Economic Inclusion

HUD: Access to More Than $2 Billion in Federal Funds Opened for Disaster Recovery and Mitigation

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today issued the Allocations for Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery and Implementation of the CDBG-DR Consolidated Waivers and Alternative Requirements Notice [“2020 CDBG-DR Notice”], a critical step taken by the department to open access to more than $2 billion in federal funds to help communities equitably recover and…

HUD: More Than $51 Million in Grants to Support Housing Counseling Programs, Partnerships with Minority Serving Institutions, and Training Announced

Awards provide HUD-approved housing counseling agencies and intermediaries with funding to maintain and expand critical services for the nation’s renters, homebuyers, and homeowners. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on Monday awarded $51.4 million in housing counseling grants to 177 HUD-approved housing counseling agencies and intermediary organizations. This includes funding to HUD-approved housing counseling…

FDIC: Operation HOPE, Inc. and FDIC Announce Initiative to Expand Financial Education and Minority/Women-Owned Business Opportunities

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) today announced a collaboration with Operation HOPE, Inc., to promote financial education using the FDIC’s Money Smart curriculum and other resources and to help educate minority- and/or women-owned businesses on how to do business with the agency.  The arrangement expands upon a longstanding relationship between the FDIC and Operation…

CDFI Fund: Civil Rights Act Compliance Reporting Requirements Implemented Beginning in 2022

Award applicants requested to complete a new Title VI Compliance Worksheet starting in 2022 The Civil Rights Act of 1964, which ended segregation in public places and banned employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin, also prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin in programs…

HUD: 2021 HUD Year in Review Fact Sheet Released

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) this year took bold action in pursuit of the agency’s mission to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes. These actions aligned with key Biden-Harris Administration priorities including ensuring equity, removing barriers to homeownership, expanding the nation’s housing supply, and keeping Americans housed. Below…

EDA: Finalists for $1 Billion “Build Back Better Regional Challenge”

60 Regional Coalitions will Each Compete for up to $100 Million in American Rescue Plan Funding to Rebuild America’s Communities U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo today announced the 60 finalists for the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) $1 billion “Build Back Better Regional Challenge” – the marquee of EDA’s American Rescue Plan programs – that…

OCC: Acting Comptroller Kicks Off DC REACh

Acting Comptroller of the Currency Michael J. Hsu today joined civic leaders, community advocates, and bankers to launch DC REACh, thereby expanding the OCC’s Project REACh efforts to Washington, D.C. The OCC launched Project REACh, or Roundtable for Economic Access and Change, to bring together leaders from the banking industry, civil rights organizations, business, and…

SBA: Members of the Council on Underserved Communities Announced

John W. Rogers Jr. and 14 Distinguished Leaders Appointed to Reconvened CUC will develop policy recommendations for American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and other underserved small business owners Today, U.S. Small Business Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman announced the leaders who will serve on the reconvened Council on Underserved Communities (CUC) authorized under the Federal Advisory Committee…

SBA: Plans Announced to Elevate the Office of Women’s Business Ownership

The proposed change reflects the importance of women entrepreneurs held by the Biden-Harris Administration and SBA Today, U.S. Small Business Administration Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman announced that the SBA intends to elevate its Office of Women’s Business Ownership (OWBO) to directly report to the Office of the Administrator. Under Administrator Guzman, the SBA has expanded the number of Women’s…

Census Bureau: Census Data Equity Initiative for Underserved Communities Announced

The U.S. Census Bureau today announced the Census Data Equity Initiative for Underserved Communities. This includes the release of the Data for Equity webpage, press kit, director’s blog and more highlighting datasets and tools available to help federal agencies and other entities identify and equitably distribute resources to underserved communities. The Census Bureau collects demographic, housing, socioeconomic, business and…