Census Bureau: Webinar Scheduled on New “My Community Explorer for Puerto Rico” Tool for Underserved and At-Risk Communities
The U.S. Census Bureau is scheduled to hold a webinar on Feb. 22 at 11:30 a.m. ET to show attendees how to use the new “My Community Explorer (MCE) for Puerto Rico 1.0” tool. The tool displays natural disaster layers, such as hurricanes, and shows the impact of significant disasters on at-risk communities and underserved…
HUD: 2023 Update to Equity Action Plan Released, Outlining New Commitments to Advance Equity
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today released the 2023 Update to its Equity Action Plan, in coordination with the Biden-Harris Administration’s whole-of-government equity agenda. This Equity Action Plan is part of the Department’s efforts to implement the President’s Executive Order on “Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government,” which…
HUD: Proposed Rule Published to Promote Economic Development in Underserved Communities
The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for HUD’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and Indian Community Development Block Grant Programs (ICDBG) would bolster economic and community development in underserved communities across the country. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the Federal Register to update regulations for…
FEMA: $150 Million Announced to Help Underserved Communities Receive Low-Interest Loans for Disaster Resilence Projects
Announcement Triples Amount Available for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law-funded Safeguarding Tomorrow Revolving Loan Fund Grant Program As FEMA launches 2024 as its “Year of Resilience”, the agency is announcing the second funding opportunity for the Safeguarding Tomorrow Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) grant program to make communities safer from natural hazards. This program, funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, provides capitalization…
SBA: Historic Step Taken to Expand Access to Capital and Fill Lending Gaps in Underserved Communities through the SBLC Program
New Licenses Mark Milestone Achievement in Biden-Harris Administration Efforts to Increase Access to Capital Today, Administrator Isabel 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 the SBA has granted three new Small Business Lending Company (SBLC) licenses to lenders focused…
SBA: Access to Capital Expanded for Underserved Small Businesses Through Mission-Based Lenders
SBA Introduces 143 New Community Advantage Small Business Lending Companies (SBLC) Across America This week at the Opportunity Finance Network (OFN) annual conference, Administrator Isabel Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the voice in President Biden’s Cabinet for America’s 33 million small businesses, announced that the SBA has successfully made permanent its mission-lending Community…
HUD: Nearly $1 Million Awarded for Research to Close Homeownership Gap
Grants support efforts to address disparities in access to mortgage financing and homeownership for borrowers of color and other underserved groups Today, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced nearly $1 million in grant awards to conduct rigorous research focused on closing gaps in access to mortgage financing and homeownership faced by…
SBA: Over $5 Million Announced to Support STEM, R&D-Focused Small Businesses
Growth Accelerator Fund Awards $150,000 to 35 Partnerships Across National Priority Areas Today, Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the voice in President Biden’s Cabinet for America’s 33 million small businesses, announced the SBA’s 2023 Growth Accelerator Fund Competition Stage Two winners. Thirty-five award-winning accelerator partnerships will receive $150,000 each to help advance equitable investment…
SBA: Actions Taken to Safeguard Integrity of HUBZone Program
SBA Decertifies Firms Found to Have Misused Contracting Programs for Underserved Communities Today, U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced continuing measures to root out abuse and fortify the integrity of the HUBZone program. Today’s announcement follows an SBA internal investigation resulting from improved processes and compliance controls that uncovered multiple firms misusing the HUBZone program. In response,…
SBA: “Investing in America: Small Business Tools and Resources” Webinar Series Launched by SBA and the Public Private Strategies Institute
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) formally announced today its “Investing in America: Small Business Tools and Resources” series, a new collaboration with Public Private Strategies Institute (PPSI) to expand public awareness of SBA’s programs, priorities, and initiatives that will empower business owners across the country, particularly those from underserved and disadvantaged communities. As part of…