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Category: Commerce

  • MIL-OSI Reportage: Education key to open banking success, BNZ survey finds

    Source: BNZ statements

    While many New Zealanders have heard of open banking, few understand its benefits, according to new research from BNZ.*

    Open banking gives bank customers the power to control and securely share their financial data with trusted third parties like fintechs.

    Access to that data means banks and fintechs can create highly tailored products and services, such as apps that offer insights into spending habits, budget planning and savings goals, or that instantly share financial information with multiple lenders, making it easier and faster to apply for a loan.

    “Our survey found that while 60% of respondents have heard of open banking, only a quarter (26%) have some understanding of what it means,” says Karna Luke, BNZ Executive, Customer Products and Services.

    “However, after learning more about its capabilities, nearly three-quarters (73%) expressed an interest in using open banking services.

    “This shows that New Zealanders are very open to new ways of managing their finances but need the right information to feel confident about using the technology,” says Luke.

    The survey also shed light on some risky practices highlighting a need for greater education. Two-thirds (66%) of respondents reported having used payment services that rely on screen scraping. This practice puts users’ data at risk by requiring them to share their online banking login credentials with third parties to access certain services.

    “Open banking provides a safe and secure way to share your financial data with trusted third parties without ever having to disclose your banking login details. It’s much more secure than screen scraping, but our survey shows a big gap between awareness and understanding of open banking’s benefits, particularly around security,” says Luke.

    Bridging the knowledge gap

    Luke says education is key to building the trust and confidence needed to drive greater adoption of open banking and realise its benefits.

    “At BNZ, we’ve been collaborating with fintechs since 2018 to develop innovative products and services that showcase open banking’s potential, and we’ve developed content and resources to inform and engage our customers about the benefits. Already, more than 250,000 BNZ customers are using apps and other services made possible through open banking.”

    “While we’ve made good progress, there’s still more work to be done to educate New Zealanders about the benefits of open banking and build trust in its capabilities. This will be crucial to ensure that everyone can take advantage of the huge potential open banking offers.”

    Luke highlighted the importance of the Consumer Data Right (CDR), which is currently progressing through Parliament as part of the Customer and Product Data Bill. The CDR sets rules around how customer data is shared and managed and ensures legal safeguards are in place to protect New Zealanders.

    “While banks have been working hard to build the technology needed for open banking, the CDR will provide the rules and protections necessary to ensure people feel secure and confident using these new services,” Luke says.

    “The Government’s commitment to investigate opportunities for early adoption of open banking by government agencies, in line with recommendations from the Commerce Commission, is also a welcome move which could significantly boost public trust and understanding.

    “We’re committed to working alongside regulators and the wider industry to ensure that open banking delivers on its promise of greater financial empowerment and choice for all New Zealanders.”

    For more information about open banking and BNZ’s initiatives, visit bnz.co.nz/openbanking.

    *Source:  BNZ Voice customer panel survey, 18th to 28th July 2024. Total responses: n=355. The profile of participating customers was not controlled for this survey.

    The post Education key to open banking success, BNZ survey finds appeared first on BNZ Debrief.

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Return-to-office mandates may not be the solution to downtown struggles that Canadian cities are banking on

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander Wray, PhD Candidate in Geography, Western University

    In recent months, many Canadian employers in both the public and private sectors have implemented return-to-office mandates, requiring workers that transitioned to remote or hybrid work during the COVID-19 pandemic to work in-person again.

    Employers are justifying these mandates by arguing they improve productivity, build more collaborative teams and improve mentorship for junior employees.

    Employers are not the only group ecstatic about these mandates. Municipalities and business owners are also expressing hope that the presence of office workers will spin off into greater consumer spending at restaurants and other businesses near office buildings. The expectation is that office workers will once again start spending money on coffee, lunch or after-work beverages.

    In 2022, the mayor of Ottawa partially blamed the downtown core’s economic struggles on the fact that federal public service workers were still largely working remotely. Federal workers have since been mandated to return to work in-person three days a week in late fall.

    The Canadian Federation of Independent Business similarly criticized the slow return to offices as a leading factor behind why small and medium-size businesses, especially restaurants and bars, are facing challenges in downtown areas.

    Insight into restaurant success

    During the pandemic, there were predictions that more than half of Canada’s independent restaurants would fail as part of their customer base — office workers — shifted to working from home.

    Our recent study investigated which operational, demographic and land use factors affected restaurant survival during the first year of the pandemic in London, Ont.

    We found no significant differences between restaurants that failed and restaurants that survived based on proximity to office uses. Instead, operational decisions made by restaurants individually were much more predictive of their survival than any geographic factor, including the presence of offices.

    Restaurants are seen along Richmond Street in downtown London, Ontario, in June 2021.
    (Alexander Wray), CC BY-NC-SA

    We found that restaurants located in areas receiving more CERB (Canadian Emergency Response Benefit) payments, and with a higher density of entertainment venues around them, were less likely to survive.

    Restaurants that adapted by offering pickup and delivery options were more likely to survive, though only for those that did their own delivery in-house rather than relying on platforms like UberEats and SkipTheDishes. Restaurants that had drive-thrus, held liquor licenses, or had been established for more than five years were more likely to survive. These older, more established restaurants were likely more resilient because of financial stability and customer loyalty.

    Table-service restaurants fared better than fast food outlets, likely because they could offer large patio dining spaces during the summer. Restaurants with liquor licenses substantially benefited, especially after a regulatory change by the Ontario government that allowed alcohol sales with takeout and delivery — a first for the province.

    In short, restaurant success was driven more by individual business decisions rather than being in a specific location. People working remotely instead of in the office did not significantly affect restaurant survival during the first year of the pandemic.

    Downtown struggles

    As Canadian downtowns look to recover, many face ongoing challenges. Activity levels are down by about 20 per cent from pre-pandemic levels in many places, lagging behind many similarly sized downtowns in the United States.

    This downturn has been partially attributed to a combination of higher office building vacancies and fewer workers downtown. For the first time, downtown office vacancy rates have exceeded suburban rates in the Greater Toronto Area. There has also been tremendous housing growth within many downtown cores.

    At the same time, downtowns have become a highly visible focal point of Canada’s growing addictions, mental health and housing crises. The pandemic fully revealed the deeper social, economic and health challenges happening in Canadian society.

    While violent incidents are rare, the social incivilities and disorder on display — public urination and defecation, open drug use, visible tents and property crime — contributes to a perception that Canadian downtowns are unsafe. This perception, whether accurate or not, has an impact on the willingness of people to engage with their downtowns.

    A way forward

    The damage to the reputation of Canada’s downtowns has been done. Downtown London now has the highest office vacancy rate in the country. The Workplace Safety Insurance Board of Ontario, for instance, recently chose to consolidate its offices in the outskirts of London, rather than downtown.

    Many people now elect to spend their time and money in areas that have embraced the “experience economy.” These are places that provide highly manicured entertainment and shopping destinations, with restaurants being the bedrock of enabling high quality experiences in these areas.

    Foot traffic is at an all-time high in suburban shopping centres. The downtowns of cities that are widely known as global tourist destinations — Las Vegas, Miami and Nashville — have activity levels close to or higher than their pre-pandemic levels.

    These are places that are developing highly attractive economies that provide people with the safe, fun and exciting experiences they are looking for locally and internationally. Instead of trying to force unwilling workers back to the office, Canadian cities should instead focus on developing downtowns that people genuinely want to visit and experience.

    One potential way to do this is to provide wrap-around support services and direct pathways to stable housing across the entire community, as the City of London has done. By spreading care and outreach services across the entire city, rather than concentrating them exclusively in downtown areas, the negative effects from Canada’s homelessness crisis can be reduced on urban cores.

    This type of strategy will direct those who need help away from downtowns, and may even permanently lift them out of poverty. In turn, Canadian downtowns can return to being places for everyone to shop, eat, relax, and work in comfort.

    Alexander Wray is President of the Town and Gown Association of Ontario, and a Board Member of Mainstreet London.

    Jamie Seabrook, Jason Gilliland, and Sean Doherty do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Return-to-office mandates may not be the solution to downtown struggles that Canadian cities are banking on – https://theconversation.com/return-to-office-mandates-may-not-be-the-solution-to-downtown-struggles-that-canadian-cities-are-banking-on-239682

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Provides Critical Disaster Assistance to Help Georgians Recover from Hurricane Helene

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    WASHINGTON – Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are available to businesses and residents in Georgia following the announcement of a Presidential disaster declaration for Hurricane Helene that began on Sept. 25.

    “SBA’s mission-driven team stands ready to help small businesses and residents in Georgia impacted by this disaster in every way possible under President Biden’s disaster declaration for certain affected areas,” said SBA Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman. “We’re committed to providing federal disaster loans swiftly and efficiently, with a customer-centric approach to help businesses and communities recover and rebuild.”

    The disaster declaration covers Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brooks, Bulloch, Burke, Candler, Chatham, Clinch, Coffee, Colquitt, Columbia, Cook, Echols, Emanuel, Evans, Glascock, Irwin, Jeff Davis, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Lanier, Laurens, Liberty, Lincoln, Lowndes, McDuffie, Montgomery, Pierce, Richmond, Screven, Tattnall, Telfair, Toombs, Treutlen, Ware, Washington and Wheeler; which are eligible for both Physical and Economic Injury Disaster Loans from the SBA. Small businesses and most private nonprofit organizations in the following adjacent counties are eligible to apply only for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs): Baldwin, Bleckley, Brantley, Bryan, Charlton, Dodge, Effingham, Elbert, Hancock, Long, McIntosh, Mitchell, Thomas, Tift, Turner, Twiggs, Warren, Wayne, Wilcox, Wilkes, Wilkinson and Worth counties in Georgia; Baker, Columbia, Hamilton, Jefferson and Madison in Florida; Aiken, Allendale, Barnwell, Edgefield, Hampton, Jasper and McCormick in South Carolina.

    Disaster survivors should not wait to settle with their insurance company before applying for a disaster loan. If a survivor does not know how much of their loss will be covered by insurance or other sources, SBA can make a low-interest disaster loan for the total loss up to its loan limits, provided the borrower agrees to use insurance proceeds to reduce or repay the loan.

    Businesses and private nonprofit organizations of any size may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets.  

    For small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations, the SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered any physical property damage.

    Disaster loans up to $500,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $100,000 to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed personal property.

    Interest rates are as low as 4% for businesses, 3.25% for nonprofit organizations, and 2.813% for homeowners and renters, with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not begin to accrue, and monthly payments are not due, until 12 months from the date of the initial disbursement. Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition.

    Building back smarter and stronger can be an effective recovery tool for future disasters. Applicants may be eligible for a loan amount increase of up to 20% of their physical damages, as verified by the SBA for mitigation purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements may include a safe room or storm shelter, sump pump, French drain or retaining wall to help protect property and occupants from future disasters.

    “SBA’s disaster loan program offers an important advantage–the chance to incorporate measures that can reduce the risk of future damage,” said Francisco Sánchez, Jr., associate administrator for the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the Small Business Administration. “Work with contractors and mitigation professionals to strengthen your property and take advantage of the opportunity to request additional SBA disaster loan funds for these proactive improvements.” 

    With the changes to FEMA’s Sequence of Delivery, survivors are now encouraged to simultaneously apply for FEMA grants and SBA low-interest disaster loan assistance to fully recover.  FEMA grants are intended to cover necessary expenses and serious needs not paid by insurance or other sources. The SBA disaster loan program is designed for your long-term recovery, to make you whole and get you back to your pre-disaster condition.  Do not wait on the decision for a FEMA grant; apply online and receive additional disaster assistance information at sba.gov/disaster.

    Applicants may also call the SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or send an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

    The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is Nov. 29, 2024. The deadline to return economic injury applications is June 30, 2025.

    ###

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration 

    The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit http://www.sba.gov. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Tops $60 Million in Disaster Assistance Loans for Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-line Winds and Tornadoes

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Francisco Sánchez Jr., associate administrator for the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the Small Business Administration, announced today that SBA has approved more than $60 million in federal disaster loans for Iowabusinesses and residents impacted by severe storms, flooding, straight-line winds and tornadoes that occurred June 16–July 23. According to Sánchez, SBA has approved $10,075,000 for businesses and $49,984,200 for residents to help rebuild and recover from this disaster.

    “SBA’s disaster assistance employees are committed to helping businesses and residents rebuild as quickly as possible,” said Sánchez. Businesses and residents in Buena Vista, Cherokee, Clay, Dickinson, Emmet, Humboldt, Lyon, Monona, O’Brien, Osceola, Palo Alto, Plymouth, Pottawattamie, Scott, Sioux and Woodbury counties who sustained damages are encouraged to apply prior to the Oct. 22 deadline at SBA.gov/disaster. “Don’t miss out on any assistance you may be entitled to by not registering for help. You don’t need to wait for your insurance to settle or obtain a contractor’s estimate,” he continued.

    SBA continues to provide one-on-one assistance to disaster loan applicants at all the federal-state Disaster Recovery Centers and the SBA Business Recovery Center throughout the affected areas to explain SBA’s disaster loan program and help business owners and residents close their approved disaster loans.

    Businesses of all sizes and private nonprofit organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory and other business assets.

    For small businesses and most private nonprofit organizations of all sizes, SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. Economic injury assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered any property damage. The deadline to apply for economic injury is March 24, 2025.

    “SBA’s disaster loan program offers an important advantage–the chance to incorporate measures that can reduce the risk of future damage,” Sánchez added. “Work with contractors and mitigation professionals to strengthen your property and take advantage of the opportunity to request additional SBA disaster loan funds for these proactive improvements.”

    Disaster loans up to $500,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $100,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property, including personal vehicles.

    Interest rates can be as low as 4 percent for businesses, 3.25 percent for private nonprofit organizations and 2.688 percent for homeowners and renters with terms up to 30 years. Loan amounts and terms are set by SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition.

