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NEW YORK CITY, Dec. 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On Thursday, November 21, 2024, the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) celebrated the achievements of the historic Capital Readiness Program (CRP) at the NASDAQ Tower in Times Square. Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for Minority Business Development Eric Morrissette joined Capital Readiness Program awardees as they uplift underserved entrepreneurs across the nation. “One of the greatest obstacles facing underserved entrepreneurs is access to capital, which is why the CRP is so essential. With this landmark program, MBDA is working to address the root problem of that issue by supporting businesses and communities that have been historically overlooked or left behind,” said Deputy Under Secretary Eric Morrissette . “The CRP has and will continue to open doors for entrepreneurs looking to start and scale their businesses.” Since its inception in 2023, CRP awardees, incubators, and accelerators have already served 6,326 entrepreneurs and helped raise $263 million in capital, form 2,636 new businesses, develop 1,726 business pitches, and host 2,486 networking events for diverse business owners and entrepreneurs across America. Awardees in attendance included The U.S. Black Chambers, Inc., U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Ventures, the Community Development Venture Capital Alliance, the National Minority Supplier Development Council, the National Urban League, the National Asian/Pacific Islander Chamber of Commerce, and the Eastern Shore Entrepreneurship Center. “The Capital Readiness Program has empowered the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce to unlock critical capital opportunities, driving growth for businesses and reshaping regional economies,” said USHCC Educational Fund Senior Vice President Evelyn Barahona, one of the awardees present at NASDAQ . “Through the program, we've catalyzed expansion and new ventures for small business owners, strengthening not only the Hispanic community but the nation's economy. Looking ahead to 2025 and beyond, the USHCC is excited to collaborate with the MBDA and partners to further elevate the possibilities for businesses across the country.” These centers have unique expertise to assist, and train underserved entrepreneurs seeking resources, tools, and technical assistance to start or scale their businesses in high-growth industries such as healthcare, climate resilient technology, asset management, infrastructure, and more. For more information on active Minority Business Development Agency initiatives, visit www.mbda.gov . About the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) The U.S. Department of Commerce, Minority Business Development Agency is the only Federal agency dedicated to the growth and global competitiveness of U.S. minority business enterprises (MBEs). For more than 50 years, MBDA’s programs and services have better equipped MBEs to create jobs, build scale and capacity, increase revenues, and expand regionally, nationally, and internationally. ### Attachment Press Release with PhotoTrump’s lawyers rebuff DA’s idea for upholding his hush money conviction, calling it ‘absurd’
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Maureen Arndt, left, founding principal of 720 Design Consultants of Dallas, discusses potential elements for a new Northeast Regional Library at an open house Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, at Dupuis Recreation Center in Lafayette, Louisiana. Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Lafayette residents have until Nov. 30 to take an online survey telling planners what spaces and activities they want to be considered when designing the new Northeast Regional Library off Louisiana Avenue. The survey is available on the Lafayette Public Library website at https://lafayettepubliclibrary.libwizard.com/f/nerl1 . Committee member Alton Trahan asked residents to spread the word and encourage others to take the survey by Nov. 30. Participants are asked which library they use and how often, what they usually use it for, how they want the new library to feel, such as such as cozy, energetic or relaxing, and what services or spaces they want in the new library, like a computer lab, study rooms and teen area. As of Thursday, 1,099 people responded to the online survey, Larry Angelle, library system operations manager, told the Northeast Library Committee. Of the respondents: 31% are under 18 years old. 93% have a library card. 25% visit a library weekly or biweekly. 