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Annette Clayton Joins Flash Board of Directors

Flash Parking

Flash, the leading digital ecosystem provider connecting drivers to parking and EV charging experiences, today announced Annette Clayton, chairwoman and former CEO of Schneider Electric, has joined the company’s board of directors. Ms. Clayton has decades of automotive, technology and energy industry experience and brings an extensive track record guiding corporate strategy and operations for growth companies and pioneering startups. “We are incredibly fortunate to welcome Annette to our board of directors,” said Dan Sharplin, Flash’s CEO and Chairman. “She is an accomplished leader who has dedicated her career to companies that are transforming their respective industries, and her talents and expertise will be invaluable to our next chapter of growth, particularly when it comes to meeting the needs of modern drivers through the next wave of EV adoption.” Ms. Clayton joins Flash’s board of directors after recently concluding her tenure as CEO of Schneider Electric North America. During that time, Ms. Clayton led business strategy for the region, representing 30,000 employees and sales of more than $11 billion in fiscal year 2022. “Working with innovators like Flash that reimagine an industry is the work I love,” said Ms. Clayton regarding her appointment. “I have followed Flash’s evolution from its startup days and think the current moment is among its most exciting – Flash has done the heavy lifting and is poised to bring all the players together to set the new standard for a first-of-its-kind digital ecosystem.” Ms. Clayton currently serves on the public boards of Duke Energy, NXP Semiconductors, Oshkosh Corporation and Nordson Corporation. Ms. Clayton’s prior board service includes National Electrical Manufacturers Association, National Association of Manufacturers and many of Schneider Electric’s Energy-as-a-Service joint ventures. She was also a member of Rewiring America’s CEO’s for Electrification coalition for business leaders. Prior to Schneider Electric, she served in senior management roles for Dell, where she led the transformation of its global supply chain and fulfillment model, and General Motors Corporation, including president of Saturn Corporation, where she oversaw strategic direction, financial accountability, and profitability. Ms. Clayton holds a bachelor’s degree in general engineering from Wright State University, a master’s degree in engineering management from the University of Dayton and has completed the London Business School executive development program. About Flash Flash is a pioneering technology company bringing seamless parking and EV charging experiences to drivers through a first-of-its-kind digital ecosystem. Flash’s platform connects reservable parking and charging in the apps drivers use every day with garage, surface lot, event, and valet parking locations — connected and controlled via a cloud-based operating system with unrivaled intelligence. Customer-obsessed brands partner with Flash to deliver digital, easy-to-use, reliable, and increasingly frictionless experiences to drivers eager to pay for a solution that eliminates wasted time, excess emissions, and stress from driving. The solution has arrived. Visit www.flashparking.com to learn more. Contact Details Flash Parking Ray Young +1 512-694-6097 ray@razorsharppr.com Company Website https://www.flashparking.com/

April 04, 2024 03:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

ARway.ai announces multiple new SaaS developer contracts in both the United States and Chile

ARway.ai

ARway.ai Chief Executive Officer Evan Gappelberg joined Steve Darling from Proactive to announce multiple new SaaS developer sign-ups for its augmented reality experience platform, focusing on AR indoor navigation. These partnerships represent significant milestones in ARway’s mission to revolutionize human interaction with physical spaces through augmented reality. Gappelberg explained that La Casa de Juana, a pioneering real estate platform based in Chile, has signed up for ARway's developer plan. La Casa de Juana specializes in offering comprehensive online services for evaluating and booking rental property tours. By leveraging ARway’s cutting-edge technology, they aim to prototype and introduce augmented reality real estate tours, enhancing their services and user experience. In addition, Navigine, a global provider of hardware-based indoor navigation and wayfinding software, headquartered in New York and Berlin, has joined forces with ARway. Navigine’s expertise in utilizing WiFi and Bluetooth technologies, along with its blue dot technology, offers indoor navigation experiences. With Navigine's specialization in indoor navigation through hardware and beacons, covering over 3,000 unique facilities, their collaboration with ARway signifies a significant advancement in providing innovative indoor navigation solutions to users worldwide. These partnerships underscore ARway’s commitment to expanding its capabilities and global reach, enabling augmented reality integration into everyday applications and revolutionizing the way people interact with physical spaces. Contact Details Proactive United States +1 347-449-0879 action@proactiveinvestors.com