    Interest does not begin to accrue until 12 months from the date of the first disaster loan disbursement. SBA disaster loan repayment begins 12 months from the date of the first disbursement.

    Applicants may apply online and receive additional disaster assistance information at SBA.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

    ###

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

    The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit http://www.sba.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Amata Welcomes House Colleagues and Key Senators in American Samoa

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Aumua Amata (Western Samoa)

    Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amatatook part in welcoming key U.S. Senators and her House colleagues as their Congressional Delegation (CODEL) on a U.S. Air Force flight landed in American Samoa, as did Governor Lemanu P.S. Mauga. The bipartisan CODEL included Chairman Joe Manchin of West Virginia, Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and two of Amata’s House colleagues, also on influential committees: Congressman Wiley Nickel North Carolina, Finance Committee; and Congressman Greg Pence of Indiana, Energy and Commerce Committee.

    CODEL group photo

    Amata’s bill, H.R. 6062, which expedites American Samoa’s amendments as already approved by the people, is in line for consideration before the same Committee on which Chairman Manchin presides and Sen. Murkowski is a senior senator. Amata spoke to Chairman Manchin about it, and Amata’s House-passed bill is expected to be in front of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources in mid-November, once Congress has resumed, as it has been examined already by a Senate Subcommittee and is moving forward as a noncontroversial bill.

    CODEL in American Samoa with Governor Lemanu Mauga and Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata

    “I also discussed 30a (the American Samoa Economic Development Credit) with Chairman Manchin and Senator Murkowski,” said Congresswoman Aumua Amata. “It’s a crucial tax extender for American Samoa that needs to be extended again. It primarily benefits the cannery but can be used for other businesses.  We need the credit to attract those other businesses besides tuna. The 30a extender is important for the Starkist cannery, which is at full employment of 2500, and supports an equal number or more of indirect jobs. House Ways and Means Chairman Smith is supportive of the credit, but we will need help in the Senate as usual.”

    CODEL enjoyed their time in American Samoa

    “It’s a delight to have these Senators and House colleagues see glimpses of American Samoa’s mountain and ocean beauty from the air and our airport,” she continued. “When I speak with senior Senators and Representatives in Washington, I find without fail that they are genuinely interested, and truly want to be helpful and supportive to American Samoa, and they also understand that we aren’t directly represented in the U.S. Senate. I know they enjoyed the tokens of appreciation that both I and Governor Lemanu Mauga were able to present so they’d have a memory of the people of American Samoa.”

    “I take every opportunity to raise key issues for American Samoa with relevant Members of Congress, especially when our issues are under the jurisdiction of their committees,” she concluded. “I appreciate Chairman Manchin’s effective leadership in the Senate, and I’ve traveled on a CODEL with my friend Senator Murkowski before, and she’s been a good friend of our islands while representing Alaska.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Apprentice Store Are On The Move

    Source: Scotland – Highland Council

    Managing Director David Massie pictured with Hagen Wagner, Highland Opportunity (Investments) Limited Investment Manager

    Highland Opportunity (Investments) Limited (HOIL) has recently provided The Apprentice Store Ltd with funding towards their ambitious business development. HOIL, The Highland Council’s business loan company, supports Highland based businesses and encourages applications from all business sectors, including community organisations. Interested businesses benefit from straightforward loan conditions and a tailored offer to support their project.  HOIL has financially supported more than 1,200 local start-up businesses, community organisations and growth projects within the Highland Business community since it was established in 1986.

    The Apprentice Store approached HO(IL) for a working capital loan of £25,000 to help achieve their growth aspirations.  Currently based in the Impact Hub in Castle Street, they are about to relocate to larger premises in Academy Street, where they will be the flag ship tenant of an innovative, vibrant and friendly co-working space in the centre of Inverness.

    The Apprentice Store was founded in 2016 and have a unique setup, whereby they support employment of young people and inclusivity on an apprenticeship basis, led by a number of mentors. To date, the company has trained and employed more than 23 young people. The business understands how important computer systems are in a modern business. From their Scottish base in Inverness they offer a range of quality remote IT services for small and medium sized businesses throughout the United Kingdom and Europe. 

    Councillor Paul Oldham, Chair of HOIL said: “The Apprentice Store’s way of working, that encourages young people to work in IT while staying in the Highlands rather than feeling they have to move away, has got to be good news for the Highland economy.

     “HOIL’s accessible and affordable business finance helps promote business across the area. It’s an important part of the Council’s aim to keep business vibrant and growing in the Highlands.”

    David Massie, Managing Director of the Apprentice Store Limited said: “The Apprentice Store approached HOIL to secure some funding and found the application process quick and easy to complete. This funding will help our social purpose of creating sustainable employment to young people who have challenges of entering the workforce. Our clients from across the UK in the public, private and sectors help support continuous employment by outsourcing their IT services to The Apprentice Store. Our team return on our client’s commitment by offering quality IT support and development services as they care about the opportunity offered to them by The Apprentice Store and its clients.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Business First Bancshares, Inc. Announces Third Quarter 2024 Earnings Release Date and Conference Call

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BATON ROUGE, La., Oct. 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Business First Bancshares, Inc. (Nasdaq: BFST), the parent company of b1BANK, announced that it is scheduled to release third quarter 2024 earnings after market close on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024. Executive management will host a conference call and webcast to discuss results on the same day (Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024) at 4:00 p.m. CDT.

    Interested parties may attend the call by dialing toll-free 1-800-715-9871 (North America only), conference ID 5274174, or asking for the Business First Bancshares, Inc. conference call.

    The live webcast can be found at https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/a2ui6eo8. On the day of the presentation, the corresponding slide presentation will be available to view on the b1BANK website at https://www.b1bank.com/shareholder-info.

    About Business First Bancshares, Inc.

    As of June 30, 2024, Business First Bancshares, Inc., (Nasdaq: BFST) through its banking subsidiary b1BANK, had approximately $7.6 billion in assets, $6.1 billion in assets under management through b1BANK’s affiliate Smith Shellnut Wilson, LLC (SSW) (excludes $0.9 billion of b1BANK assets managed by SSW) and operates Banking Centers and Loan Production Offices in markets across Louisiana and the Dallas and Houston, Texas areas, providing commercial and personal banking products and services. Commercial banking services include commercial loans and letters of credit, working capital lines and equipment financing, and treasury management services. b1BANK was awarded #1 Best-In-State Bank, Louisiana, by Forbes and Statista, and is a multiyear winner of American Banker’s “Best Banks to Work For.” Visit b1BANK.com for more information.

    Misty Albrecht
    b1BANK
    225.286.7879
    Misty.Albrecht@b1BANK.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Federal Award Empowers Semiconductor Supply Chain

    Source: US State of New York

    Governor Kathy Hochul today celebrated a federal award from the U.S. Department of the Treasury for the Semiconductor Growth Access Program (SGAP), a new State-run initiative that will help existing Upstate businesses pivot or expand into New York’s booming semiconductor supply chain ecosystem. The U.S. Department of the Treasury awarded New York State $9.45 million, with a match of $1.5 million from Empire State Development (ESD), to implement the program through the Treasury’s Small Business Opportunity Program (SBOP) under the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI). SGAP will provide dedicated legal, financial, business planning and accounting technical assistance to targeted businesses to help them plan for growth and access capital to facilitate necessary upgrades and expansions. The program will cover the I-90 corridor from Western New York to the Capital Region and will be administered by ESD in partnership with Mohawk Valley Economic Development Growth Enterprises Corporation (EDGE), the Capital Region Center for Economic Growth (CEG), and the NY SMART-I Corridor Tech Hub. To date, SSBCI has been awarded to states on a formula basis, and this is the first time the federal government has made the process competitive.

    “New York has become a global leader in high-tech manufacturing – and we’re just getting started,” Governor Hochul said. “This $9.4 million investment from the State Small Business Credit Initiative will be critical as we work to connect underserved and very small businesses with the resources they need to succeed. Working with the Biden-Harris Administration, we’re creating even more jobs and opportunities for all New Yorkers.”

    U.S. Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo said, “The Biden-Harris Administration’s economic agenda is driving historic investments, creating new opportunities for small businesses to grow and hire. With this funding, New York will help entrepreneurs across the state access capital and scale their operations in these critical industries that are key to strengthening our supply chains and national security.”

    SGAP will deliver high-quality, tailored support to strengthen the regional semiconductor and microelectronics manufacturing supply chain, while empowering diverse New York businesses to access lucrative opportunities in upstate New York’s booming semiconductor ecosystem through technical assistance programs that provide legal, accounting, and financial services. The program builds on state, federal, local, and private sector programs and resources to build a more inclusive Upstate semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem.

    The program will bring together three key partners spanning New York’s I-90 corridor to deliver critical assistance to local small or disadvantaged businesses in underserved communities that can support successful implementation of CHIPS and Science Act investments – the NY SMART I-Corridor Tech Hub, Mohawk Valley EDGE and CEG. SGAP builds on the Supply Chain Activation Network (SCAN), a core component of the federally designated NY SMART I-Corridor Tech Hub aimed at supporting local firms to enter the rapidly expanding semiconductor and microelectronics market.

    With over $112 billion in new capital investments announced, New York State is leading the nation in new semiconductor investments. The main drivers of this growth, Micron in Central New York and GlobalFoundries in the Capital Region, will spend billions in operating expenses and have pledged to achieve significant supplier diversity goals. These investments represent a once-in-a-generation opportunity to lift up New Yorkers from communities that have historically been left out of economic growth. SGAP will empower Very Small Businesses (VSBs) and underserved businesses to seize this unique opportunity and grow or pivot into New York’s chip industry, ensuring a shared prosperity in Upstate New York.

    Governor Hochul’s Commitment to Growing New York’s Semiconductor Industry
    Governor Hochul has maintained a strong commitment to building a modern economy in New York State by growing a dynamic and innovative semiconductor industry. In 2022, the Governor signed New York’s historic Green CHIPS legislation to make New York a hub for semiconductor manufacturing, creating 21st century jobs and kick-starting economic growth while maintaining important environmental protections. As part of the FY24 Enacted Budget, Governor Hochul secured a $45 million investment to create the Governor’s Office of Semiconductor Expansion, Management, and Integration (GO-SEMI), which leads statewide efforts to develop the chipmaking sector. In December 2023, Governor Hochul announced a $10 billion public-private partnership – including $9 billion in private investment from IBM, Micron, Applied Materials, Tokyo Electron and other semiconductor leaders – to bring the future of advanced semiconductor research to New York’s Capital region by creating the nation’s first and only industry accessible, High NA EUV Lithography Center at the Albany NanoTech Complex. All of these efforts are positioning New York as an innovation leader ready to support one of three National Semiconductor Technology Center facilities that will be established under the U.S. CHIPS & Science Act.

    New York is home to a robust semiconductor industry which supports more than 150 semiconductor and supply chain companies that employ over 34,000 New Yorkers. Thanks to Governor Hochul’s efforts, the industry is continuing to grow with major investments from semiconductor businesses and supply chain companies like Micron, GlobalFoundries, AMD, Edwards Vacuum, MenloMicro and TTM Technologies to expand their presence in New York. In fact, in the last two years, chip companies have announced over $112 billion in planned capital investments in New York – more than any other state – and one in four U.S. made chips will be produced within 350 miles of Upstate New York. No other region in the country will account for a greater share of domestic production.

    Semiconductors are vital to the nation’s economic strength, serving as the brains of modern electronics, and enabling technologies critical to U.S. economic growth, national security, and global competitiveness. The industry directly employs over 300,000 people in the U.S. and supports more than 1.8 million additional domestic jobs. Semiconductors are a top five U.S. export, and the industry is the number one contributor to labor productivity, supporting improvements to the effectiveness and efficiency of virtually every economic sector – from farming to manufacturing.

    Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, “Under Governor Hochul, New York is leading the nation in new semiconductor industry investment, and now, with additional federal support, we are poised to further scale up the state’s broader billion-dollar advanced manufacturing ecosystem. US Treasury’s award enables ESD to expand the economic opportunities created by Upstate’s booming semiconductor sector to small businesses in underserved communities through our innovative Semiconductor Growth Access Program, which offers critical capital access and technical assistance so entrepreneurs can focus on the important work growing their businesses and creating jobs.”

    Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said, “This major $9.4 million in federal funding will help provide critical technical assistance to small businesses across Upstate NY who want to grow in the semiconductor industry but can’t do it alone. This is how we maximize the benefit of companies like Micron, GlobalFoundries, and Wolfspeed’s expansions in Upstate NY, helping existing businesses grow and adapt to lead in the next frontier of technology. This will help boost efforts along the I-90 Tech Hub I secured and help Upstate NY build a robust supply chain from Buffalo to Utica to Albany that further positions Upstate NY as a global center for chip manufacturing. I fought to secure historic funding for the State Small Business Credit Initiative in the American Rescue Plan and urged Secretary Yellen to prioritize funding for supply chain development, including in the semiconductor industry, because I know that support for small businesses is critical to our efforts to bringing manufacturing back home to America. Today’s federal investment further supercharges Upstate NY’s growing semiconductor superhighway!”

    Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said, “This federal award will be transformative for small and underserved businesses across New York. It will strengthen our economy and cement New York’s reputation as a global leader in semiconductor manufacturing and innovation. I’m proud to have fought to pass the American Rescue Plan that provided the funds to make this grant possible, and I’ll continue working for federal investments that support small businesses, create good jobs, and develop our workforce.”

    State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said, “This federal award reflects New York’s leading role in the growing national semiconductor industry. This $9.45 investment will be a boost to New York’s local small businesses as it will help entrepreneurs in underserved communities access opportunities to grow within the semiconductor supply chain. This award is recognition of our robust efforts to ensure that the Empire State remains at the forefront of technological innovation. I want to thank Governor Kathy Hochul for her leadership in fostering entrepreneurship and technological advancement across the State.”

    Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said, “This award helps to secure New York’s position as the domestic epicenter of semiconductor manufacturing. But as we build New York’s future, we must ensure that the impact of this investment spreads across all our communities. By expanding manufacturing and technical program access to small businesses, we’re ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to benefit from the continued growth of the industry.”

    About State Small Business Credit Initiative

    More than $500 million in federal funding has been allocated to support the resurgence of small businesses across New York State through the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI), a program through the American Rescue Plan Act. Managed by the U.S. Department of Treasury, SSBCI provides funds to support programs for small businesses, including underserved businesses and very small businesses (VSB), to recover from the economic effects of COVID-19 and allow them the opportunity to succeed in the post-pandemic economy. With this funding, Empire State Development (ESD) has developed a suite of capital access and equity programs to help New York State small businesses grow and succeed. Learn about the SSBCI programs that Empire State Development has established.

    About Empire State Development

    Empire State Development is New York’s chief economic development agency, and promotes business growth, job creation, and greater economic opportunity throughout the state. With offices in each of the state’s 10 regions, ESD oversees the Regional Economic Development Councils, supports broadband equity through the ConnectALL office, and is growing the workforce of tomorrow through the Office of Strategic Workforce Development. The agency engages with emerging and next generation industries like clean energy and semiconductor manufacturing looking to grow in New York State, operates a network of assistance centers to help small businesses grow and succeed, and promotes the state’s world class tourism destinations through I LOVE NY. For more information, please visit esd.ny.gov, and connect with ESD on LinkedIn, Facebook and X.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Lamont Announces FEMA Opens Disaster Recovery Centers in Southbury and Wilton To Provide In-Person Assistance With Applying for Federal Aid From August Flooding

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    (HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has opened two Disaster Recovery Centers in Southbury and Wilton that are providing in-person assistance to homeowners, renters, businesses, and private nonprofits seeking to apply for federal disaster aid for damages incurred due to the severe flooding the western portion of Connecticut experienced on August 18, 2024.

    Located at Southbury Town Hall (501 Main Street South, Southbury) and Our Lady of Fatima Church (229 Danbury Road, Wilton), these Disaster Recovery Centers are open Mondays to Fridays from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and Sundays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Anyone who lives in any town impacted by the flooding from the August 18 storm can visit either of these centers to seek assistance with applying for aid.

    “In addition to being able to apply online and over the phone, these FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers are providing in-person support to homeowners, renters, businesses, and private nonprofits seeking federal disaster aid from the horrible flooding western Connecticut experienced in August,” Governor Lamont said. “It is strongly encouraged that anyone seeking assistance should apply as soon as possible to meet all federal deadlines.”

    The FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers are staffed by representatives who can provide program information, explain how to apply for federal disaster aid, answer questions, and also provide information about repairs and rebuilding to make homes more disaster resistant.

    The centers are accessible to people with disabilities and access and functional needs. The facilities are equipped with assistive technology equipment that allows disaster survivors to interact with staff. Services are provided in English and Spanish. Anyone needing a reasonable accommodation or a sign language interpreter to communicate with FEMA should call 1-833-285-7448 for assistance.

    It is not required to visit a FEMA Disaster Recovery Center to apply for federal disaster aid. Applications can also be completed online at http://www.DisasterAssistance.gov, by calling the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-3362, or by using the FEMA app.

    The opening of these FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers in Southbury and Wilton come in addition to the recent openings of two Business Recovery Centers located in Monroe and Oxford that are operated by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and providing similar in-person assistance to businesses and homeowners.

    This federal disaster aid is made possible by the major disaster declaration President Joe Biden approved last month for the FEMA Individual Assistance Program in Fairfield County, Litchfield County, and New Haven County.

     

    Locations in Connecticut to apply for federal disaster aid from August 18 storm

    There are now four locations in Connecticut that are providing individuals with in-person assistance in applying for federal disaster aid from the August 18 storm. They include:

    FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers

    Southbury: Southbury Town Hall (501 Main Street South, Southbury)
    Wilton: Our Lady of Fatima Church (229 Danbury Road, Wilton)

    Hours of operation:

    • Mondays to Fridays: 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
    • Saturdays: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
    • Sundays: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

    SBA Business Recovery Centers

    Monroe: Monroe Police Department (7 Fan Hill Road, Monroe)
     Oxford: Oxford Town Hall (486 Oxford Road, Oxford)

    Hours of operation:

    • Mondays to Fridays: 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
    • Saturdays: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
    • Sundays: Closed

     

     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SCHUMER ANNOUNCES $9.4 MILLION TO HELP SMALL BUSINESSES GROW & TAP INTO THE BOOMING SEMICONDUCTOR SUPPLY CHAIN ACROSS UPSTATE NY

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Charles E Schumer

    Funding Will Help Grow NY’s Semiconductor Supply Chain By Providing Technical Assistance To Small Businesses Growing In The Semiconductor Industry Across Upstate NY Supporting Ongoing Work With The Buffalo-Rochester-Syracuse Tech Hub, Mohawk Valley Edge, The Capital Region CEG & Empire State Development

    Schumer: Fed $$$ Will Supercharge Upstate NY’s Growing Semiconductor Superhighway!

    U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer today announced New York State has been awarded $9.4 million, with $1.5 million in matching funds from Empire State Development (ESD), to help small businesses across Upstate NY tap into and grow in the semiconductor and microelectronics industries. Schumer said this new program will help maximize the local impact of the billions in investment we are seeing across Upstate NY from companies like Micron, GlobalFoundries, and Wolfspeed thanks to his CHIPS & Science Law by breaking down barriers to help small businesses enter and expand into the semiconductor supply chain.  

    “Small businesses across Upstate NY want to enter the booming semiconductor industry, but they can’t do it alone. This major $9.4 million in federal funding will help provide critical technical assistance to boost effort to make it happen. This is how we maximize the benefit of companies like Micron, GlobalFoundries, and Wolfspeed’s expansions in Upstate NY, helping existing businesses grow and adapt to lead in the next frontier of technology. This will help boost efforts along the I-90 Tech Hub I secured and help Upstate NY build a robust supply chain from Buffalo to Utica to Albany that further positions the region as a global center for chip manufacturing,” said Senator Schumer. “I fought to secure historic funding for the State Small Business Credit Initiative in the American Rescue Plan and urged Secretary Yellen to prioritize funding for supply chain development, including in the semiconductor industry, because I know that support for small businesses is critical to our efforts to bringing manufacturing back home to America. Today’s federal investment further supercharges Upstate NY’s growing semiconductor superhighway!”

    With this funding, New York will implement the Semiconductor Growth Access Program (SGAP). The program will provide technical assistance – including legal, financial, and accounting services – to existing small businesses to grow in or pivot to the semiconductor and microelectronic supply chain. This will help those businesses upgrade and expand their equipment, building a chip manufacturing cluster across Upstate New York. Additionally, SGAP will create a shared regional purchasing roundtable of large manufacturers and tier 1 suppliers, designed to provide regular access to purchasing opportunities for participating businesses.

    The SGAP program will work alongside the Supply Chain Activation Network (SCAN), a project of the Buffalo-Rochester-Syracuse NY SMART-I Corridor Tech Hub, which Schumer fought to secure and has already delivered $40 million of federal funding to support. It will also support critical semiconductor supply chain growth with partners at the Mohawk Valley Economic Development Growth Enterprises Corporation (EDGE), and the Capital Region Center for Economic Growth (CEG).

    “New York has become a global leader in high-tech manufacturing – and we’re just getting started,” Governor Hochul said. “This $9.4 million investment from the State Small Business Credit Initiative will be critical as we work to connect underserved and very small businesses with the resources they need to succeed. Working with the Biden-Harris Administration, we’re creating even more jobs and opportunities for all New Yorkers.”

    Schumer previously led 15 senators in urging U.S. Department of Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen to use State and Small Business Credit Initiative funding to bring manufacturing back to the United States to strengthen domestic supply chains, including in the semiconductor industry. The American Rescue Plan Act reauthorized and expanded SSBCI, which provides nearly $10 billion to support small businesses and empower them to access the capital needed to invest in job-creating opportunities. Schumer supported state and local capital and technical assistance initiatives for small businesses to rebuild the economy coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Thanks to Schumer’s CHIPS & Science Law, Upstate New York has seen a major revival in tech manufacturing. Micron has announced plans for a historic $100+ billion investment to build a cutting-edge memory fab in Central New York with the support of an over $6 billion preliminary CHIPS agreement. GlobalFoundries plans to invest over $12 billion to expand and construct a second, new state-of-the-art computer chip factory in the Capital Region, with support of a $1.5 billion preliminary CHIPS agreement. Wolfspeed has opened the first, largest, and only 200mm silicon carbide fabrication facility in the world in the Mohawk Valley, with plans to further expand their operations. TTM Technologies, a printed circuit board manufacturer, plans to invest up to $130 million to expand their facilities in Onondaga County, creating up to 400 good-paying jobs. Menlo Micro will invest $150 million to build their microchip switch manufacturing facility in Tompkins County, creating over 100 new good-paying jobs. In addition, Upstate New York is home to semiconductor supply chain companies like Corning Incorporated, which manufactures glass critical to the microchip industry at its Canton and Fairport, NY plants, and following Schumer’s advocacy, Edwards Vacuum has announced a $300+ million investment to build a dry pump manufacturing facility, creating 600 good-paying jobs to support the growing chip industry in Western New York.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Heritage Commerce Corp and Heritage Bank of Commerce Announce Appointment of New Chief Operating Officer Thomas A. Sa

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN JOSE, Calif., Oct. 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Heritage Commerce Corp (NASDAQ: HTBK) (“Company”), parent company of Heritage Bank of Commerce (“Bank”), today announced the appointment of Thomas A. Sa as the Chief Operating Officer (“COO”) of the Company and the Bank. As COO, Mr. Sa will report directly to Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) Robertson “Clay” Jones and will have primary responsibility for banking operations, risk management, and information technology systems. Mr. Sa had previously served as President, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of California BanCorp and its subsidiary, California Bank of Commerce, which merged with Southern California Bancorp in July 2024. Mr. Sa has more than thirty years’ experience in a variety of increasingly responsible positions in California-based community and regional banks.

    “We are delighted to have Tom bring his immense talent and experience to Heritage Commerce Corp and Heritage Bank of Commerce,” said CEO Clay Jones. “We’re confident that Tom will play a pivotal role in our drive to be the community business bank of choice throughout our market areas. His personality and dedication to community business banking and demonstrated leadership ability position him well to lead our talented, motivated team.”

    Mr. Jones continued, “Tom’s diverse experience includes guiding strategy and oversight of business execution in addition to extensive knowledge of bank operations, lending, risk management, compliance, and finance, and we are confident that his skillset will allow us to continue our trend of consistent, profitable growth while managing today’s challenging environment.”

    Mr. Sa likewise expressed his enthusiasm for the Company and the Bank. “It’s rare to find such a tremendous blend of talent and commitment among such a small, close-knit team,” said Mr. Sa. “I’m looking forward to joining the Company and the Bank and I’m confident we are well-positioned to grow and improve investor returns, prudently manage the Bank’s assets, and promote compliance with an ever more complex system of laws and regulations that govern our business.”

    Heritage Commerce Corp, a bank holding company established in October 1997, is the parent company of Heritage Bank of Commerce, established in 1994 and headquartered in San Jose, CA with full-service branches in Danville, Fremont, Gilroy, Hollister, Livermore, Los Altos, Los Gatos, Morgan Hill, Oakland, Palo Alto, Pleasanton, Redwood City, San Francisco, San Jose, San Mateo, San Rafael, and Walnut Creek. Heritage Bank of Commerce is an SBA Preferred Lender. Bay View Funding, a subsidiary of Heritage Bank of Commerce, is based in San Jose, CA and provides business-essential working capital factoring financing to various industries throughout the United States. For more information, please visit http://www.heritagecommercecorp.com.

    Member FDIC

    For additional information, contact:
    Debbie Reuter
    EVP, Corporate Secretary
    Direct: (408) 494-4542
    Debbie.Reuter@herbank.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1ee41931-2d17-41c8-9d30-b33cef4ebe7e

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: More consumption, more demand for resources, more waste: why urban mining’s time has come

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Odei Erdiaw-Kwasie, Lecturer in Sustainability| Business and Accounting Discipline, Charles Darwin University

    Lynda Disher/Shutterstock

    Pollution and waste, climate change and biodiversity loss are creating a triple planetary crisis. In response, UN Environment Programme executive director Inger Andersen has called for waste to be redefined as a valuable resource instead of a problem. That’s what urban mining does.

    We commonly think of mining as drilling or digging into the earth to extract precious resources. Urban mining recovers these materials from waste. It can come from buildings, infrastructure and obsolete products.

    An urban mine, then, is the stock of precious metals or materials in the waste cities produce. In particular, electronic waste, or e‑waste, has higher concentrations of precious metals than many mined ores. Yet the UN Global E‑waste Monitor estimates US$62 billion worth of recoverable resources was discarded as e‑waste in 2022.

    Urban mining can recover these “hidden” resources in cities around the world. It offers sustainable solutions to the problems of resource scarcity and waste management. And it happens in the very cities that are centres of overconsumption and hotspots for the greenhouse gas emissions driving climate change.

    What sort of waste can be mined?

    Materials such as concrete, pipes, bricks, roofing materials, reinforcements and e‑waste can be recovered for reuse. Urban waste can be “mined” for metals such as gold, steel, copper, zinc, aluminium, cobalt and lithium, as well as glass and plastic. Mechanical or chemical treatments are used to retrieve these metals and materials.

    Simply disposing of this waste has high financial and environmental costs. In Australia, about 10% of waste is hazardous. Landfill costs are soaring as cities run out of space to discard their waste.

    The extent of this fast-growing problem is driving the growth of urban mining around the world. We are then salvaging materials whose supply is finite, while reducing the impacts of waste disposal.

