OCC: Project REACh Anniversary Marked with Financial Inclusion Symposium
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) today hosted a financial inclusion symposium at its headquarters in Washington, D.C., to mark the second anniversary of Project REACh. The OCC’s Project REACh, or the Roundtable for Economic Access and Change, brings together leaders from the banking industry, national civil rights organizations, business, and technology to…
Agencies Release List of Distressed or Underserved Nonmetropolitan Middle-Income Geographies
Federal bank regulatory agencies today made available the 2022 list of distressed or underserved nonmetropolitan middle-income geographies. These are geographic areas where revitalization or stabilization activities are eligible to receive Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) consideration pursuant to the definition of community development under the agencies’ regulations. Visit the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) website to see…
HUD: First-Ever Funding Opportunity for Coordinated Approaches to Address Unsheltered Homeless, Including Resources for Rural Communities, Announced
HUD Package Includes $322 Million, Including $54.5 Million Set-Aside for Rural Communities, For Permanent Housing, Supportive Services, And Other Costs Package Also Provides $43 Million To Fund Approximately 4,000 New Incremental Housing Choice Vouchers The Biden Administration through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today released a first-of-its-kind package of resources to…
OCC: Acting Comptroller Discusses Importance of CDFIs and MDIs
Acting Comptroller of the Currency Michael J. Hsu today discussed the importance of community development financial institutions (CDFI) and minority depository institutions (MDI) at the 2022 Community Development Bankers Association Peer Forum. In his remarks, the Acting Comptroller highlighted initiatives to revitalize MDIs and increase investments in CDFIs, and the Office of the Comptroller of…
HUD: 20th Anniversary of National Homeownership Month Commemorated
President Biden issues Proclamation marking June as National Homeownership Month The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) mark June as National Homeownership Month following President Biden’s proclamation issued on Tuesday. This year’s Homeownership Month celebrates the 20th year of this opportunity to amplify the benefits of homeownership and…
FEMA: Grants Awarded to Advance Equity and Provide Direct Support to Underserved Communities to Invest in Disaster Resilience
Agency Announces First Selections Awarded for Two Mitigation Grant Programs FEMA is expediting mitigation grant selections and assistance to help states, local communities, tribes and territories enhance disaster resiliency sooner. The awards totaling $91.2 million are the first round of selected projects for the fiscal year 2021 Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) and Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) grant…
FHFA: Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Duty to Serve Underserved Markets Plans for 2022-2024 Announced
The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today published the 2022-2024 Underserved Markets Plans for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the Enterprises) under the Duty to Serve (DTS) Program. The DTS Plans demonstrate a strengthened commitment to serving manufactured housing, affordable housing preservation, and rural housing. The targets and strategies in the Plans build on lessons…
CFPB: New Report Released on Financial Challenges Facing Rural Communities
Many rural communities are “banking deserts” Today the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued a report on the challenges faced by Americans in rural communities. The report highlights that many of these communities lack access to physical bank branches, are more likely to seek credit from nonbanks, and are heavily affected by medical bills. The…
HUD: Additional $3.3 Million in American Rescue Plan Funds Made Available to Fight Housing Discrimination Related to the Coronavirus Pandemic
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced on Tuesday that it is making an additional $3,285,353 in American Rescue Plan (ARP) funding available to help HUD’s Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP) agencies combat housing discrimination related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Organizations that qualify for the funding, which is being awarded through FHIP’s…
SBA: Pilot Program Targeting Access to Capital for Underserved Entrepreneurs Expanded
Vice President Kamala Harris Unveils Improvements to SBA Community Advantage Pilot Program at White House Event with SBA Administrator Isabella Guzman, Extending it to 2024, Ending New Lender Moratorium, and Lifting Loan Caps Today, Vice President Kamala Harris and Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the voice for America’s 32.5 million small businesses in…