April 02, 2024 12:51 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Springtime Home Renovation: Bathroom Edition

YourUpdateTV

As we gear up for spring, it's time to give our bathrooms a much-needed makeover. HGTV star and renovation expert Scott McGillivray teamed up with Bath Fitter on a satellite media tour to share tips on how bath fitter can help you achieve a beautiful, mess-free renovation in no time. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/1nbWq_lewI4 Bath Fitter provides a fast, simple way to achieve a beautiful, mess-free bathroom renovation in as little as 24 hours. Offering a variety of designs that suit every style, Bath Fitter provides a long-lasting, cost-effective alternative to traditional bathroom remodels without ever sacrificing quality, durability, or functionality. Bath Fitter custom-made, high-gloss acrylic tubs and showers are made from the same premium acrylic found in high-end spas. This superior material requires minimal maintenance and wipes clean with ease. The seamless no-grout wall system from Bath Fitter provides a watertight seal built to last a lifetime. Unlike traditional bathroom remodels, which often involve lengthy delays, messy demolition, stress, and unexpected fees, Bath Fitter eliminates renovation pain points. High-gloss acrylic tubs and showers from Bath Fitter are custom made to fit precisely over existing units, creating a sleek, permanent solution for an instant bathroom upgrade. Tub-over-tub solutions from Bath Fitter offer a sleek, cost-effective alternative to a demolition renovation, while maintaining exceptional quality and eliminating unforeseen pain points that can often come with remodeling. Whether you’re embracing Scandinavian minimalism or want to bring some contemporary English Country to your bathroom, Bath Fitter offers a range of timeless custom designs for homeowners and renters to seamlessly complement their style and aesthetic. Committed to bathrooms that will stand the test of time, Bath Fitter backs its products with a lifetime transferable warranty. Your perfect bath is out there, and Bath Fitter is here to help you every step of the way. Visit www.bathfitter.com to learn more, schedule a one-on-one consultation, and find a showroom near you. About Scott McGillivray For more than a decade, homeowners and aspiring investors have enjoyed the warmth and humor of Scott’s easygoing approach to real estate investing. As the host and executive producer of HGTV’s award-winning series Income Property, Scott made making money in real estate a reality for hundreds of hardworking homeowners across North America. Since then, through endeavors in education, public speaking and linear and digital television production, Scott has empowered countless others to take control of their finances by making smart renovation and real estate choices. Scott’s interest in diversifying his brand experience has led him to expand into a number of areas, including business. He’s CEO of McGillivray Group and McGillivray Entertainment, co-founder of real estate investing education company, Keyspire, and an accomplished real estate investor with hundreds of properties across North America. Recently, he has expanded his business real estate reach into the areas of multi-use and multi-residential development projects. Scott is also a respected influencer who engages daily with his 1M+ followers. People from across the globe have been drawn to his approachable personality, and they trust him to provide useful and financially sensible advice. He is a proud ambassador for Habitat for Humanity Canada, and enjoys teaching people from all walks of life about how they can become homeowners and use real estate to improve their lives. When he’s not on a build site, speaking in front of a sold-out audience or filming one of his many shows, you can find Scott at home in Toronto, ON spending time with his wife Sabrina and daughters, Myah and Layla. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

April 01, 2024 10:29 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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NAVEX 2024 Global Incident Management Benchmark Study Reveals Significant Third-Party Reporting to Companies