    Many plastics can be recycled and turned into new products.
    MAD.vertise/Shutterstock

    What’s happening globally?

    In Europe, the focus is largely on construction and demolition waste. Europe produces 450 million to 500 million tonnes of this waste each year – more than a third of all the region’s waste. Through its urban mining strategy, the European Commission aims to increase the recovery of non-hazardous construction and demolition waste to at least 70% across member countries by 2030.

    In Asia, urban mining has focused on e‑waste. However, the region recovers only about 12% of its e‑waste stock. Rates of e‑waste recycling vary greatly: 20% for East Asia, 1% for South Asia, and virtually zero for South-East Asia. China, Japan and South Korea are leading the way in Asia.

    Australia is on the right track. Our recovery rate for construction and demolition materials climbed to 80% by 2022 — the highest among all types of waste streams. However, we recover only about a third of the value of materials in our e-waste.

    Africa has also recognised the growing value of urban mining resources. Regional initiatives include the Nairobi Declaration on e‑waste, the Durban Declaration on e‑Waste Management in Africa and the Abuja Platform on e‑Waste.

    Urban mining solves many problems

    The OECD forecasts that global materials demand will almost double from 89 billion tonnes in 2019 to 167 billion tonnes in 2060. The United Nations’ Global Waste Management Outlook 2024 shows the amount of waste and costs of managing it are soaring too. It’s estimated the world will have 82 million tonnes of e‑waste to deal with by 2030.

    These trends mean urban mining is becoming ever more relevant and important.

    Urban mining also helps cut greenhouse gas emissions. Unlocking resources near where they are needed reduces transport costs and emissions. Urban mining also provides resource independence and creates employment.

    In addition, increasing recovery and recycling rates reduce the pressure on finite natural resources.

    Urban mining underpins circular economy alternatives such as the “deposit and return” schemes that give people financial incentives to return e‑waste and containers for recycling in cities such as Singapore, Sydney, Darwin and San Francisco. By 2030, San Francisco aims to halve disposal to landfill or incineration and cut solid waste generation by 15%.

    What more needs to be done?

    Governments have a role to play by adopting and enforcing policies, laws and regulations that encourage recycling through urban mining instead of sending waste to landfill. European Union laws, for example, mandate increased recycling targets for municipal waste overall and for packaging waste, including 80% for ferrous metals and 60% for aluminium.

    In Australia, 2019 legislation prohibits landfills from accepting anything with a plug, battery or cord. Anything with a plug is designated as e-waste.

    Product design is an important consideration. A designer must balance a product’s efficiency with making it easy to recycle. Products with greater efficiency and easy-to-recycle parts are more likely to use less energy, lead to less waste and hence less natural resource extraction.

    Our urban mining research documents a more sustainable approach to product design. Increasing product stewardship initiatives are expected to encourage better product design and standards that promote reuse and recycling, producer responsibility and changes in consumer behaviour.

    Good information about the available resources is essential too. The Urban Mine Platform, ProSUM and Waste and Resource Recovery Data Hub collect data on e‑waste, end-of-life vehicles, batteries and building and mining waste. These centralised databases allow easy access to data on the sources, stocks, flows and treatment of waste.

    Traditional mining is not the only method for extracting raw materials for the green transition. Waste is set to be increasingly recycled, reducing demand for virgin materials. A truly circular economy can become a reality if governments develop and apply an urban mining agenda.

    Michael Odei Erdiaw-Kwasie receives funding from the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR).

    Matthew Abunyewah receives funding from the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR) and Northern Western Australia and Northern Territory Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub (Northern Hubb)

    Patrick Brandful Cobbinah receives funding from Lincoln Institute of Land Policy. He is a member of Planning Institute of Australia.

    – ref. More consumption, more demand for resources, more waste: why urban mining’s time has come – https://theconversation.com/more-consumption-more-demand-for-resources-more-waste-why-urban-minings-time-has-come-232484

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Young Kim Leads Bipartisan OC Delegation Letter for Disaster Relief Funding

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Young Kim (CA-39)

    Trabuco Canyon, CA – Today, U.S. Representative Young Kim (CA-40) led a bipartisan letter to Speaker of the House Mike Johnson and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries urging for full disaster relief to be funded in Fiscal Year 2025 (FY2025) appropriations. The letter was first reported in The Hill.

    Rep. Kim was joined by Orange County Reps. Michelle Steel (CA-45), Lou Correa (CA-46), Mike Levin (CA-49), and Katie Porter (CA-47).

    “While we applaud the inclusion of $20 billion towards the [Disaster Relief Fund] in the continuing resolution, more funding is necessary for both the DRF and FEMA given the accumulation of backlogged costs the DRF must reimburse before addressing the many natural disasters Americans across the country currently face. Beyond the DRF, the U.S. Forest Service has faced ongoing staffing shortages in the Cleveland National Forest, where the Airport Fire began, during peak wildfire season. Furthermore, no funding was included for other important relief programs like the Small Business Administration’s disaster loans and the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s community development block disaster recovery grant program,” the members wrote.

    Read the full letter HERE or below.

    We urge you to include full disaster relief funding in FY 2025 government spending. While we were disappointed that disaster relief funding was not included in the three-month continuing resolution, we request that you support such funding in ongoing full-year appropriations negotiations. Disaster relief funding plays an essential role in supplying federal resources to areas impacted by natural disasters, such as wildfires, and it is our responsibility as lawmakers to ensure that our government is fully equipped to protect and rebuild our communities.

    Multiple wildfires have burned throughout the state of California over the last year, depleting available resources. According to CalFire, 6,332 wildfires have burned almost 1 million acres this year alone, destroying homes and taking innocent lives. In Orange and Riverside Counties, the Airport Fire has burned over 23,500 acres of land in the last month. We fear that the number of wildfires and the damage they cause will only continue to increase later this year.

    Federal assistance has supplemented state and local efforts to provide crucial disaster relief in the wake of these wildfires. For example, the Federal Emergency Management Administration’s (FEMA’s) Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) provides key support for responding to natural disasters. The DRF funds programs like Fire Management Assistance Grants (FMAGs), which allow the federal government to share the burden of fire mitigation and control costs. FEMA authorized FMAGs for several wildfires in California this year – including the Airport Fire – lessening the financial burden our state and local governments have been facing. Critical tools like FMAGs are made possible by federal disaster relief funding.

    While we applaud the inclusion of $20 billion towards the DRF in the continuing resolution, more funding is necessary for both the DRF and FEMA given the accumulation of backlogged costs the DRF must reimburse before addressing the many natural disasters Americans across the country currently face. Beyond the DRF, the U.S. Forest Service has faced ongoing staffing shortages in the Cleveland National Forest, where the Airport Fire began, during peak wildfire season. Furthermore, no funding was included for other important relief programs like the Small Business Administration’s disaster loans and the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s community development block disaster recovery grant program.

    With the passage of a three-month continuing resolution without sufficient disaster relief funding, it is now even more vital for Congress to allocate necessary funding towards disaster relief programs so the federal government can provide adequate assistance to those impacted by natural disasters. We ask that you support disaster relief funding as you negotiate FY 2025 government funding.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Lancement du cours régional de politique commerciale de l’OMC au Togo

    Source: World Trade Organization

    Pendant huit semaines, les participants aborderont la modernisation et la réforme du système commercial multilatéral, l’Accord sur les subventions à la pêche et les initiatives numériques et écologiques qui façonnent l’avenir du commerce mondial. Ils échangeront avec des experts de l’OMC et régionaux, ainsi que des académiciens de l’Université de Lomé, partenaire de l’OMC depuis 2023 dans l’organisation de ce cours.

    Dans un message vidéo diffusé lors de la cérémonie d’ouverture, Jean-Marie Paugam, Directeur général adjoint de l’OMC, a souligné l’importance de ce cours conçu pour répondre au contexte spécifique des questions émergentes dans la région. Il a déclaré: “Ce cours régional de politique commerciale mettra un accent particulier sur le contexte spécifique des politiques commerciales des pays francophones d’Afrique et leurs liens avec les accords de l’OMC. Il vous offrira également une plateforme pour réfléchir sur la manière dont le système commercial multilatéral peut être renforcé, réformé et modernisé. C’est une réflexion cruciale, surtout dans le cadre du débat actuel sur la pertinence du système commercial mondial.”

    S’exprimant au nom du Président de la République — Son Excellence Monsieur Faure Essozimna Gnassingbe — le Ministre délégué auprès du Ministre du Commerce, de l’artisanat et de la consommation locale, le professeur Kossivi Hounake, a remercié l’OMC d’avoir renouvelé sa confiance au Togo pour accueillir ce cours. Il a souligné l’importance de la coopération technique de l’OMC pour renforcer les capacités commerciales des pays d’Afrique et favoriser leur intégration dans l’économie mondiale. “Le bon fonctionnement d’un système commercial multilatéral exige, au-delà des règles, un système de suivi efficace. Il demande aussi que les Etats membres de l’OMC comprennent les possibilités que ces règles offrent afin que chacun d’entre eux soit en mesure d’en tirer pleinement profit.”

    Monsieur Kanka-Malik Natchaba, Ministre de l’Enseignement supérieur et de la recherche du Togo, a souligné le rôle de l’éducation comme vecteur fondamental de progrès socio-économique. “Je suis convaincu que cette formation contribuera encore davantage à renforcer les compétences des apprenants et décideurs politiques dans le domaine de la politique commerciale et qu’elle aidera les pays africains francophones à se positionner de manière plus efficace et plus équitable au sein du système commercial mondial,” a-t-il déclaré.

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    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: DG discusses strategies for navigating new environmental regulations with industry leaders

    Source: WTO

    Headline: DG discusses strategies for navigating new environmental regulations with industry leaders

    The Director-General highlighted a marked increase in environment-related measures, noting that 8,661 environment-related notifications have been submitted to various WTO committees since 1997. She acknowledged the importance of robust environmental standards, traceability and certification systems in the interconnected global market but pointed out that “these measures present significant challenges for market actors, especially in developing countries where businesses may need to comply with divergent standards to access international markets.”
    DG Okonjo-Iweala stressed the need to design new regulations carefully, ensuring that small producers in developing economies are integrated into global value chains rather than marginalized or excluded from the global market. She also emphasized the importance of developing robust traceability, verification and certification systems — often referred to as “quality infrastructure” — to bridge the information gap and reduce the costs of complying with regulations.
    Business leaders from the coffee, cocoa and palm oil sectors, alongside representatives from certification organizations, stressed the importance of balancing strong environmental protection with the practical challenges of compliance.
    They highlighted the need for clearer regulations, harmonized standards and aligned certification requirements to prevent confusion and reduce compliance costs. They also emphasized the importance of increased technical and financial support to help small producers navigate challenges and adapt to the evolving regulatory environment.
    DG Okonjo-Iweala expressed her gratitude for the productive discussions, noting that they represented the first step toward continued dialogue in the future.
    She said the key messages from today’s meeting would be shared with relevant policymakers. At the same time, she encouraged the business community to identify the opportunities presented by the new regulations while addressing the associated challenges.
    Looking ahead, the Director-General highlighted the critical need to address regulatory fragmentation. She emphasized that, in the long term, fostering stronger dialogue between policymakers and businesses is essential to ensure that new sustainability regulations “do not end up harming small farmers”.

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    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI: Enhanced Community Development Awarded $65 Million in New Markets Tax Credits

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, Oct. 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — P10, Inc. (NYSE: PX), a leading private markets solutions provider, today announced Enhanced Community Development, a part of P10 subsidiary Enhanced Capital Group LLC, was awarded a $65 million allocation from the New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC) program administered by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Community Development Financial Institutions Fund. Under the program, the U.S. Treasury Department allocated a total of $5 billion to 104 Community Development Entities for the 2023 round.

    “Enhanced Community Development is continuing to meet the needs of underserved communities around the country,” said Luke Sarsfield, P10 Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “Enhanced Capital’s team brings a mission-driven focus to their investments, providing financing solutions that generate positive social outcomes in the lower-middle market. This federal NMTC allocation further strengthens their ability to create opportunities that have a lasting impact.”

    Enhanced Community Development has deployed $750 million in federal and state NMTC investments across the United States, supporting over 130 projects and fostering economic activity in low-income communities. Previous NMTC-funded projects include manufacturing companies, healthcare facilities, educational institutions, and community centers that serve the needs of economically disadvantaged populations.

    “We are incredibly honored to receive this $65 million allocation, which enables us to significantly increase the impact on the communities that need it most,” said Richard Montgomery, Managing Partner at Enhanced Capital. “The New Markets Tax Credit program is a powerful tool for creating meaningful change in areas often overlooked by many investors and traditional sources of capital.”

    The NMTC program, created by Congress in 2000, is designed to drive economic revitalization in underserved communities by attracting private capital investment through federal tax credit incentives. The program has facilitated the deployment of more than $63 billion in low-income communities across the U.S., resulting in the creation or retention of over 894,000 jobs and the construction or rehabilitation of nearly 260 million square feet of commercial real estate.1

    For more information on Enhanced Community Development and its work in revitalizing underserved communities, please visit http://www.enhancedcapital.com.

    About P10
    P10 is a leading multi-asset class private markets solutions provider in the alternative asset management industry. P10’s mission is to provide its investors differentiated access to a broad set of investment solutions that address their diverse investment needs within private markets. As of June 30, 2024, P10 has a global investor base of more than 3,700 investors across 50 states, 60 countries, and six continents, which includes some of the world’s largest pension funds, endowments, foundations, corporate pensions, and financial institutions. Visit http://www.p10alts.com.

    About Enhanced Community Development:
    Enhanced Community Development (ECD), a subsidiary of Enhanced Capital, is a federally designated Community Development Entity focused on the financing needs of businesses and developments located in or serving low-income communities. ECD proudly participates in the federal New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) Program and a variety of state NMTC Programs. ECD is an Equal Opportunity Provider. Since 2006, ECD has deployed $750 million in federal and state NMTC allocation to job-creating businesses and organizations in economically distressed communities.

