SBA: Department of Veterans Affairs and SBA Join Forces to Promote Veteran Entrepreneurship
New Agreement Formalizes Collaboration on Nationwide Trainings On August 12, 2024, Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the voice in President Biden’s Cabinet for America’s more than 34 million small businesses, announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the SBA’s Office of Veterans Business Development (OVBD) and the…
HUD: New HUD Policy Changes Expand Access to Housing for Veterans
Changes will enable veterans with service-connected disability benefits access more housing opportunities Today, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced a new set of policy changes that will help more veterans receive assistance under the HUD-Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program, and improve their access to supportive housing developments. Veterans experiencing homelessness often receive…
CFPB: Nationwide Consumer Advisory Issued on Predatory Solar Lending
CFPB Report Finds Lenders Cramming Markup Fees and Confusing Terms into Solar Energy Loans The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) today issued an issue spotlight finding that some residential solar lenders are misleading homeowners about the terms and costs of their loans, misrepresenting the energy savings they will deliver, and cramming markup fees into borrowers’ loan balances….
SBA: Working Capital Pilot Program Now Accepting Applications at Participating SBA Lenders
Program Expands Small Businesses’ Access to Credit Lines That Create Jobs, Spur Sales and Growth Today, Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the voice in President Biden’s Cabinet for America’s more than 33 million small businesses, announced that SBA 7(a) lenders may now accept applications for the SBA’s newly-announced 7(a) Working Capital Pilot…
SBA: Application Window Opens for Small Business Cyber Prize Competition
Application for $350,000 Award Closes Aug. 15 Today, Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the voice in President Biden’s Cabinet for America’s more than 33 million small businesses, announced the Cyber Prize Competition to award $350,000 to one organization to lead the development and deployment of a national Cyber Certification Program…
HUD: 3-D Printing Showcased as an Innovative Solution for Affordable Housing Supply
At an event in Fairbanks, Alaska, HUD leaders showed how innovative technologies can help to build quality, affordable and resilient homes for all. Today, senior leaders from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) joined the University of Alaska Fairbanks to demonstrate and highlight one of the innovative ways HUD is working to…
Agencies Remind Banks of Potential Risks Associated with Third-Party Deposit Arrangements and Request Additional Information on Bank-Fintech Arrangements
The federal bank regulatory agencies today issued a statement reminding banks of potential risks associated with third-party arrangements to deliver bank deposit products and services. The agencies support responsible innovation and banks engaging in these arrangements in a safe and sound manner and in compliance with applicable law. While these arrangements can provide benefits, supervisory…
Agencies Announce Public Outreach Meeting on September 25th as Part of Review of Regulations
Federal bank regulatory agencies will hold a virtual public outreach meeting on September 25, 2024, as part of their review of regulations under the Economic Growth and Regulatory Paperwork Reduction Act of 1996 (EGRPRA). EGRPRA requires the agencies, with input from the public, to review their regulations at least once every 10 years to identify…
CFPB: New Publication Warns Against Intimidation of Whistleblowers
Forcing workers to sign broad nondisclosure agreements could deter disclosure of misconduct The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) today issued a circular to law enforcement agencies and regulators explaining how companies may be breaking the law by requiring employees to sign broad nondisclosure agreements that could deter whistleblowing. The circular explains how imposing sweeping nondisclosure agreements that do…
SBA: SBA Loan Programs Open to New Green Lenders to Help Small Businesses Meet Climate Goals
Initiative will Advance Clean Energy Transition Across the Nation Today, Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the voice in President Biden’s Cabinet for America’s more than 33 million small businesses, announced a new Green Lender Initiative to enroll additional climate lenders in SBA’s loan programs. The initiative will employ SBA loan guarantees…