NAVEX Global

NAVEX, the global leader in integrated risk and compliance management software, has released its 2024 Whistleblowing & Incident Management Benchmark Report. The annual benchmark report offers valuable insights into workplace culture, analyzing trends from 1.86 million global reports spanning thousands of organizations that together employ more than 50 million employees. Amid a record number of tips to the SEC and a burgeoning DOJ whistleblowing program, NAVEX’s comprehensive analysis sheds a critical light on the state of workplace environments worldwide, guiding organizations toward program improvement. "NAVEX remains the gold standard in risk and compliance data analytics, continually innovating our benchmarks to enhance corporate compliance programs and offer business leaders insights into the trending risk areas for their organizations," says NAVEX Chief Risk and Compliance Officer Carrie Penman. "This year's report introduces crucial third-party reporting insights, highlighting an organization’s need to adopt internal and external reporting avenues to bolster integrity, foster accountability and equip the organization to tackle emerging challenges effectively.” This year’s analysis of the data revealed several key themes and notable findings, including: Report volume and case substantiation reach milestones. Internal reporting programs saw a record level of use as measured by NAVEX’s Reports per 100 Employees metric. In addition, the Substantiation Rate metric reached an all-time high, meaning more reports were received and more were found to be true. Report volume, and the substantiation rates of the reports received, are two of the most highly watched metrics in the annual NAVEX publication. To see both reach the highest levels ever is good news. For those with trusted and effective internal reporting programs, this added up to greater visibility into the trends of risk, ethics and culture playing out in their organizations’ operations – real-time intelligence to inform business decision-making. In 2023, organizations received a median 1.57 Reports per 100 Employees across their internal reporting systems, exceeding the previous record of 1.47 set in 2022. More organizations (23%) received five or more Reports per 100 Employees, making this population the largest in the NAVEX data set. And while year-over-year values fluctuated, every size of organization – from the smallest companies to enterprises with over 100,000 employees – has seen report volumes rise comparing 2021 and 2023. At 45%, the overall median share of substantiated or founded reports in 2023 reached an 11-year high. Third parties more likely to report business integrity and financial misconduct issues. In a first for this report, NAVEX analyzed its database by both employees and third-party reporters. Its analysis shows these two groups are distinct across several metrics, highlighting the insight organizations see by promoting their reporting programs internally and externally. Third parties as a group delivered a far greater median share of reports related to Business Integrity matters than employees in 2023 (50% versus 17%). Encompassing topics like conflicts of interest, vendor issues, fraud, global trade and human rights, this category of issues can manifest in various elements of a supply chain. Third-party reporters also showed twice the median share of Accounting, Auditing & Financial Reporting reports as employees in 2023 (10% versus 4.5%). Story emerging on accounting-related reporting – internally and externally. Accounting-related reports -- while lower in overall percentage of reports received internally by organizations at a median of 4.3.% in 2023 -- often receive an outsized share of attention due to potential for regulatory action and the well-publicized bounty program offered by the SEC and its Office of the Whistleblower. The SEC's program is witnessing unprecedented growth in tips and generously rewarding valuable information. Now, the U.S. Department of Justice is launching a similar initiative. Specifically, reports related to Accounting, Auditing, and Financial reporting: Showed the longest time between when an incident was observed and when it was reported to the organization By a large margin, were least likely to be reported anonymously Comprised an outsized share of cases for organizations that receive very few Reports per 100 Employees – meaning while these organizations received well below the benchmark number of reports, they had a much more significant percentage of accounting-related reports Experienced the longest time to investigate and close the case Had among the highest median Substantiation Rates, at 50% Were most likely to cause an employment separation event as a result of a substantiated case Accounted for twice as many of the reports submitted by third parties than those submitted by employees Small increase in report volume shows big payoff in healthy report mix. A diverse array of topics, inquiries, and allegations in internal reporting indicates a robust program. NAVEX’s findings reveal that even minor efforts to promote internal reporting significantly improve the mix of report types received. For instance, in organizations with the lowest report volume, only 8.7% of reports pertain to HR, Diversity, and Workplace Respect. However, in the next tier, this proportion jumps to 36.3%. This trend persists across different report volumes, emphasizing the importance of fostering a reporting culture. A varied mix of report types signifies trust in internal reporting to address a broad spectrum of issues. Even a slight increase from minimal reporting yields a more comprehensive and insightful flow of reports. "With NAVEX's integrated data platform, companies gain unparalleled risk signal data that empowers them to foster healthier workplace cultures, helping them achieve outcomes that matter most,” explains NAVEX Chief Product Officer A.G. Lambert. "Data isn't just numbers; it's the compass guiding organizations toward success and ensuring they stay ahead in the ever-evolving landscape of risk and compliance." Additional notable findings include: Workplace behaviors and discord were clearly visible in the data as more organizations return to office environments. As is always the case in these reports, workplace behaviors and other human resources related matters are by far the highest percentage of reports received by organizations. Workplace Civility matters continued to increase in prominence in 2023, representing a median of 18% of reports and the highest median reporting rate in 2023. This was followed by Discrimination, at a median 12%, Harassment, at a median 7.1%, then Retaliation at a median of 2.0%. The HR, Diversity and Workplace Respect category overall has seen a multi-year increase in its median share of all reports (from 50% in 2021 to 55% in 2023). These figures underscore the growing importance of fostering a respectful and inclusive work environment. Highlighting the seriousness with which organizations are taking reports received, more substantiated reports (18%) resulted in separation from employment in 2023, up significantly from 14% in 2022 and 12% in 2021. The share of reports resulting in no action – effectively the opposite end of the outcome spectrum – fell from 17% in 2022 to 14% in 2023. Nearly nine out of 10 reports of Imminent Threat to a Person, Animals or Property were substantiated in 2023 highlighting the importance that reporters possess the training, knowledge, tools and trust that promote rapid reporting of dangerous issues. This need is made even greater by a new California workplace violence prevention law expected to take effect this year that includes requirements for reporting, incident management and training around this issue. For more insights on the 2024 Whistleblowing & Incident Management Benchmark Report, join Jane Norberg, Arnold & Porter partner and former chief of the SEC Office of the Whistleblower, Keith Thomas, FedEx corporate integrity & compliance lead counsel, Carrie Penman, NAVEX chief risk & compliance officer, and Anders Olsen, NAVEX senior data scientist, for an informative webinar where they will discuss the results of this year’s analysis in detail. Watch the webinar here. NAVEX is trusted by thousands of customers worldwide to help them achieve the business outcomes that matter most. As the global leader in integrated risk and compliance management software and services, we deliver solutions through the NAVEX One platform, the industry’s most comprehensive governance, risk and compliance (GRC) information system. For more information, visit NAVEX.com and our blog. Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn. Contact Details Navex Global scott.levesque@navex.com Company Website https://navex.com