71% use the library mostly to check out books. Asked what library services are most valuable to them, Angelle said the top answers were fiction and best sellers selected No. 1 by 731 of the 1,099 respondents, followed by nonfiction materials chosen by 453 respondents. The top-ranked answer to how they want the new library to feel was "cozy," he said, ranked No. 1 by 406 online respondents. In addition to the online survey, design consultant Maureen Arndt, founding principal of 720 Design Consultants of Dallas, hosted an open house for residents of which 22 attended Nov. 6, as well as focus groups of which six educators attended, five community and business leaders attended and seven government leaders attended. Each participant voted on spaces they want designed into the new library. Their overall top responses were: Storytime/activity space Technology/training lab STE(A)M learning area Study window seats Walking paths Quiet reading room Interactives Study rooms High-tech maker space Garden There were some differences between how the 22 citizens attending the open house voted compared with the 18 who participated in the focus groups. For example, 10 votes were cast at the open house for quiet reading rooms and a community living room, while nobody in the focus groups selected those as priorities for the Northeast Regional Library. Ten votes at the open house went to study window seats, while only two from the focus groups made that selection. Storytime/activity space, the top overall vote-getter, received 16 open house votes compared with only four from the focus group attendees. Nine open house attendees voted for study rooms while only one in the focus groups did. Regarding outdoor spaces at the new library, 10 attending the open house want walking paths and six want a plaza compared with only 2 in the focus group selecting walking paths and none selecting a plaza. Those participating in the open house and focus groups were asked to rank broader categories they'd like to see the new library focus on, which also revealed differences between the residents and focus group participants. Residents at the open house selected learning and interactive as their top category, followed by community living and gathering space. Focus group participants also selected learning and interactive as their top category, but selected gathering as second and tech and trends as third. The consultant will compile these results and the online survey results into a draft master plan, Angelle said. Ideas will be prioritized based on public input, staff input and the library system's mission and compiled into a plan that will fit the budget and the "ideal library the community is telling us we need," he said. On Jan. 31, Angelle said, the draft plan goes to the Northeast Library Committee to review and to be discussed at its Feb. 13 meeting. The committee may recommend changes before the plan goes to the library board on Feb. 17 for a vote. Once the board finalizes the plan, a notice to proceed will be issued for the architects to begin schematic designs, he said. The former Lafayette City-Parish Council earmarked $8 million in 2019 to build the new library to the east of Evangeline Thruway, a socio-economically challenged area cut off from other libraries by interstates and Evangeline Thruway. In May, parish officials finalized the $339,000 cash purchase of six acres of land at 100 Shadow Bluff Drive near Louisiana Avenue for the new library.Stock market today: Wall Street gains ground as it notches a winning week and another Dow record( MENAFN - Daily News Egypt) Cairo for investment and Real estate Developments (CIRA) has announced an exclusive opportunity to acquire 43 fully equipped factories for leather production in the third phase of Robbiki Leather City. This offering marks a significant milestone in advancing Egypt's leather industry and aligns with the nation's strategy to develop integrated industrial clusters. With only two days remaining to apply, investors are encouraged to submit their applications electronically via the Digital Egypt Industrial Platform. The available factories, designed to meet various production capacities, include: To accommodate diverse business needs, investors can combine multiple units. Each factory is optimized for leather production and related industries, offering cutting-edge infrastructure, access to advanced marketing, technological training, and spaces for international and local exhibitions. This offering features unprecedented financial facilities to support investors. Factory prices are based on the actual 2021 cost of infrastructure and construction, ensuring affordability. Key financial options include: Additionally, partnerships with leading banks-including the National Bank of Egypt, Bank of Alexandria, and the Export Development Bank of Egypt-offer tailored financing solutions for purchasing machinery, equipment, and working capital. Investors benefit from significant export incentives, including a 50% rebate on export burden recovery for products manufactured within Robbiki Leather City. The third phase aims to establish a comprehensive manufacturing base for finished leather goods, attracting both local companies and global brands. It completes the leather value chain, from tanning to final product manufacturing, creating an integrated hub for exports. Robbiki Leather City's strategic location connects it to key ports, including Ain Sokhna, Adabiya, Suez, Port Said, Damietta, and Alexandria. The city boasts: During a recent meeting between Nahed Youssef, Chairperson of CIRA, and Gamal El-Samalouti, Head