Innovation

Census Bureau: Census Open Innovation Labs to Host The Opportunity Project Summit 2023

 Each year, the U.S. Census Bureau brings together cross-sector collaborators during The Opportunity Project (TOP) Summit to solve some of the world’s major data and technology challenges. TOP is led by the Census Bureau’s Census Open Innovation Labs (COIL). The program engages government, technologists, and communities to create digital products using federal open data that serve the public. To…

SBA: New Regional Grants Awarded to Spur Innovation and Support High-Quality Jobs

Additional grant awards will support agriculture technology growth in Oregon, unmanned and robotic vehicle manufacturing in Mississippi  Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the voice for America’s 33.2 million small businesses in President Biden’s Cabinet, announced additional grants designed to create or sustain innovation initiatives and high-quality jobs through consortiums…

SBA: Second Annual Innovation Ecosystem Summit Announced

SBA Convening Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Leaders for Virtual Summit Aimed at Advancing Science and Technology to Support Startups and Innovative Small Businesses Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announces the second annual Innovation Ecosystem Summit for entrepreneur support organizations (ESOs) to gather virtually on December 6-7. The free event is curated for those who work with and support entrepreneurs from…

EDA: U.S. Department of Commerce Launches First of its Kind Economic Recovery Corps with $30 Million CARES Act Investment

Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) has awarded a $30 million CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to a coalition of organizations to establish and operate a nationwide Economic Recovery Corps program. This EDA funded program will recruit and place at least 65 Fellows in economic development…

OCC: Virtual Innovation Office Hours Scheduled for December 14th and 15th

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) today announced that it will host virtual Innovation Office Hours on December 14-15, 2022, to promote responsible innovation in the federal banking system. Office Hours are one-on-one meetings with representatives from the OCC Office of Innovation to discuss financial technology (fintech), new products or services, partnering…

OCC: Agency Announces Office of Financial Technology

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency today announced it will establish an Office of Financial Technology early next year to bolster the agency’s expertise and ability to adapt to a rapidly changing banking landscape. The Office of Financial Technology will build on and incorporate the Office of Innovation, which the OCC established in…

Census Bureau: First-of-its-Kind Venture Fund Launched to Improve Data Collection

StatVentures, an initiative of Census Open Innovation Labs(COIL), will scout technology through collaborations with nongovernment innovators to ensure the U.S. Census Bureau continues to provide quality data effectively and efficiently. Through multiphase competitions, StatVentures will invite participants to propose new ways the Census Bureau can collect and improve the nation’s supply chain data.  With the advent…

ABA: National Survey Finds U.S. Consumers Are Overwhelmingly Happy with Their Bank and Financial Industry “Highly Competitive”

Survey also found consumers highly value credit card rewards programs and don’t want the federal government to put them at risk Nine in 10 Americans with a bank account (86%) say they are “very satisfied” or “satisfied” with their primary bank, and 95% rate their bank’s customer service as “excellent,” “very good” or “good,” according…

SBA: Over $5.4 Million in Grants Awarded to Strengthen Research Funding Opportunities Across the U.S.

Today, Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the voice for America’s 33 million small businesses in President Biden’s Cabinet, announced over $5.4 million in funding to 44 awardees through the Federal and State Technology (FAST) Partnership Program. FAST provides small businesses and startups, particularly those in underserved communities, with specialized training, mentoring, and…

EDA: Over $85 Million in American Rescue Plan Funds Invested Last Week

The following grants were made under the American Rescue Plan Funds program: September 21, 2022 – U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $2.5 Million in American Rescue Plan Funds to Boost High Speed Internet Connectivity in Southwest Louisiana September 20, 2022 – U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $5.3 Million in American Rescue Plan Funds for Wastewater Infrastructure to…