March 26, 2024 06:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Comcast Continues Major Fiber Network Expansion in Texas

Comcast Texas

Comcast announced today it will continue to significantly expand its next-generation Xfinity network across several southeast Texas counties in 2024. The media and technology company will invest more than $265 million to install more than one thousand miles of new fiber-rich highways that will reach more than 100,000 homes and businesses by the end of this year. The planned expansions add to Comcast’s ongoing $3 billion investment in Texas over the last three years. Comcast’s fiber network expansion in 2024 will begin in the cities of Conroe, Montgomery, Hempstead, Porter, Navasota and Cleveland. Construction will also continue in other communities that have ongoing network infrastructure projects in the Houston area. Conroe, parts of which already have access to Xfinity and Comcast Business services, will be the largest expansion area of the year — reaching approximately 20,000 additional homes and businesses. These locations will have the foundational next-generation network in place to begin deploying DOCSIS 4.0, setting the stage for the introduction of new symmetrical multi-gigabit Internet options. “Reliable high-speed internet is essential in today’s digital economy, which is why Comcast continues its commitment to connect more southeast Texas families and businesses to the moments that matter most,” said Jose Espinel, Comcast Texas’ Regional Senior Vice President. “We are expanding our fiber highways in Montgomery, Waller, Grimes and Liberty counties, strategically investing in areas undergoing significant growth. By establishing the best broadband infrastructure today, we are securing the economic prosperity of these communities for tomorrow.” Comcast’s commitment to new communities goes beyond the build-- addressing digital opportunities in communities through Project UP, the company’s $1 billion dollar commitment to help tens of millions of people connect to the Internet and build futures of unlimited possibilities. Last year, Comcast Texas invested more than one million dollars to help local community organizations provide hands on digital skills training, offer workforce development/readiness workshops and other tech education to students, adults and people with disabilities. The funding also supports ongoing efforts to build awareness about affordable connectivity services like Internet Essentials, which offers eligible households high-speed internet for $9.95/month or Internet Essentials Plus for $29.95/month. Affordable computers are also available through Internet Essentials. For more construction details and updates, visit ComcastTexas.com/Expansion. Powered by Xfinity Comcast’s network and Internet experience are powering homes today and into the future. Ultimate Capacity: Xfinity customers connect more than 1 billion devices across the company’s network annually. With the next-generation Xfinity gateways we deliver the most advanced WiFi technology carrying three times more bandwidth to power streaming, gaming, videoconferencing, and more, simultaneously. Fastest Internet: More than a third of Xfinity Internet customers subscribe to gigabit speed products. Recently Comcast connected the first customers in the world to a DOCSIS 4.0 connection, delivering symmetrical gig speeds over existing connections in customers’ homes with plans to continue to rollout these speeds across the country over the coming years. Unprecedented Coverage: The latest Xfinity Gateway provides a more reliable connection throughout the home. Customers can get wall-to-wall WiFi coverage with a powerful WiFi Boost Pod that extends coverage to hard-to-reach areas of the home. Most Reliable Connection: Comcast is scaling the nation’s largest and most reliable network that passes 62 million homes and business and counting. The company launched Storm-Ready WiFi, a new device that comes powered with cellular and battery backup to help keep customers connected even when the power goes out. Ultra-Low Latency: The Xfinity network and the latest Xfinity Gateway are a powerful combination that deliver ultra-low latency for those moments when response times matter most like video games, a fast-growing category with Xfinity households averaging more than one gaming console per home. The Xfinity network is also self-monitoring and uses AI to detect potential problems before they arise, delivering a reliable connection that is up and running in customers’ homes 99% of the time. For local businesses, Comcast Business offers a suite of connectivity, communications, networking, cybersecurity, wireless, and managed solutions to help organizations of different sizes prepare for what’s next. Powered by the nation’s largest Gig-speed broadband network, and backed by 24/7 customer support, Comcast Business is the nation’s largest cable provider to small and mid-size businesses and one of the leading service providers to the Enterprise market. Comcast Business has been consistently recognized by industry analysts and associations as a leader and innovator, and one of the fastest-growing providers of Ethernet services. Ookla’s Speedtest TM Market Index report shows that Xfinity delivered the fastest median download speeds to its Internet customers in the United States for the final quarter of 2022. Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company that connects people to moments that matter. We are principally focused on connectivity, aggregation, and streaming with 57 million customer relationships across the United States and Europe. We deliver broadband, wireless, and video through our Xfinity, Comcast Business, and Sky brands; create, distribute, and stream leading entertainment, sports, and news through Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, Universal Studio Group, Sky Studios, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, multiple cable networks, Peacock, NBCUniversal News Group, NBC Sports, Sky News, and Sky Sports; and provide memorable experiences at Universal Parks and Resorts in the United States and Asia. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information. Contact Details Taisha Walker +1 832-942-1131 Taisha_Walker@comcast.com Company Website https://houston.comcast.com/

March 21, 2024 06:00 AM Central Daylight Time

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NMTC Coalition Applauds Tax Credit Permanence in FY2025 Budget Proposal