    About Enhanced Capital:
    Enhanced Capital Group, LLC is a leading impact investment firm with over 24 years of experience investing in Climate Finance, Impact Real Estate, and Small Business Lending. From inception in 1999 through June 30th, 2024, inclusive of proprietary assets and assets managed by affiliates, Enhanced Capital has raised a total of $6.0 billion. Of the total assets under management, impact assets represent $3.8 billion invested in over 950 projects and businesses throughout 40 states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico and does not include investments made by non-impact affiliates.

    For more information, visit http://www.enhancedcapital.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements
    Some of the statements in this release may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “will,” “expect,” “believe,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan” and similar expressions are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements discuss management’s current expectations and projections relating to our financial position, results of operations, plans, objectives, future performance, and business. The inclusion of any forward-looking information in this release should not be regarded as a representation that the future plans, estimates, or expectations contemplated will be achieved. Forward-looking statements reflect management’s current plans, estimates, and expectations, and are inherently uncertain. All forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other important factors that may cause actual results to be materially different; global and domestic market and business conditions; successful execution of business and growth strategies and regulatory factors relevant to our business; changes in our tax status; our ability to maintain our fee structure; our ability to attract and retain key employees; our ability to manage our obligations under our debt agreements; our ability to make acquisitions and successfully integrate the businesses we acquire; assumptions relating to our operations, financial results, financial condition, business prospects and growth strategy; and our ability to manage the effects of events outside of our control. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. For more information regarding these risks and uncertainties as well as additional risks that we face, you should refer to the “Risk Factors” included in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 13, 2024, and in our subsequent reports filed from time to time with the SEC. The forward-looking statements included in this release are made only as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information or future events, except as otherwise required by law.

    Ownership Limitations
    P10’s Certificate of Incorporation contains certain provisions for the protection of tax benefits relating to P10’s net operating losses. Such provisions generally void transfers of shares that would result in the creation of a new 4.99% shareholder or result in an existing 4.99% shareholder acquiring additional shares of P10, and it expires at the third anniversary of the IPO, October 2024.

    Disclaimer:
    Enhanced Capital Group, LLC, and its affiliates, is an Equal Opportunity Provider. The information presented is for discussion purposes only and is neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation of any offer to buy any securities, investment product, or investment advisory services. This is not an offering or the solicitation of an offer to purchase an interest in a fund.

    P10 Investor Contact:
    info@p10alts.com

    P10 Media Contact:
    Taylor Donahue
    pro-p10@prosek.com

    1 “The U.S. Department of the Treasury Announces $5 Billion in New Markets Tax Credits,” Department of the Treasury, September 19, 2024. https://www.cdfifund.gov/news/603

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: BigCommerce Appoints Travis Hess as CEO

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    AUSTIN, Texas, Oct. 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — BigCommerce Holdings, Inc. (“BigCommerce”) (Nasdaq: BIGC), an open SaaS, composable ecommerce platform for fast-growing and established B2C and B2B brands and retailers, today announced the appointment of Travis Hess as CEO. Brent Bellm will no longer serve as CEO of the Company or as Chairman of the Board. The Board elected Hess as a director of the Company, to fill the vacancy created by Bellm’s departure. Current board member Ellen Siminoff will assume the role of Executive Chair of the Board, effective immediately.

    Hess has a proven track record of helping businesses drive top-line growth and profitability. He joined BigCommerce as President in May 2024 and previously held senior leadership roles at leading global commerce agencies and consultancies such as Accenture where he led the firm’s direct-to-consumer commerce offering and go-to-market strategy. While at Accenture, Travis also managed Accenture’s Shopify partnership globally. He has served on partner advisory boards for Shopify, Klaviyo, SAP/Hybris, and Rackspace and was recognized as one the 30 Most Influential in Ecommerce by Signifyd in 2022.

    Prior to his time at Accenture, Hess was the executive vice president at The Stable, a leading omnichannel commerce agency that was acquired by Accenture, as well as the chief commercial officer and then chief executive officer of BVA, one of the most recognized global DTC and Shopify agencies, which was acquired by The Stable in December 2021.

    Travis is now responsible for leading BigCommerce’s global operations and for the overall success and growth of the business.

    “It’s been an amazing journey at the helm of BigCommerce, and I’m incredibly proud of everything that we have accomplished as a company over the past nine plus years,” said Brent Bellm. “There is a tremendous opportunity ahead for BigCommerce, and Travis is the perfect leader to take the company through its next phase of growth. I look forward to helping the team as we make this transition.”

    “Brent has been a critical part of BigCommerce’s success and we are forever grateful for his leadership and all that he has done to push the company to where it is today,” said Ellen Siminoff. “The market has evolved tremendously over the past decade, and under Travis’ leadership, we are perfectly positioned to stay a step ahead of the competition and continuously drive value for our vast and growing customer base.”

    “Brent and the entire BigCommerce team have done an incredible job building the business for nearly a decade, and I am honored to take on this new role at one of the most exciting companies in ecommerce today,” said Travis Hess. “At BigCommerce, we have an incredible base of customers, employees and partners coupled with a robust and differentiating suite of capabilities. The opportunity ahead of us is huge and nothing short of exciting. I look forward to working side-by-side with our team to help our customers get the most out of our offerings, and bring our business through its next phase of growth.”

    As part of today’s release, BigCommerce reaffirms its financial guidance for the third quarter of fiscal 2024 as previously provided on August 1, 2024.

    About BigCommerce

    BigCommerce (Nasdaq: BIGC) is a leading open SaaS and composable ecommerce platform that empowers brands and retailers of all sizes to build, innovate and grow their businesses online. BigCommerce provides its customers sophisticated enterprise-grade functionality, customization and performance with simplicity and ease-of-use. Tens of thousands of B2C and B2B companies across 150 countries and numerous industries rely on BigCommerce, including Burrow, Coldwater Creek, Francesca’s, Harvey Nichols, King Arthur Baking Co., MKM Building Supplies, United Aqua Group and Uplift Desk. For more information, please visit http://www.bigcommerce.com or follow us on X and LinkedIn.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “outlook,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “project,” “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “can,” “predict,”“potential,” “strategy, “target,” “explore,” “continue,” or the negative of these terms, and similar expressions intended to identify forward-looking statements. However, not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. These statements may relate to our market size and growth strategy, our estimated and projected costs, margins, revenue, expenditures and customer and financial growth rates, our financial outlook, our plans and objectives for future operations, growth, initiatives or strategies. By their nature, these statements are subject to numerous uncertainties and risks, including factors beyond our control, that could cause actual results, performance or achievement to differ materially and adversely from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. These assumptions, uncertainties and risks include that, among others, our business would be harmed by any decline in new customers, renewals or upgrades, our limited operating history makes it difficult to evaluate our prospects and future results of operations, we operate in competitive markets, we may not be able to sustain our revenue growth rate in the future, our business would be harmed by any significant interruptions, delays or outages in services from our platform or certain social media platforms, and a cybersecurity-related attack, significant data breach or disruption of the information technology systems or networks could negatively affect our business. Additional risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements are included under the caption “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and the future quarterly and current reports that we file with the SEC. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date the statements are made and are based on information available to BigCommerce at the time those statements are made and/or management’s good faith belief as of that time with respect to future events. BigCommerce assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date they were made, except as required by law.

    Media Relations Contact
    BigCommerceICRPR@icrinc.com  

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cassidy Announces Grant for Small Business Incubator in Jefferson Parish

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy
    BATON ROUGE – This morning, U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) joined officials from JEDCO (Jefferson Parish Economic Development Commission), Greater New Orleans, Inc., and the Louisiana Department of Economic Development to announce the launch of the GNO Food and Beverage Incubator at the Churchill Technology and Business Park. Nearly half of the incubator’s start-up costs were provided by a U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant.
    “Louisiana’s food is the best in the world and this incubator will help keep it that way,” said Dr. Cassidy. “Chefs and caterers will use its kitchen space to serve new clients. They’ll grow their businesses and add to our culinary legacy.”
    JEDCO recently was awarded $4.2 million from various agencies to launch the GNO Food and Beverage Incubator, including $2 million from the EDA. This incubator was made necessary after the closing of Edible Enterprises, the only food and beverage incubator in the Greater New Orleans area, which sustained severe damage from Hurricane Ida.
    The food and beverage industry already has an enormous impact on Louisiana’s economy, especially via tourism. According to Oxford Economics in 2022, over $4.7 billion in direct, indirect, and induced food and beverage sales were generated by visitors to Louisiana. Additionally, the National Restaurant Association says there were 11,275 restaurants last year in Louisiana, supporting over 200,000 jobs.
    The incubator will provide small food and beverage businesses and start-ups with commercial kitchen space and technical assistance, in order for them to grow and service their clients. It will include three commercial kitchens and training and demonstration space, totaling 15,000 square feet.
    Cassidy praised everyone involved with the incubator for their efforts and was thanked for his support in a statement by JEDCO President and CEO Jerry Bologna.
    “It was an honor to welcome Senator Cassidy to Churchill Technology and Business Park today to announce the development of the Greater New Orleans Food + Beverage Incubator,” said Mr. Bologna. “JEDCO received a $2 million EDA grant and matching state and local dollars that will fund the design, engineering and construction of the facility, which fulfills a critical regional need. This incubator will be the only facility of its kind in the area, further solidifying Jefferson Parish and all of Greater New Orleans as a destination for culinary manufacturing and innovation. This project would not be possible without the support of our federal delegation. We are tremendously grateful for Senator Cassidy’s support.” 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Innventure LLC and Learn CW Investment Corporation Announce Closing of Business Combination

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ORLANDO, Fla., Oct. 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Innventure, Inc. (Nasdaq: INV) and Learn CW Investment Corporation (NASDAQ: LCW) (“Learn CW”), a special purpose acquisition company, today announced the completion of their previously announced business combination (“Business Combination”). The Business Combination was approved at an extraordinary general meeting of Learn CW’s shareholders on September 30, 2024. Upon the completion of the Business Combination, the combined company changed its name to Innventure, Inc. and its common stock is expected to begin trading on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the new ticker symbol “INV” beginning on October 3, 2024.

    In connection with the closing of the Business Combination, Innventure is expected to ring the Closing Bell at 4 p.m. EST on October 3, 2024 at the Nasdaq Marketsite.

    “We’re thrilled to reach this milestone, which supports our goal to found, fund and operate companies that offer transformative technology solutions,” said Bill Haskell, CEO of Innventure. “We believe becoming a public company creates a unique opportunity to offer investors access to technologies with early-stage economics and late-stage risk. I’m grateful to our partners at Learn CW for recognizing the value of our unique business model and supporting our vision to be a conglomerate of majority-owned companies. I’d also like to thank our multinational corporation partners for their engagement and collaboration, and the trust they put in us to commercialize their breakthrough technologies. We look forward to growing Innventure and maximizing shareholder value over the long term.”

    Rob Hutter, CEO of Learn CW, added, “As someone who has spent my career in venture creation, I am thrilled to help bring Innventure to the public market. I believe this public listing will further accelerate Innventure’s credibility and standing as the innovation launch partner of choice for the world’s largest companies, giving Innventure, in my opinion, the pick of the best opportunities for years to come and enabling investors to share in a remarkable stream of innovative companies that could compound over time and that are available few other places.”

    Innventure uses operational expertise to take what it believes to be breakthrough technologies sourced from multinational corporations to market. In the process, Innventure builds and scales companies around these technologies using a systematic, quantitative and repeatable analysis. Innventure has launched three such companies since its inception: PureCycle Technologies, Inc., AeroFlexx and Accelsius. PureCycle became a publicly traded company in 2021.

    Advisors
    Jones Day acted as legal advisor to Innventure, and Sidley Austin LLP acted as legal advisor to Learn CW. The Maples Group acted as Cayman legal advisor to Learn CW.

    About Innventure
    Innventure founds, funds, and operates companies with a focus on transformative, sustainable technology solutions acquired or licensed from multinational corporations. As owner-operators, Innventure takes what it believes to be breakthrough technologies from early evaluation to scaled commercialization utilizing an approach designed to help mitigate risk as it builds disruptive companies it believes have the potential to achieve a target enterprise value of at least $1 billion. Innventure defines ‘‘disruptive’’ as innovations that have the ability to significantly change the way businesses, industries, markets and/or consumers operate.

    About Learn CW Investment Corporation
    Learn CW Investment Corporation (“Learn CW”) was formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar Business Combination with one or more businesses. Learn CW is sponsored by CWAM LC Sponsor LLC, an affiliate of Learn Capital, LLC (“Learn Capital”) and Commonwealth Asset Management. Learn Capital is a leading venture capital firm focused on early- and mid-stage investments in the $5.4 trillion global education sector. Learn Capital was founded in 2008 by Rob Hutter and Greg Mauro, who formerly managed an affiliate of Founders Fund. The firm possesses decades of founding, operating, and investing experience in the education, consumer, hard tech, and enterprise technology sectors. Commonwealth Asset Management is a Los Angeles-based asset management platform founded in June 2019 and led by Adam Fisher, who is the former Head of Global Macro and Real Estate at Soros Fund Management LLC and the former founder and Chief Investment Officer of Commonwealth Opportunity Capital, GP LLC.

    Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
    This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including statements regarding the parties or the parties’ respective management team’s expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions, plans, prospects or strategies regarding the future, including the anticipated benefits of the Business Combination, including revenue growth and financial performance, product expansion and services, and the financial condition, results of operations, earnings outlook and prospects of Innventure and/or Learn CW, including, in all cases, statements for the period following the consummation of the Business Combination. Any statements contained herein that are not statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. In addition, any statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “outlook,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “will,” “would” and other similar words and expressions, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on the current expectations and beliefs of the management of Learn CW and Innventure in light of their respective experience and their perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments and their potential effects on Learn CW and Innventure as well as other factors they believe are appropriate in the circumstances. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting Learn CW or Innventure will be those that we have anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties (some of which are beyond the control of the parties) or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements, including those discussed and identified in the public filings made or to be made with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) by Learn CW, including in the final prospectus relating to Learn CW’s initial public offering, which was filed with the SEC on October 12, 2021 under the heading “Risk Factors,” or made or to be made by Learn SPAC Holdco, Inc., including in the registration statement on Form S-4, which was filed in connection with the Business Combination and has been declared effective by the SEC, and the definitive proxy statement/consent solicitation statement/prospectus relating to the Business Combination which was mailed to the Learn CW shareholders and sent to the unitholders of Innventure LLC. These risks and uncertainties include: expectations regarding Innventure’s strategies and future financial performance, including its future business plans, expansion and acquisition plans or objectives, prospective performance and opportunities and competitors, revenues, products and services, pricing, operating expenses, product and service acceptance, market trends, liquidity, cash flows and uses of cash, capital expenditures, and Innventure’s ability to invest in growth initiatives; the implementation, market acceptance and success of Innventure’s business model and growth strategy; Innventure’s future capital requirements and sources and uses of cash; that Innventure will have sufficient capital upon the approval of the Business Combination to operate as anticipated; Innventure’s ability to obtain funding for its operations and future growth; developments and projections relating to Innventure’s competitors and industry; the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against Learn SPAC Holdco, Inc., Learn CW or Innventure following the closing of the Business Combination; the risk that the announcement and consummation of the proposed Business Combination disrupts Innventure’s current plans; the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the Business Combination; unexpected costs related to the proposed Business Combination; limited liquidity and trading of Learn CW’s securities; geopolitical risk and changes in applicable laws or regulations; the possibility that Learn CW and/or Innventure may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; the potential characterization of Innventure as an investment company subject to the Investment Company Act of 1940; and operational risk. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in these forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements in this press release are made as of the date hereof, based on information available to Learn CW and Innventure as of the date hereof, and Learn CW and Innventure assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable law.

    Media Contact: Laurie Steinberg, Solebury Strategic Communications
    press@innventure.com

    Investor Relations Contact: Sloan Bohlen, Solebury Strategic Communications
    investorrelations@innventure.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Warnock Joins Bipartisan, Bicameral Push for Agricultural Disaster Relief Funding Following Hurricane Helene

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock – Georgia

    Senator Warnock Joins Bipartisan, Bicameral Push for Agricultural Disaster Relief Funding Following Hurricane Helene

    Senator Reverend Warnock is a key member of the Senate Agriculture committee and longtime champion of Georgia’s agriculture community 
    Senator Reverend Warnock is urging congressional leadership to ensure disaster relief resources are made available to agricultural producers following the devastating impacts of Hurricane Helene
    Senator Reverend Warnock has previously pushed Congress to approve additional disaster relief for Georgia’s farmers
    Senator Reverend Warnock and lawmakers: “To prevent deep and lasting economic damage to the agricultural industry in the southeastern United States, it is imperative that Congress make appropriations as soon as possible upon the completion of damage assessments to fully fund unmet agricultural disaster relief needs in our states and across the nation”

    Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), a key member of the Senate Agriculture committee, joined 34 of his colleagues in a bipartisan, bicameral effort to push Congressional leaders to approve urgent disaster relief funding that will help prevent deep and lasting economic damage to the agricultural industry in the southeastern United States following the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene. Last week, Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida as a devastating Category 4 hurricane before making its way through Georgia and downgrading to a tropical storm affecting South Carolina, North Carolina, Kentucky, and Tennessee—with deep, disastrous impacts across agricultural sectors. In a new letter led by U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA) and U.S. Representative Austin Scott (R-GA-08), Senator Warnock and a bipartisan group of lawmakers representing southeastern U.S. states urged Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to work with Congress and the Biden Administration to ensure disaster relief resources are made available to agricultural producers following the damaging impacts of Hurricane Helene to the state’s crops and livestock.

    “To prevent deep and lasting economic damage to the agricultural industry in the southeastern United States, it is imperative that Congress make appropriations as soon as possible upon the completion of damage assessments to fully fund unmet agricultural disaster relief needs in our states and across the nation,” Senator Warnock and colleagues wrote to congressional leadership. “Farmers and growers nationwide, not only those damaged by Helene, have now faced multiple growing seasons without sufficient federal support. Our constituents are counting on us to act swiftly.”

    Warnock, Ossoff and Scott were joined in their letter by U.S. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) and U.S. Representatives Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA-01), Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (D-GA-02), Drew Ferguson (R-GA-03), Hank Johnson (D-GA-04), Nikema Williams (D-GA-05), Rich McCormick (R-GA-06), Lucy McBath (D-GA-07), Andrew Clyde (R-GA-09), Mike Collins (R-GA-10), Barry Loudermilk (R-GA-11), Rick Allen (R-GA-12), David Scott (D-GA-13), Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA-14), Darren Soto (D-FL-09), Maxwell Frost (D-FL-10), Kathy Castor (D-FL-14), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL-20), Jared Moskowitz (D-FL-23), Frederica Wilson (D-FL-24), Morgan McGarvey (D-KY-03), Don Davis (D-NC-01), Deborah Ross (D-NC-02), Greg Murphy (R-NC-03), Kathy Manning (D-NC-06), Dan Bishop (R-NC-08), Chuck Edwards (R-NC-11), Alma Adams (D-NC-12) Wiley Nickel (D-NC-13), Jeff Jackson (D-NC-14), and Diana Harshbarger (R-TN-01).

    “Federal agricultural disaster assistance is essential to help our states and our Nation recover. We urge you to work with the administration to ensure disaster relief resources are made available to our growers. Thank you for your support, and we look forward to working with you to secure these critical resources,” Senator Warnock and the lawmakers continued.

    Senator Warnock has been a vocal proponent for additional disaster aid and resources for Georgia’s farmers. Prior to Hurricane Helene, Senator Warnock pushed the Biden Administration to support Georgia’s agricultural industry following natural disasters, including urging the Administration to provide funding for agricultural disaster assistance in the President’s supplemental appropriations requests to Congress, noting the particular impact of Hurricane Idalia and the early freeze in March 2023 on Georgia’s key agricultural industries. Following Hurricane Idalia, Senator Warnock also successfully passed legislation strengthening funding for Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Small Business Administration to address storm damage. In December 2023, Senator Warnock traveled to Albany and joined local growers on a pecan farm damaged by severe storms to highlight his commitment to South Georgia farmers—including his focus on securing federal disaster assistance to Georgia farmers impacted by these storms, and protecting permanent disaster assistance to provide relief following future natural disasters and stronger storms. The Senator has also championed improving safety net programs for Georgia’s specialty crops and securing federal relief for producers following natural disasters, previously introducing the bipartisan Protecting America’s Orchardists and Nursery Tree Growers Act to reform the Tree Assistance Program (TAP) so it will work more efficiently, improve margins for producers, and help them compete with foreign imports. In 2021, Senator Warnock joined Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) to introduce legislation that will help America’s landowners recover from the loss of timber after natural disasters; the Disaster Reforestation Act improves the tax code to allow forest owners to deduct the value of their timber prior to the loss caused by a natural disaster.

    Read the bipartisan, bicameral letter HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Reverend Warnock Champions Bipartisan Push for Quick Passage of Disaster Relief Legislation

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock – Georgia

    Senator Reverend Warnock Champions Bipartisan Push for Quick Passage of Disaster Relief Legislation

    Senator Reverend Warnock is urging congressional leadership to act urgently to meet needs of Georgians and Americans impacted by Hurricane Helene
    Effort follows Senator Reverend Warnock’s previous push to congressional leadership to ensure disaster relief resources are made available to agricultural producers following the devastating impacts of Hurricane Helene 
    ICYMI: Senator Reverend Warnock Meets with Community Leaders, Surveys Damage in Augusta Following Hurricane Helene 
    Senator Reverend Warnock and lawmakers: “Although the true level of devastation is still unfolding, it is clear that Congress must act to meet the unmet needs in our states and address the scope and scale of destruction experienced by our constituents. This may even require Congress to come back in October to ensure we have enough time to enact legislation before the end of this calendar year”

    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and 11 of his colleagues made a bipartisan push urging Senate leadership to quickly pass supplemental government funding legislation to support the millions of Georgians and Americans affected by Hurricane Helene. In a letter to addressed to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Senate Appropriations Chair Patty Murray (D-WA), and Senate Appropriations Vice Chair Susan Collins (R-ME), Senator Warnock and his colleagues lamented the loss of life across the southeast, destruction of communities, and ongoing impacts following Hurricane Helen’s landfall as recovery efforts continue. In the letter, Senator Warnock and his colleagues also indicated that Congress may need to return into session in October to ensure enough time to enact disaster relief legislation this year.

    “The devastation from Hurricane Helene across the southeastern United States is simply inconceivable…Because of a lack of cell service, we anticipate even greater tragedy to unfold in the days and weeks ahead as communications and power are restored and we can understand the full scope of this disaster,” Senator Warnock and his colleagues wrote.

    “Even preliminary damage assessments indicate that, at a minimum, the total damage and economic loss will be in the tens of billions of dollars. This amount will likely soar as recovery efforts continue and the full picture of this ruinous disaster becomes clear,” Senator Warnock and his colleagues continued.

    The letter was led by U.S. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) and, in addition to Senator Warnock, was signed by U.S. Senators Ted Budd (R-NC), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Tim Scott (R-SC), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Rick Scott (R-FL), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Mark Warner (D-VA), and Tim Kaine (D-VA).

    Senator Warnock has been a vocal proponent for additional disaster aid and resources for Georgians, including successfully passing legislation strengthening funding for Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Small Business Administration to address storm damage.

    Text of the full letter is available HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Baldwin Introduces Bill to Prevent Fentanyl Trafficking Through U.S. Transportation Networks

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Tammy Baldwin

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) introduced new legislation to crack down on the trafficking of illicit synthetic drugs, like fentanyl, using the U.S. transportation network. The bill would create first-ever inspection strategies to stop drug smuggling by commercial aircraft, railroads, vehicles, and ships. The legislation would boost state, local and tribal law enforcement resources, deploy cutting edge non-intrusive detection technologies, and increase inspections at ports of entry.

    “I’ve heard from parents who lost children, law enforcement fighting on the front lines, and advocates – all demanding we do more to stop the scourge of fentanyl,” said Senator Baldwin. “I’m fighting this crisis on all fronts – from stopping the precursor chemicals being manufactured in China, to boosting access to overdose reversal drugs, and everything in between. I’m proud to lead this legislation to give our law enforcement the tools they need to stop drug traffickers from using American airports, railways, ports, and roads to smuggle fentanyl into our communities.”

    According to U.S. Government authorities, drug traffickers exploit the U.S. transportation network to smuggle fentanyl, precursor chemicals and other illicit drugs into and throughout the country. Once drugs have entered the country, drug traffickers continue to rely on the national transportation network—trucks, trains and commercial aircraft—to move their product to its final destination.

    Senator Baldwin introduced this legislation with Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Jon Tester (D-MT), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM). The Stop Smuggling Illicit Synthetic Drugs on U.S. Transportation Networks Act of 2024 would:

    • Create a National Prevention Plan: Directs the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) to develop a comprehensive national strategy that examines the entire U.S. transportation network and ports of entry to prevent the smuggling of illicit synthetic drugs.
    • Boost Illegal Drug Detection by Air, Sea, Rail and Road: The bill establishes four new transportation-specific inspection programs—private and commercial aircraft, railroads, commercial vehicles and maritime vessels—to expand detection across all transportation modes and prevent interstate smuggling. State, local, tribal and territorial law enforcement would carry out inspections using non-intrusive technologies and canines, in coordination with federal law enforcement authorities – and without unduly delaying the movement of goods or interrupting interstate commerce.
    • Deploy High-Tech Detection Tools: Directs the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and the ONDCP to accelerate new emerging, non-intrusive technologies, including integrating AI and quantum, to detect illicit synthetic drugs. National laboratories, including Pacific Northwest National Laboratories, are already developing next-generation technologies for fentanyl detection. AI could help increase capacities to integrate multiple sources of data and overcome challenges in identifying fentanyl when it is mixed with other opioids to evade detection.
    • Increase Port of Entry Drug Detections: Currently, only 1-2 percent of passenger vehicles and 15-17 percent of commercial vehicles are scanned at U.S. ports of entry. The bill requires Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to inspect 100 percent of motor vehicles and railroads entering the country through a port of entry within five years, and all civil air cargo and maritime cargo within ten years.
    • Support Law Enforcement Workforce, Technology and Training: Authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security to provide grants to state, local, tribal and territorial law enforcement to acquire new technology and canines and support overtime and other program-related expenses. It would also increase federal support to state and local crime scene investigators and forensics laboratories to process evidence related to fentanyl crimes and deaths.
    • Improve Data and Information Sharing to Prevent Drug Trafficking: Requires the Director of ONDCP to create a public-private task force to improve intelligence and information sharing among federal, state and local authorities and the private sector to combat drug trafficking.

    “The National Narcotic Officers’ Associations’ Coalition applauds Senator Cantwell for her work on the Stop Smuggling Illicit Synthetic Drugs on U.S. Transportation Networks Act. The surge in drug poisoning deaths, especially from fentanyl, shows that more needs to be done. We know that a large portion of illegal narcotics are trafficked through our transportation systems, and this legislation will provide the needed resources such as advanced detection technology and canines to enhance law enforcement’s ability to conduct inspections on our nation’s transportation systems,” said Eric Brown, President of the National Narcotic Officers’ Associations’ Coalition.