of the Chamber of Leather Industry, industry leaders praised Robbiki Leather City's exceptional facilities. The project is a transformative leap for Egypt's leather sector, adhering to global standards for environmental compliance and infrastructure. Prominent leather investors have expressed strong interest in reserving both large-scale and SME-focused factories. The government's support, facilitated by the Ministry of Industry and the Industrial Development Authority, has been instrumental in advancing the project. Robbiki Leather City aims to be a leading industrial hub with economic, environmental, and social diversity. Its integrated facilities, modern communication services, and advanced training programs position it as a center for innovation and growth in the leather industry. This offering represents an unparalleled opportunity for investors to participate in a landmark project that combines strategic location, state-of-the-art infrastructure, and robust financial support. MENAFN23122024000153011029ID1109025662 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. 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Oregon water regulators awarded $9 million to five water supply projects, including $1.9 million for a project in Union County. They also delegated some grant-funding authority to more easily provide extra cash to past recipients encountering cost overruns. SALEM — Five projects meant to improve irrigation systems, reservoirs and fish screens have won $9 million from Oregon water regulators, who’ve also approved a new grant-funding policy. The state’s Water Resources Commission has awarded grants ranging from $536,000 to $3.7 million to applicants in Deschutes, Douglas, Josephine and Union counties as part of its ongoing water supply development grant program: •The highest-ranked project includes dam and fishway upgrades proposed by the Union Soil and Water Conservation District, which will receive a grant for $1.9 million of the total $7.3 million cost. • The second-ranked project focuses on replacing outdated fish screens along the North Unit Irrigation District’s main canal, which was awarded nearly $2 million of the total $9.8 million cost. • The third-ranked project will replace two water storage reservoirs with a larger facility used by the Winston-Dillard Water District, which was approved for $3.7 million of the total $7 million cost. •The fourth-ranked project will convert flood and drip irrigation systems to a center pivot at the Sweet Cron Farm as part of a proposal from the Illinois Valley Soil and Water Conservation District and the Trout Unlimited nonprofit, which was approved for about $536,000 of the total $670,000 cost. Three other projects in Curry, Harney and Wheeler counties were not approved due to limited available funds and because they didn’t score highly enough for economic, social and ecological benefits. Joe Moll, a commission member and nonprofit executive, said he’s disappointed with the “triple bottom line” ranking system because it can exclude worthwhile projects. For example, a much-needed drinking water system may get high social and economic scores but be disqualified due to a lack of environmental impacts, he said. “Being limited by the minimum score continues to be a problem,” Moll said. “I think it’s a fundamental problem with this grant program, that we’re restricted by those minimum scores.” The fifth successful proposal was awarded $900,000 from a separate irrigation modernization fund created by lawmakers last year. The project will replace three miles of open canal with piping in the Klamath Irrigation District. The commission received only that single application for the irrigation modernization money even though there was more than $20.5 million left in the fund. However, the Oregon Water Resources Department, which is overseen by the commission, is confident that more applications will soon materialize, said Kim Fritz-Ogren, the agency’s section manager for investments and planning. “I think we will get a lot more than one in the next round,” she said during the commission’s most recent meeting. The state’s irrigation modernization program requires matching funds from the federal government, so some potential applicants are still waiting for those awards to be finalized, said April Snell, executive director of the Oregon Water Resources Congress, which represents irrigation districts. Also, proposals for the most recent round of funding were due in July, likely prompting some irrigation districts to wait until they had more time later in the year, Snell said. “It’s really difficult to fill out applications during the irrigation season.” Due to the potential for the new presidential administration to adopt different funding priorities next year, though, it will be important to “leverage the federal funding that’s out there” as soon as possible, she said. “There are valid concerns that existing federal funds could be clawed back and/or that it’s going to be very difficult to get additional federal funding,” Snell said. Apart from approving the five water projects, the commission