New Markets Tax Credit Coalition

On March 11, 2024, the Biden Administration released its FY2025 budget proposal. The budget includes a permanent extension of the New Markets Tax Credit at $5 billion a year in the annual allocation authority with an inflation adjustment in the out years. In 2019, Congress increased the annual allocation of NMTC credits to $5 billion, and in 2020, Congress enacted a five-year extension of the NMTC, the largest in the program’s history. The program, however, is set to expire in 2025 unless extended or made permanent. “The New Markets Tax Credit has been and remains absolutely vital for many of America’s urban neighborhoods and rural communities and provides billions of dollars for high-impact, community revitalization projects,” said Bob Rapoza, spokesperson for the NMTC Coalition. “Over the years, the credit has been instrumental in financing plant and equipment for small manufacturing businesses and patient, flexible capital to other small businesses, hospitals, healthcare centers, homeless shelters and other transformative projects that improve communities, and create jobs and economic opportunity. We applaud the President’s leadership and commitment to this important program, as well as the bipartisan support of leaders in both chambers.” All NMTC projects are in low-income communities, and the vast majority of NMTC investments are located in communities where the magnitude of economic distress far exceeds the statutory requirements for qualified investments. NMTC allocation applicants face stiff competition. In 2023, applicants requested more than $14 billion in awards, nearly three times the amount available. The application rewards community development entity applicants who propose investments in areas of severe distress. While all NMTC projects must be located in qualified low-income communities, and according to NMTC Coalition survey data and CDFI Fund transaction data, roughly 75 to 85 percent are located severely distressed census tracts with extremely high poverty and unemployment rates. During this Congress, both the Senate and House introduced bills (S. 234 and H.R. 2539) with bipartisan support to make the NMTC extension permanent. Throughout its 20-year history, the NMTC has delivered more than $125 billion to rural and urban communities outside the economic mainstream, which has led to financing to more than 8,000 businesses and projects and over one million jobs. “Establishing the NMTC as a permanent part of the tax code, as proposed by the President in his budget request, will provide certainty and further promote getting patient, flexible capital to low-income and marginalized communities, creating jobs, increasing economic opportunity, and improving lives at a time when the economic frailty of our underserved communities has never been more apparent,” said Rapoza. Established in 2000 in the Community Renewal Tax Relief Act (P.L.106-554), the New Markets Tax Credit is a bipartisan effort to stimulate investment and economic growth in low-income urban neighborhoods and rural communities. For examples of how the NMTC is making an impact in each state, see the NMTC Coalition’s website, where you can find more than 2,500 NMTC success stories organized by state and congressional district. About New Markets Tax Credit Program The New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) was enacted in 2000 to stimulate private investment and economic growth in low-income urban neighborhoods and rural communities that lack access to the patient capital needed to support and grow businesses, create jobs, and sustain healthy local economies. Since its inception, the NMTC has generated more than one million jobs. Today, due to the NMTC, more than $125 billion is hard at work in underserved communities in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico. For more information, visit www.NMTCCoalition.org. Contact Details Greg Wilson +1 571-239-7474 gregwilsonpr@gmail.com Company Website https://nmtccoalition.org/

March 20, 2024 09:38 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Builders Capital Appoints New Chief Sales Officer Expanding Nationwide Reach to Homebuilders

Builders Capital

Builders Capital proudly announces the appointment of Mark Woodbridge as the Chief Sales Officer, ushering in a new era of strategic growth and nationwide expansion for the company’s homebuilder outreach. With an impressive 28-year career in private finance and mortgage banking, Mark brings a wealth of expertise to his new role. Having been an integral part of the Builders Capital Management Team for the past nine years, Mark has excelled in various leadership positions, including Vice President of Strategic Accounts, National Wholesale Director, and National Sales Director. “Mark’s appointment as Chief Sales Officer signifies our commitment to continued growth and excellence,” affirms Rob Trent, CEO. Beth Glein, COO at Builders Capital praises Mark’s exceptional leadership style, emphasizing his hands-on approach, profound industry knowledge, and innovative finance strategies as pivotal factors in his appointment. “Mark’s instrumental contributions have propelled Builders Capital to become the top private construction lender nationwide,” remarks Glein. She expresses delight in partnering with him as they enter a new phase of organizational effectiveness. In his new capacity, Mark has restructured the sales organization, appointing: Alissa McCord as Director of Sales Support Rich D’Agostino as National Sales Leader Bryan Ruff as Director of Sales Operations This dynamic leadership team is tasked with providing comprehensive training and guidance to the sales force, ensuring alignment with company objectives, and optimizing opportunities within the residential homebuilder market nationwide. Expressing his enthusiasm for the role, Mark Woodbridge said, " I am honored and excited to lead our sales initiatives as Chief Sales Officer. Together, we will drive innovation, refine our strategies, and elevate Builders Capital to the next level of success. I am committed to fostering a culture of collaboration, customer satisfaction, and continuous improvement within our organization. " Under Mark's leadership, Builders Capital embarks on a transformative journey, poised to redefine industry benchmarks and consolidate its position as a pioneering force in residential construction lending. To learn more about Builders Capital and the construction loans they offer to builders and developers, visit builderscapital.com About Builders Capital Builders Capital is the nation's largest private construction lender, offering innovative financing solutions to a wide spectrum of developers and homebuilders. Loan products include options for Acquisition, Development, Construction, and Bridge financing, in the form of single-asset loans, portfolio loans, and revolving credit facilities. In addition to financing opportunities, Builders Capital borrowers can leverage national accounts for material purchase discounts, and access cutting-edge technology for project management, accounting, and BIM technology tools. Builders Capital is headquartered in Puyallup, Washington, with regional sales offices across the country. The management team at Builders Capital brings over 100 years of expertise in residential construction lending, home building, real estate development, and loan servicing. Learn more at: Builderscapital.com Contact Details Joann Whetstine joann.whetstine@builderscapital.com Company Website https://builderscapital.com/