    “The Major Cities Chiefs Association thanks Senator Cantwell for taking an innovative approach to fentanyl interdiction with the Stop Smuggling Illicit Synthetic Drugs on U.S. Transportation Networks Act. In cities across the country, resources are strained and the fentanyl crisis is a factor. Federal support is welcome as MCCA member agencies work to curb this crisis and promote safer communities and public health. We look forward to additional engagement on the matter as it moves forward in Congress,” said Laura Cooper, Executive Director of the Major Cities Chiefs Association.

    “Deaths and adverse events from illicit synthetic drugs continue to be at epidemic proportions, yet funding for forensics labs remains stagnant.  This bill prioritizes resources for the professionals on the front lines of the fight against illicit drugs, including fentanyl and other novel psychoactive substances.  We commend members of the Commerce Committee for taking this approach to ensure our forensic experts have the necessary resources and data to combat this epidemic,” said Matthew Gamette, Chair of the Consortium of Forensic Science Organizations.

    “The Association of State Criminal Investigative Agencies (ASCIA) appreciates Senator Cantwell’s introduction of the Stop Smuggling Illicit Synthetic Drugs on U.S. Transportation Networks Act of 2024. While recent figures show progress in reducing drug poisoning deaths in the U.S., we are nowhere near where we need to be to protect Americans from the ongoing threat.  This bill would strengthen the ability of agencies at all levels of government to detect and disrupt drug trafficking,” said Drew Evans, President of the Association of State Criminal Investigative Agencies.

    “The National High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Directors Association appreciates Senator Cantwell’s efforts to combat the fentanyl crisis and her support for providing critically needed tools and resources for state, local, tribal and federal law enforcement to interdict fentanyl shipments before negatively impacting the communities across the country. Given the profound impact fentanyl has had on families, schools, and communities, this bill will be instrumental in enabling law enforcement agencies participating in the HIDTA program to develop new and innovative strategies to tackle this crisis,” said F. Mike McDaniel, President of the National High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Directors Association.

    “The Major County Sheriffs of America (MCSA) strongly supports the Stop Smuggling Illicit Synthetic Drugs on U.S. Transportation Networks Act of 2024. This vital legislation will equip law enforcement with effective tools to combat drug smuggling and the fentanyl crisis, while also enhancing data sharing in the fight against drug trafficking. We extend our gratitude to Senators Cantwell, Tester, Baldwin, Rosen, and Luján for their leadership in advancing this important initiative,” said Megan Noland, Executive Director of Major County Sheriffs of America.

    Senator Baldwin has been fighting to combat the fentanyl and opioid crisis, disrupting supply chains and bolstering support for prevention and recovery services. As Chair of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee that oversees the U.S. Coast Guard, Senator Baldwin held a hearing in September  on the Coast Guard’s role in combatting the fentanyl crisis and stemming the flow of drugs into the United States. She worked to pass the FEND Off Fentanyl Act to stem the flow of the drug from coming into the U.S. by cracking down on Chinese chemical suppliers and Mexican cartels. Senator Baldwin also fought to pass a bipartisan bill that would have helped bolster border security and technology and reform parts of the immigration system.

    As Chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS), Senator Baldwin wrote the government funding bill that funds the opioid response program and successfully fought to get it signed into law. Senator Baldwin also led the charge to improve the reach of the funding through her State Opioid Response Grant Authorization Act, giving Wisconsin increased funding and more flexibility in administering federal investments.

    A one-pager on this bill is available here. Full text of this legislation is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Pharma company funding for patient advocacy groups needs to be transparent

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Joel Lexchin, Professor Emeritus of Health Policy and Management, York University, Canada

    As a first step in determining whose interests patient groups align with, we need more transparency about the source of their revenue. (Shutterstock)

    Patient groups should be playing a central role in Canada’s health-care system, advocating for their members by promoting the visibility of their conditions, pushing for more rapid and accurate diagnoses and lobbying for the introduction and funding of new treatments and drugs that may help relieve their members’ symptoms and extend their lives.

    However, all of this requires resources. In the past, groups could turn to the federal government for funding, but that option dried up in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

    Pharmaceutical industry funding

    In response, patient groups looked to the pharmaceutical industry to be able to continue functioning. How much money Canadian groups get from drug companies is largely unknown.

    Neither the federal government nor the major industry association, Innovative Medicines Canada (IMC), require companies to report on payments to groups and similarly there are no rules saying that patient groups must reveal who gives them money or how much. Even if groups are registered charities, that type of granular information is not collected in reports they have to file with the Canada Revenue Agency.

    How much money Canadian patient advocacy groups get from drug companies is largely unknown.
    (Shutterstock)

    There is one source of partial information that has not been investigated until now. Since 2016, six companies have voluntarily released detailed annual statements about which groups they give money to and the value of those payments — GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, Novartis, Roche, Sanofi and Teva.

    I have analyzed the available reports from these companies. Because pharma companies have a history of trying to buy influence — a topic I’ve researched extensively — it’s important to look at what and who they are funding. All told, from 2016 to 2023, they gave more than $30 million in 671 separate payments to 263 groups. The $30 million figure is a minimum because not all of the six companies report in any individual year. There are also an additional 42 member companies in IMC that don’t file any reports. (Teva does not belong to IMC.)

    The median amount that a patient group received was $26,000 but that number hides the extremes. The Black Health Alliance received a single payment of $250 in 2023 from Novartis whereas the World Federation of Hemophilia, based in Montréal, got over $4.5 million from Roche and Sanofi between 2020 to 2023. Fourteen groups accounted for almost one-half of all payments groups received. Although Novartis only reported in three years (2021-23) it gave the largest amount of money, over $7.5 million.

    Conflicts of interest

    Receiving money creates a conflict-of-interest (COI), where a COI is defined by the U.S. Institute of Medicine (now the National Academy of Medicine) as “a set of circumstances that creates a risk that…judgment or actions regarding a primary interest will be unduly influenced by a secondary interest.” In this case, that would mean that the patient group was looking out for the interests of the drug company that gave it money as opposed to the interests of its patient members.

    However, just because groups received money from drug companies does not necessarily equate to the positions and actions that they took. There is a wide range of positions taken by patient groups that have received pharma funding, and when their positions align with those of their sponsors, these associations do not establish cause and effect.

    The Canadian Organization for Rare Disorders that received just shy of $450,000 between 2018 and 2023 from a combination of GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis, Roche and Sanofi has publicly criticized the legislation that potentially creates the first steps to a universal, first-dollar coverage pharmacare plan.

    Twenty-eight patient groups, including Save Your Skin Foundation and Myeloma Canada, lobbied the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board to try to stop the board from instituting reforms to how it regulated drug prices. Save Your Skin Foundation got just over $750,000 in drug company money and Myeloma Canada got $831,000.

    Pharma companies have a history of offering funding and other resources that have been shown to influence health-care professionals.
    (Shutterstock)

    Some groups that take drug company money do not necessarily align with the interests of their funders. The president of the Canadian Spondylitis Association (CSA) pulled his organization out of a focus-group project organized by Janssen and AbbVie because he refused to sign off on a report claiming that patients were strongly opposed to switching from the medication Humira, sold by AbbVie, to a less expensive biosimilar.

    Arthritis Consumer Experts (ACE) used to receive grants from Janssen and AbbVie until it also came out in favour of switching to biosimilars. (CSA received over $100,000 from Merck and Novartis, while ACE $267,000 from Merck and Novartis as well as Teva.)

    How pharma funds buy influence

    Pharma companies have a history of offering funding and other resources that have been shown to influence health-care professionals, which has extended the reach of pharma companies’ interests into virtually all aspects of health care. Funding patient groups may be another strategy to further extend the reach of those interests, which do not always align with those of patients and the public.

    As a first step in trying to determine whose interests patient groups align with, we need more transparency about the source of their revenue. The European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA) code requires that member companies disclose on their websites a list of patient organizations to which they provide financial support, the amount of the payment and a description of the nature of the support or services provided.

    However, a study of industry payments in Nordic countries concluded that the EFPIA code fails to ensure transparency and compliance. EFPIA allows national industry associations the freedom to determine how its code will be implemented and how much oversight is required, leading to disparate transparency practices. EFPIA has not created a disclosure template to standardize reporting. Finally, EPFIA’s code does not apply to companies that are not members.

    Industry codes are not the answer.

    Before the Ontario election in 2019, the government was finalizing regulations for Bill 160 that required all drug and device manufacturers to disclose payments to patient groups. The legislative process stopped when the government changed post-election. The federal government should pick up the mandate on this issue and pass similar legislation to make reporting mandatory on a national basis.

    Between 2021-2024, Joel Lexchin received payments for writing a brief on the role of promotion in generating prescriptions for a legal firm, for being on a panel about pharmacare and for co-writing an article for a peer-reviewed medical journal. He is a member of the Boards of Canadian Doctors for Medicare and the Canadian Health Coalition. He receives royalties from University of Toronto Press and James Lorimer & Co. Ltd. for books he has written.

    – ref. Pharma company funding for patient advocacy groups needs to be transparent – https://theconversation.com/pharma-company-funding-for-patient-advocacy-groups-needs-to-be-transparent-239197

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: WA Law Enforcement & Tribes Receive $6.9M From DOJ For Resources to Fight Fentanyl Crisis, Gun Violence, Violence Against Women

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington Maria Cantwell
    10.02.24
    WA Law Enforcement & Tribes Receive $6.9M From DOJ For Resources to Fight Fentanyl Crisis, Gun Violence, Violence Against Women
    Grants go to municipal police departments across the state, as well as the Quileute, Kalispel, & Colville Tribes; Money to help prosecution of sex & domestic violence crimes, speed ID of fentanyl overdoses, reduce sex crime DNA testing backlog
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) announced that several state and municipal law enforcement agencies, tribal justice departments and programs, and medical examiner offices will receive a total of $6,915,941 from the Department of Justice to help address some of the State of Washington’s most pressing public safety challenges. 
    “Washington state has made tremendous progress over the past decade in nearly eliminating its 30,000 rape kit backlog, but we can’t let up — this funding will help police labs test more DNA samples faster,” Sen. Cantwell said. “These federal resources will also help us better identify fatal drug overdoses, and provide more services to support and protect women in our cities and in tribal communities.”
    The money will be used to, among other things, process DNA evidence faster, prosecute violence against women and children cases, identify fatal overdoses, ease inmates’ transitions upon release, and mitigate the impact of juvenile gun violence.
    The grants announced by DOJ today include:
    $2,459,640 for the Washington State Patrol (WSP) in FY24 Formula DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction funding. This grant will provide additional training, supplies, equipment, and wages for the five existing casework DNA laboratories in the WSP Crime Laboratory Division. These resources will help increase the number of samples analyzed, as well as shorten the turnaround time for sample analysis.
    $1,710,078 for the Quileute Indian Tribe in FY24 Office on Violence Against Women Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction Grant Program funding. This grant will help support the tribe in prosecuting domestic and sexual violence, trafficking, stalking, violence against children, violation of a protection order, and assault of a tribal officer. The project also aims to help the tribe maintain sovereignty, including when a crime is committed by a non-tribal member on tribal land.
    $863,977 for the Lummi Indian Business Council in FY24 Office on Violence Against Women Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction Grant Program funding. This grant will help support the tribe in prosecuting domestic and sexual violence, trafficking, stalking, violence against children, violation of a protection order, and assault of a tribal officer. The project also aims to help the tribe maintain sovereignty, including when a crime is committed by a non-tribal member on tribal land.
    $610,000 for the Kalispel Indian Community in Office on Violence Against Women FY24 Tribal Sexual Assault Services Program funds. This grant will help the Kalispel Indian Tribe hire a full-time sexual assault advocate to provide crisis intervention, emergency services, advocacy and referrals; spread awareness for resources that support survivors of sexual assault; and manage an emergency hotline.
    $473,385 for the Washington State Patrol (WSP) in FY24 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program formula funding. This grant will be divided up across multiple law enforcement agencies to improve post-mortem exams, reduce backlogs, and better identify fatal drug overdoses. Recipients will include:
    $211,257 for the King County Medical Examiner to support a statewide fatal drug overdose surveillance network;
    $67,358 for the Pierce County Medical Examiner to outsource postmortem toxicology testing to a private laboratory;
    $33,500 to the Chelan County Coroner to purchase a mortuary cooling system and powered body lift with a scale;
    $22,700 for the Franklin County Coroner to purchase a yearlong maintenance contract for a drug identifying system, a body lift, and roller rack;
    $1,895 for the Lewis County Coroner to purchase a generator and battery for a mass fatality trailer and six scene lights;
    $19,972 for the Skagit County Coroner to purchase a fingerprint scanner, two elevated autopsy carts, and a scissor lift;
    $58,225 for the Spokane County Medical Examiner to purchase testing kits for a drug identifying system and adult body bags;
    $8,120 for the Yakima Valley Local Crime Laboratory to help obtain accreditation for the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network Program;
    $14,067 for the WSP Missing Persons and Unidentified Persons Unit to fund travel and registration for training and consultants to reduce the backlog;
    $31,249 for the WSP Toxicology Laboratory to outsource evidence kits to coroners and medical examiners across the state.
    $424,623 for the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation in FY24 Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation funding. This funding will aid the tribe in hiring a new Reentry Coordinator to monitor inmates before their release, while in transition, and the following six months. The coordinator will help with identifying housing needs, employment, education, mental health and substance abuse counseling services, and more. 
    $268,588 for the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC) in FY24 Project Safe Neighborhoods Formula Grant Program funding. This grant will help WASPC foster strategic partnerships with state and local partners across the Pacific Northwest, with the goal of reducing juvenile gun violence.
    $105,650 for the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC) in FY24 Project Safe Neighborhoods Formula Grant Program funds. This grant will help the Kennewick Police Department continue under the Project Safe Neighborhood initiative for the Eastern District of Washington. KPD launched their Project Safe Neighborhood project one year ago to focus on improving data-informed procedures for deploying police and reducing violent crime – the first year focused on establishing a strategic plan, and the second year will focus on data-informed efforts specific to gun violence.
    For decades, Sen. Cantwell has remained a steadfast supporter of municipal and tribal law enforcement across Washington state, and has advocated for technology that helps investigators use DNA to solve crimes faster. Last year, she reintroduced a bill to reauthorize the Debbie Smith Act through 2029, which would provide state and local law enforcement agencies with resources to reduce the national backlog in analyzing DNA evidence from untested rape kits. In 2002, Sen. Cantwell cosponsored the Advancing Justice Through DNA Technology Act, which unanimously passed in the Senate. This bill included key provisions of the Debbie Smith Act and authorized $275 million over five years.
    Sen. Cantwell has pushed for more resources to help combat violence against women and children — as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives at the time, Sen. Cantwell voted to pass the Violence Against Women Act in 1994. She has continued to support reauthorizing and expanding this important law, such as by strengthening protections for indigenous women and children. According to the National Institute for Justice, over 1.5 million or 84% of American Indian and Alaska Native women report experiencing violence in their lifetime. To help tribal communities protect against domestic violence, Sen. Cantwell championed key provisions in the 2013 and 2022 VAWA reauthorizations, which secured a tribe’s power to seek justice against non-native perpetrators of domestic violence against Native women and children.
    Sen. Cantwell also drafted legislation that would help municipalities adopt a real-time mapping software that keeps track of overdoses  — helping first responders, law enforcement, and public health professionals better direct resources to places experiencing spikes. She introduced the Opioid Overdose Data Collection Enhancement Act last month.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Russian Man Sentenced for Running an Illegal Money Transmitting Business

    Source: US State Government of Utah

    Feliks Medvedev, 43, of Buford, Georgia, was sentenced today to three years and 10 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $10,000 fine for conducting an unlicensed money transmitting business which transferred over $150 million in Russian money. 

