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NeighborWorks America ranks second among builders of affordable homes in latest Builder list
NeighborWorks America announced that it was named one of the nation’s largest builders of affordable homes, according to the Builder 100 list. NeighborWorks America, representing the NeighborWorks network, was ranked No. 2 among builders specializing in affordable for-sale homes. NeighborWorks organizations build homes in suburban, rural and urban markets
USDA Celebrates 25th Anniversary of Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program
USDA officials, bankers and rural Georgia residents today celebrated National Homeownership Month and the 25th anniversary of a landmark USDA program that greatly expanded the availability of home loan financing for rural residents.
NREL Names New Executives to Lead Scientific Research and Lab Operations
The Energy Department's (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) recently made two key hires to lab leadership positions. NREL has named Peter Green as the new Deputy Laboratory Director for science and technology and Julie Baker as Associate Laboratory Director for facilities and operations.
Kilmer Announces Federal Investment in Road to Popular Mason County Recreation Area
Representative Derek Kilmer (D-WA) announced that the US Forest Service will receive future federal funding to make Staircase Road, a key access point in Mason County to Lake Cushman and Olympic National Park, more safe and reliable for homeowners and visitors. The Federal Highway Administration has approved an award to the US Forest Service (USFS) of up to $2.5 million to make long-term improvements to Staircase Road under the Federal Lands Transportation Program
Sen. Murray Announces New Federal Housing Vouchers for Homeless Veterans in WA State
U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member of both the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development and the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, announced new resources to help homeless veterans secure stable housing and supportive services.
GSA Transfers Historic Dyer Building to Miami Dade College
General Services Administration (GSA) Public Buildings Service Commissioner, Norman Dong, finalized negotiations with Miami Dade College (MDC) on a lease that will lead to long term use and renovation of the historic David W. Dyer Building. GSA’s transfer of underutilized properties such as Dyer building to state and local municipalities helps support communities and promotes economic growth.
Nine Women to Receive U.S. Clean Energy Education & Empowerment (C3E) Awards
At the fifth annual Clean Energy Education & Empowerment (C3E) Women in Clean Energy Symposium today, nine distinguished women across multiple disciplines will be honored for outstanding leadership and accomplishments in clean energy. The Symposium is being held at Stanford University and is hosted by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), MIT Energy Initiative (MITEI), and Stanford University Precourt Institute for Energy.
Mortgage Credit Availability Decreases in May
Mortgage credit availability decreased in May according to the Mortgage Credit Availability Index (MCAI), a report from the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) which analyzes data from Ellie Mae's AllRegs® Market Clarity® business information tool.
HUD AND VA TEAM UP TO FIND PERMANENT HOMES FOR 5,200 VETERANS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS
To help end veteran homelessness, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) are awarding nearly $38 million to help more than 5,200 homeless veterans find a permanent place to call home. The rental assistance announced today is provided through the HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) Program which combines rental assistance from HUD with case management and clinical services provided by VA.
HUD NAMES NEW HOUSING COUNSELING FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today named 12 persons who will constitute the first-ever Housing Counseling Federal Advisory Committee (HCFAC). Established under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, this advisory panel will help HUD's Office of Housing Counseling improve upon all the efforts to provide consumers with the knowledge they need to make informed and lasting housing decisions.
NREL’s Kurtz, Tegen Honored for Clean Energy Leadership
The U.S. Clean Energy Education & Empowerment (C3E) program has honored Sarah Kurtz and Suzanne Tegen of the Energy Department's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) for their leadership and achievement in the field of renewable energy.
HUD KICKS OFF NATIONAL HOMEOWNERSHIP MONTH
This week, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) kicks off National Homeownership Month by recognizing how homeownership enhances lives and contributes to thriving communities we call home. “Dare to Own the Dream” is the theme of this month-long recognition, reinforcing the long-held belief that owning a home remains one of the cornerstones of the American Dream
Mayor Bowser Kicks Off ‘June Housing Bloom’
Month-long initiative focuses on affordable housing, begins with major opportunity to develop 25 properties across the District. ayor Muriel Bowser launched the first annual ‘June Housing Bloom’, a month-long initiative that showcases how the public and private sectors are partnering to produce and preserve affordable housing, and revitalize neighborhoods across the District.
Former Bank Manager Sentenced to Prison for Role in Massive Mortgage Fraud
A former bank manager was sentenced on Friday, May 27, 2016 in connection with a multi-year, multi-property mortgage fraud scheme in Dorchester. Arthur Samuels, 41, of Mattapan, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Senior Judge Mark L. Wolf to one year and one day in prison, two years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay restitution of $2,229,492. In 2012, Samuels pleaded guilty to four counts of wire fraud and one count of bank fraud.
Mortgage Company and Executives Settle Fraud Charges
The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that a California-based mortgage company and six senior executives agreed to pay $12.7 million to settle charges that they orchestrated a scheme to defraud investors in the sale of residential mortgage-backed securities guaranteed by the Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae).
HUD PROPOSES NEW FORMULA FOR INDIAN HOUSING BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM
After three years of negotiation with federally and state recognized tribes across the country, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today proposed a new formula to be used to allocate funds through the Department’s Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) Program. Read HUD’s proposed rule.
HUD ANNOUNCES AGREEMENTS WITH MINNEAPOLIS AND ST. PAUL TO FURTHER HOUSING CHOICE AND OPPORTUNITIES...
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today announced agreements with the City of Minneapolis and the City of St. Paul to further housing choice and neighborhood opportunities in the two cities and the surrounding region.
FTC Cracks Down on Debt Relief Schemes Targeting Student Loan and Mortgage Borrowers
The Federal Trade Commission and the State of Florida have taken action against two operations charged with running phony student loan debt relief schemes, and defendants in a similar FTC action brought earlier this year have agreed to a ban on participating in any debt relief business, as part of a consumer protection crackdown to combat such frauds.
OPIC, REPP SIGN AGREEMENT IN SUPPORT OF RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
The Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), the U.S. government’s development finance institution, and the Renewable Energy Performance Platform (REPP) have announced an agreement to facilitate cooperation on renewable energy projects in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Transportation and Warehousing Sector Drives Nonemployer Business Growth, Census Bureau Reports
The number of businesses without paid employees rose by 831,317 or 3.6 percent to 23.8 million establishments from 2013 to 2014. Businesses without paid employees, such as operating a family-run corner store, acting as a real estate agent, pet sitting, blogging, and snowplowing, are refered to as nonemployer businesses. The transportation and warehousing sector (NAICS 48-49) propelled the increase, leading all sectors in both rate of change (with a 13.5 percent increase) as well as absolute number of establishments added (148,626) and reached 1.3 million nonemployer establishments in 2014, according to U.S. Census Bureau statistics released today.










