Coronavirus

EDA: $2.4 Million in CARES Act Recovery Assistance Invested to Support Entrepreneurial Growth Efforts in Wyoming

Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $2.4 million CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to the University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming, to expand services and support for entrepreneurs across the state of Wyoming. This EDA grant, to be matched with $600,000 in local investment, is expected to create 368…

EDA: $1.5 Million in CARES Act Recovery Assistance Invested to Establish a Revolving Loan Fund to Serve Businesses Across Delaware

Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $1.5 million CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to the Delaware Division of Small Business, Dover, Delaware, to establish and administer a Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) that will provide critical gap financing to businesses adversely affected by the coronavirus pandemic across Delaware. This…

EDA: $1 Million in CARES Act Recovery Assistance Invested to Capitalize Revolving Loan Fund to Serve Businesses Across Hawaii

Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $1 million CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to the State of Hawaii’s Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism, Honolulu, Hawaii, to capitalize and administer a Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) that will provide critical gap financing to businesses adversely affected by the…

FEMA: President Biden Approves Major Disaster Declaration for the Navajo Nation due to COVID-19 Pandemic

FEMA announced that federal emergency aid has been made available for the Navajo Nation to supplement the tribal recovery efforts in the areas affected by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic beginning on Jan. 20, 2020 and continuing. Federal funding is available to the Navajo Nation and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis…

HUD: FHA Issues Measures to Protect Health, Safety and Homeownership Security of Borrowers Impacted by COVID-19

Today, the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) issued a series of waivers of provisions in its Single Family Housing Policy Handbook 4000.1 that would normally require in-person contact between mortgage servicers and borrowers, including seniors with FHA-insured Home Equity Conversion (HECM) reverse mortgages. These waivers allow important mortgage servicing activities to continue, but in a manner that allows for safe…

FEMA: Agency Supporting COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution

In alignment with President Biden’s plan to respond to COVID-19, FEMA is supporting vaccination sites by providing expedited financial assistance, federal equipment and supplies and deploying federal personnel to states, tribes, territories and other eligible applicants for vaccination efforts. FEMA has deployed staff to support coordination efforts in Arizona and Nevada at their state vaccination centers…

HUD: First Week Swift Actions to Support Homeowners and Tackle Nation’s Housing Crisis

In the first week of the Biden Administration, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) took swift action to address immediate housing needs during the COVID-19 pandemic while laying the groundwork to address the nation’s larger, systemic housing challenges and restore sound management to the department. “HUD and the new administration are quickly addressing…

Census Bureau: Household Pulse Survey Phase 3 Biweekly Data Released

The U.S. Census Bureau today released new data from the extension of the third phase of the experimental Household Pulse Survey. The extension includes intent-to-vaccinate and stimulus payment questions. The Household Pulse Survey is the result of an effort by the Census Bureau and other federal statistical agencies to document temporal trends in how individuals are experiencing…

SBA: One Year 8(a) Program Extension Provided to Participants Due to COVID-19

Public Comments Due by March 15, 2021 The U.S. Small Business Administration  published an interim final rule effective January 13, 2021 allowing 8(a) Program participants to elect a one-year program extension in the SBA’s 8(a) Business Development Program due to the challenges of COVID-19. Eligible 8(a) firms must meet the following qualifications: Any firm that participated in the 8(a) Program…

CDFI Fund: Target Market Waiver Extended for Lending Under Round Three of Paycheck Protection Program

Target Market Waiver Extended for Lending Under Round Three of Paycheck Protection Program The U.S. Treasury Department and Small Business Administration (SBA) recently announced the reopening of a third round of the Paycheck Protection Program with $284 billion in funding that was authorized by the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (Pub. L. 116-260). This includes…