has voted unanimously to allow past grant recipients to more easily obtain additional funding if they encounter cost overruns. Applicants contending with higher-than-expected labor and material expenses were already able to seek additional money directly from the commission. However, past recipients are expected to seek such funding boosts more frequently, both due to inflation and because the number of grants overseen by OWRD has grown from $21 million to more than $100 million over the past decade, said Fritz-Ogren. “We just are managing more grants and more dollars, so we’d expect to see more increases,” she siad. Such requests will no longer be limited to the commission’s quarterly meetings because it has now agreed to delegate that authority to the OWRD under certain circumstances. The agency had sought the authority to approve additional funding up to 20% of an original grant award, for a maximum of $500,000, but the commission scaled that back to 10% and $250,000. The lower percentage and total cash amount will allow the agency to accommodate more requests, said Kathy Kihara, a commission member and retired federal civil engineer. “With the 10%, you can have twice as many people come into the door for help compared to the 20%,” she said. It’s also possible the higher funding limit would have elicited larger requests from grant recipients, Moll said. “Quite frankly, what will happen is, behaviorally, we will magically see 19% requests. That is the way these things work.”Look behind the curtain before confirming Dr. Oz
( MENAFN - Daily News Egypt) Three leading Egyptian banks-the National bank of Egypt (NBE), Banque Misr, and QNB AlAhli-have extended joint financing worth EGP 4.235bn to Al-Zahi Group. This financing aims to support key development projects, with NBE serving as the lead arranger, financing marketer, financing agent, and document bank within the alliance. Banque Misr acts as an initial main arranger, financing marketer, and account bank, while QNB AlAhli fulfills the role of an initial main arranger. The funding will be directed toward various projects, including facility design, land reclamation, infrastructure development, agricultural land leveling, establishing irrigation and drainage systems, and executing electrical and mechanical works. The signing ceremony was attended by prominent banking and business leaders, including Yehia Abou El-Fotouh, Deputy CEO of NBE; Sherif Riad, CEO of Corporate Banking Credit and Syndicated Loans at NBE; Mohamed Khairat, Head of Corporate Credit and Syndicated Loans at Banque Misr; Abdel Rahman Talaat, Head of Corporate Finance and Investment at QNB AlAhli; and Ahmed El Zahi, Chairman of Al-Zahi Group. Yehia Abou El-Fotouh highlighted that the financing aligns with NBE's strategy to support vital economic sectors, fostering growth across industries and value chains. He commended the efforts of the bank's team in conducting comprehensive studies and facilitating cooperation that culminated in this financing deal. Sherif Riad emphasized NBE's commitment to backing large-scale development projects in Egypt, particularly those that enhance food security and contribute to economic stability. He underscored the importance of expanding agricultural land and production, which reduces imports, improves trade balances, and creates job opportunities by leveraging modern technological methods. Mohamed Khairat reiterated Banque Misr's dedication to financing vital projects across diverse sectors to stimulate economic growth and enhance Egypt's competitiveness. He noted that this partnership reflects the bank's strategic goals of supporting the national economy, aligning with Egypt's Vision 2030 for sustainable development. Khairat also praised the collaboration among the participating banks, highlighting the shared commitment to advancing the national economy. QNB's Abdel Rahman Talaat stressed the importance of the banking sector's role in financing projects with significant economic and social impacts. He emphasized QNB Egypt's focus on supporting agricultural development to achieve food security, create thousands of jobs, and contribute to sustainable development goals. Talaat also noted QNB Egypt's growing influence in fostering major national projects through its strong relationships with international financial institutions. Ahmed El Zahi expressed gratitude for the collaboration with Egypt's leading banks, underscoring the importance of such partnerships in driving the nation's development. He highlighted Al-Zahi Group's diverse expertise in integrated general contracting, including river works, sidewalk construction, dredging, thermal and hydropower stations, roads and bridges, dams, and water and sewage networks. The company also specializes in complementary activities such as ready-mix concrete production, insulation, and polyethylene works. This joint financing underscores the critical role of Egypt's banking sector in fostering economic growth and supporting sustainable development across the nation. MENAFN23122024000153011029ID1109025660 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.