    According to the court documents and other information presented in court, Medvedev is a Russian citizen who resides in North Georgia. He registered eight companies in Georgia that were used to transmit more than $150 million in over 1,300 transactions. The companies were purportedly headquartered in Buford and Dacula, Georgia, but they did not have typical business expenses or employees. The money was used, in part, to purchase over $65 million in overseas gold bullion. Medvedev transferred millions of dollars overseas from multiple bank accounts in the United States.

    As part of the conspiracy, Medvedev worked with a Russian company and was directed by multiple Russian nationals at that company to make illegal transfers of funds. Subsequent to Medvedev’s indictment, on Sept. 14, 2023, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, acting pursuant to Executive Order 14024, sanctioned two of Medvedev’s alleged co-conspirators: Russian national Alexey Chubarov and his company KSK Group. Earlier this year, on Feb. 13, Chubarov, KSK Group and Russian national Lev Solyannikov were separately indicted in the Northern District of Georgia for conspiring with Medvedev.

    Medvedev was convicted of the charges on Feb. 7, after he pleaded guilty.

    The FBI and the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security are investigating the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher J. Huber and Norman L. Barnett for the Northern District of Georgia are prosecuting the case.

    This case was coordinated through the Justice Department’s Task Force KleptoCapture, an interagency law enforcement task force dedicated to enforcing the sweeping sanctions, export controls and economic countermeasures that the United States, along with its foreign allies and partners, has imposed in response to Russia’s unprovoked military invasion of Ukraine. Announced by the Attorney General on March 2, 2022, and under the leadership of the Office of the Deputy Attorney General, the task force will continue to leverage all of the department’s tools and authorities to combat efforts to evade or undermine the collective actions taken by the U.S. government in response to Russian military aggression.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Shaheen, Collins Applaud Senate Passage of Bipartisan Resolution to Establish October 2nd as Energy Efficiency Day

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Jeanne Shaheen
    (Washington, DC) – U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Susan Collins (R-ME) announced their bipartisan resolution to designate today, October 2, 2024, as Energy Efficiency Day passed the Senate unanimously. The resolution celebrates and promotes the economic and environmental benefits gained from investing in energy efficiency.
    “Investing in energy efficiency benefits our environment, our businesses and Granite State families,” said Senator Shaheen. “I’m proud the Senate passed our bipartisan resolution designating today as Energy Efficiency Day and celebrating the key role energy efficiency programs play in creating jobs, lowering costs for families and reducing our carbon footprint.”
    “The adoption of energy efficient practices saves consumers in Maine and across the country money,” said Senator Collins. “This resolution is an important reminder of the significant advancements we have made in energy efficiency over the past decade, most recently through the bipartisan infrastructure law.”
    The text of the Senators’ resolution can be found HERE.
    Co-sponsoring the resolution are U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-DE), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Jack Reed (D-RI), Joe Manchin (I-WV), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Angus King (I-ME), Tina Smith (D-MN), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Richard Durbin (D-IL), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Ed Markey (D-MA), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Mark Warner (D-VA) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN).
    Shaheen has championed work to secure federal investments in clean energy and energy efficiency initiatives and to lower energy costs across New Hampshire. In the FY24 government funding bills, Shaheen helped defend key efficiency programs at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) from cuts, including securing $366 million for weatherization efforts and $66 million for the State Energy Program, which works to bring down energy bills for families and communities. Shaheen also secured continued support for the annual U.S. Energy and Employment Report (USEER) that tracks key jobs data in the energy sector.
    Recently, Shaheen, as Chair of the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, hosted a field hearing and resource fair at the University of New Hampshire in Manchester on  investments in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act that can help small businesses lower their energy costs, transition to the clean energy economy and build resilience. Following the field hearing, small businesses participated in a resource fair and met with federal agencies and state business support programs.
    Shaheen was a lead negotiator of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which made huge investments in energy efficiency, including $550 million for Industrial Research and Assessment Centers and assistance for small- and medium-sized manufacturers to implement efficiency upgrades based upon her longstanding bipartisan legislation with former U.S. Senator Rob Portman. Granite Staters looking for energy efficiency resources can check out Senator Shaheen’s Federal Energy Resource Guide.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Costa, Bipartisan Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Expand the Use of Hydrogen to Lower Costs and Reduce Emissions

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jim Costa Representing 16th District of California

    FRESNO, Calif. – U.S. Representatives Jim Costa (CA-21), Eric Sorensen (IL-17), Marc Molinaro (NY-19), Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), and Don Bacon (NE-02) introduced the bipartisan Hydrogen for Industry Act, which creates a program for hydrogen to be used to produce building materials such as steel, cement, glass, chemicals, and fuel.  

    “I am proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation to provide funds for demonstration projects that will showcase hydrogen’s ability to decarbonize the manufacturing, transportation, and agricultural industries,” said Costa. “Sustained investment in hydrogen is necessary to bolster U.S. energy independence and further efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2035.” 

    BACKGROUND
    Hydrogen energy will play an important role as we transition the industrial and transportation sectors to a carbon net-zero future. By promoting the use of hydrogen, the United States can reduce pollution, lower costs for consumers, and help our nation remain competitive in the growing hydrogen economy.     

    The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law authorized $8 billion to develop large-scale hydrogen production programs across the country. Since 2021, there have been major investments in California’s 21st Congressional District, including $24 million for hydrogen-powered buses in Fresno, CA. 

    Costa has been a champion for dairy digesters, and there are over 15 digesters in his district that have allowed dairy farms to advance their sustainability goals and provide a key feedstock for hydrogen production.

    The Hydrogen for Industry Act builds on the Bipartisan Infrastructure law by supporting the development of hydrogen as an emissions reduction solution, including: 

    • Establishing a commercial-scale demonstration program for hydrogen use in heavy industry.
    • Providing competitive grants to hydrogen demonstrations in industries such as iron and steel, cement, chemicals, and refining, among other industrial products.
    • Directing the Secretary of Energy, Secretary of Commerce, and Secretary of Transportation to jointly conduct a study on the impact, cost, and safety. 

     
    The bipartisan Senate version of the bill, S.646, the Hydrogen for Industry Act of 2023, was introduced on March 2, 2023, by Senators John Cornyn (R-TX), Chris Coons (D-DE), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM).  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Russian Man Sentenced for Running an Illegal Money Transmitting Business

    Source: United States Attorneys General

    Feliks Medvedev, 43, of Buford, Georgia, was sentenced today to three years and 10 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $10,000 fine for conducting an unlicensed money transmitting business which transferred over $150 million in Russian money. 

    According to the court documents and other information presented in court, Medvedev is a Russian citizen who resides in North Georgia. He registered eight companies in Georgia that were used to transmit more than $150 million in over 1,300 transactions. The companies were purportedly headquartered in Buford and Dacula, Georgia, but they did not have typical business expenses or employees. The money was used, in part, to purchase over $65 million in overseas gold bullion. Medvedev transferred millions of dollars overseas from multiple bank accounts in the United States.

    As part of the conspiracy, Medvedev worked with a Russian company and was directed by multiple Russian nationals at that company to make illegal transfers of funds. Subsequent to Medvedev’s indictment, on Sept. 14, 2023, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, acting pursuant to Executive Order 14024, sanctioned two of Medvedev’s alleged co-conspirators: Russian national Alexey Chubarov and his company KSK Group. Earlier this year, on Feb. 13, Chubarov, KSK Group and Russian national Lev Solyannikov were separately indicted in the Northern District of Georgia for conspiring with Medvedev.

    Medvedev was convicted of the charges on Feb. 7, after he pleaded guilty.

    The FBI and the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security are investigating the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher J. Huber and Norman L. Barnett for the Northern District of Georgia are prosecuting the case.

    This case was coordinated through the Justice Department’s Task Force KleptoCapture, an interagency law enforcement task force dedicated to enforcing the sweeping sanctions, export controls and economic countermeasures that the United States, along with its foreign allies and partners, has imposed in response to Russia’s unprovoked military invasion of Ukraine. Announced by the Attorney General on March 2, 2022, and under the leadership of the Office of the Deputy Attorney General, the task force will continue to leverage all of the department’s tools and authorities to combat efforts to evade or undermine the collective actions taken by the U.S. government in response to Russian military aggression.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Signed Into Law: Brown’s Bipartisan Bill To Cut Red Tape For Chips Projects Like Intel

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Ohio Sherrod Brown
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) announced that the President signed into law his bipartisan Building Chips in America Act, a law to streamline federal reviews for microchip manufacturing facilities like the one being built by Intel in New Albany. The law prevents delays in domestic manufacturing investments made possible by the CHIPS Act while maintaining bedrock environmental protections for clean air and water.
    The legislation passed the U.S. Senate in December and the U.S. House of Representatives last week.
    “This law will help prevent delays to the semiconductor manufacturing projects the CHIPS Act made possible and will encourage future investments in American manufacturing. This is critical to Intel’s project in Licking County and to ensure that we can outcompete China,” said Brown.
    Brown has been a leader in bringing new manufacturing opportunities to Ohio and worked to pass into law the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 which boosted Intel’s $20 billion investment to build a semiconductor plant in New Albany and is expected to create 10,000 jobs.
    Following its passage, companies throughout the semiconductor supply chain have announced plans to invest billions in new domestic manufacturing projects. The Building Chips in America Act would ensure federal environmental reviews are completed in a timely manner for these microchip projects supported by the CHIPS Act by streamlining approval for projects currently under construction and others that could be delayed, and by providing the Secretary of Commerce greater tools to more effectively and efficiently carry out reviews.
    This will give the administration additional authority to more effectively implement the CHIPS Act and maximize its potential to boost domestic microchip manufacturing, strengthen domestic supply chains, lower costs, and improve national security.
    In addition to Brown, U.S. Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Todd Young (R-IN), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), and Ted Budd (R-NC) led the legislation in the Senate.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Disaster Recovery Center Opens in Assumption Parish

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Disaster Recovery Center Opens in Assumption Parish

    Disaster Recovery Center Opens in Assumption Parish

    BATON ROUGE, La. – FEMA and the State of Louisiana will open a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) in Napoleonville on Thursday, Oct. 3, to provide one-on-one help to Louisiana residents affected by Hurricane Francine.

    Center location:

    Assumption Parish

    Assumption High School, North Building

    4880 Hwy 308

    Napoleonville, LA 70390 

    Additional DRCs are open at the following locations: 

    Ascension Parish

    Lemann Memorial Center

    1100 Clay St.

    Donaldsonville, LA 70346

    Lafourche Parish

    Lafourche Parish Emergency Operations Center

    4876 Hwy. 1

    Raceland, LA 70394

    St. Charles Parish

    Alan Arterbury Building

    14564 River Road

    New Sarpy, LA 70078

    St. John the Baptist Parish

    Reserve Library

    1482 Hwy 44

    Reserve, LA 70084

    St. James Parish

    Convent Community Center

    5775 Hwy 44

    Convent, LA 70723

    St. Mary Parish

    Morgan City Municipal Auditorium
    728 Myrtle St.
    Morgan City, LA 70380

    Terrebonne Parish

    Terrebonne Parish Library

    151 Library Drive

    Houma, LA 70360

    The centers will operate from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday.

    Residents in Ascension, Assumption, Lafourche, Jefferson, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Mary and Terrebonne parishes can visit any DRC to meet with representatives of FEMA, the U.S. Small Business Administration, along with other community partners. No appointment is needed to visit the center. 

    The centers are accessible to people with disabilities or access and functional needs and are equipped with assistive technology. If you need a reasonable accommodation or sign language interpreter, please call 833-285-7448 (press 2 for Spanish).

    You do not have to visit a center to apply for FEMA disaster assistance. The quickest way to apply is by going online at disasterassistance.gov/.

    Additional options when applying include:

    • Download the FEMA App for mobile devices. 
    • Call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. Help is available in most languages. If you use a relay service, such as video relay (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA your number for that service.
    • To view an accessible video about how to apply visit: Three Ways to Register for FEMA Disaster Assistance – YouTube.

    For the latest information visit fema.gov/disaster/4817. Follow FEMA Region 6 social media at X.com/FEMARegion6 or on Facebook at facebook.com/femaregion6.

    alexa.brown

    MIL OSI USA News –