and how policies can help overcome those challenges. The NOFO…

Federal Reserve: FedNow Service, New System for Instant Payments, Now Live

The Federal Reserve on Thursday announced that its new system for instant payments, the FedNow® Service, is now live. Banks and credit unions of all sizes can sign up and use this tool to instantly transfer money for their customers, any time of the day, on any day of the year. “The Federal Reserve built the…

OCC: Acting Comptroller Discusses Delivering Financial Education and Banking Services in Indian Country

Acting Comptroller of the Currency Michael J. Hsu today discussed the role of national banks and federal savings associations in delivering capital and other financial services to support economic development, housing, and other needs in Indian Country in remarks prepared for delivery at the Financial Literacy and Education Commission meeting. In his remarks, Mr. Hsu…

HUD: Action Taken on Junk Fees in Rental Housing

Major online rental search platforms agree to provide tens of millions of consumers with better information about fees. Today, President Biden and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Marcia L. Fudge announced new commitments by several of the biggest rental housing search platforms to increase transparency of housing fees, and released new…

SBA: New Entrepreneurship Training Course Introduced for Military Spouses

Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) launched a new business training program tailored to military spouses entitled “The Military Spouse Pathway to Business Program.” The program supports the recent White House Executive Order 14100, which strengthens economic opportunity for military and Veteran spouses, caregivers, and survivors.  “The Biden-Harris Administration is working hard to create more economic opportunities for military families,…

HUD: Public Input Sought to Enhance Accessibility and Usability of Programs to Pave the Way for Improved Housing Solutions

HUD publishes a Request for Information asking the public how the agency can make programs easier to access and use Today, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) published a Request for Information asking the public how the agency can make its programs easier to access and use. HUD has taken a number…

SBA: America’s Seed Fund Tour Coming to the Midwest to Engage Small Businesses Working on High-Tech, High-Impact Ideas

SBA will stop in Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Iowa between July 17-21 Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced it will launch a road tour to Midwest states connecting entrepreneurs working on advanced technology to the country’s largest source of early-stage funding – America’s Seed Fund. America’s Seed Fund, comprised of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and…

HUD: Secretary Partners with Japan to Forge Sustainable Urban Solutions and Climate Resilience

Secretary Fudge signs a Memorandum of Cooperation with Japanese Leaders to jointly pursue innovations in housing policy, urban planning, and climate resilience Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Marcia L. Fudge traveled to Takamatsu, Japan to attend the G7 Sustainable Urban Ministers’ Meeting on July 8th and 9th. At the meeting, Secretary Fudge…

CDFI Fund: Virtual Public Meeting of the CDFI Fund’s Advisory Board Rescheduled to July 31st

The meeting of the Community Development Advisory Board (the Advisory Board) originally scheduled for July 7, 2023, has been rescheduled for Monday, July 31, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time. This meeting will be conducted virtually. The recently established CDFI Certification Subcommittee will present its official recommendations during this public meeting. The function of the Advisory Board is…

CFPB: Interagency Inquiry Launched into Costly Credit Cards and Loans Provided to Patients for Health Care Costs

Public input will bolster agencies’ broad efforts to safeguard consumers against predatory medical debt and collections practices Today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and U.S. Department of Treasury (Treasury) launched an inquiry into high-cost specialty financial products, such as medical credit cards and installment loans, that…