March 19, 2024 07:03 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Spring Bird Makes its Expo Debut at the 2024 Texas Transit Association State Conference, Expo, and Roadeo

Spring Bird

Spring Bird, a name synonymous with excellence and innovation in the transportation industry, is thrilled to announce its first-ever expo attendance at the Texas Transit Association (TTA) State Conference, Expo, and Roadeo from March 15-20, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. This landmark event marks Spring Bird's grand entrance into the expo scene, showcasing their comprehensive range of services, including maintenance, retrofitting, leasing, and sales of transit-style buses. Spring Bird, under the visionary leadership of Elliott Carson, continues the legacy of the Carson family in the bus industry, bringing over 75 years of combined experience and dedication to quality, safety, and customer satisfaction. The company specializes in offering top-tier transit buses from renowned manufacturers like New Flyer, and Gillig, emphasizing the latest safety features and technological advancements. Spring Bird’s cutting-edge rehabilitation services will be the heart of its expo showcase. Attendees will learn about the company’s capabilities in performing minor repairs, major overhauls, and retrofitting buses with the latest low-emission engines and GPS tracking systems. Spring Bird is committed to providing customized solutions that meet clients’ unique needs, whether they want to purchase new buses or service their existing fleets. Elliott Carson, representing the fourth generation of the Carson family in the bus industry, expressed his enthusiasm about participating in the TTA State Conference, Expo, and Roadeo: "We are excited to debut at this wonderful event and look forward to connecting with transit agencies and other entities from Texas and across the United States. Our attendance at the TTA Expo is a testament to Spring Bird's commitment to excellence and innovation in providing high-quality, affordable transportation solutions." Texas is also the home of Spring Bird, located in Austin, TX. The Texas Transit Association, organized in 1986, brings together metropolitan, small urban, and rural transit agencies, along with private and public entities from across the country, making it the perfect platform for Spring Bird to introduce its services to a wider audience. Visit Spring Bird at the 2024 TTA State Conference, Expo, and Roadeo to explore how they can support your transit needs with their high-quality buses and comprehensive rehabilitation services. About Spring Bird: Spring Bird is a premier provider of transportation solutions specializing in the sale, leasing, and service of heavy-duty transit buses and motor coaches. Drawing from the rich Carson family legacy in the transportation industry, Spring Bird offers an inventory of high-quality buses from leading manufacturers and provides customized rehabilitation services, including minor repairs, major overhauls, and technological retrofitting. Dedicated to safety, innovation, and customer satisfaction, Spring Bird addresses the unique needs of cities, transit agencies, and private operators, ensuring reliable and efficient transportation solutions. Contact Details Spring Bird Media Contact press@springbirdbus.com Company Website https://springbirdbus.com

March 18, 2024 03:00 PM Central Daylight Time

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CDFI Coalition Marks 30th Anniversary of CDFI Fund

CDFI Coalition

Members of the CDFI Coalition gathered in Washington, DC, this week to mark the 30 th anniversary of the CDFI Fund with a keynote address by Senator Mark Warner (D-VA), panel discussions and the release of a report highlighting the three decades of successes celebrated by the CDFI movement. Coalition members, legislators and Administrations officials held panel discussions on New CDFI Certification Requirements, Cybersecurity and AI, Financing CDFIs and Community Development, Opportunities in Climate Financing, and Challenges and Opportunities for new CEOs of Color. The report is based on data from the Coalition’s survey of its members. Highlights of the report and the 30 th Anniversary of the CDFI Fund include: Seventy CDFIs responded to the survey, making $22.5 billion in loan originations and $185 million in EQ2 and equity investments. This financing created or sustained more than 500,000 jobs and 105,000 units of affordable housing, over 150,000 community facilities and 437,000 business. The CDFI industry has grown significantly since its infancy in 1994. 1,462 CDFIs have been certified to work in low-wealth communities nationwide as of January 2024. These CDFIs have assets totaling more than $200 billion and outstanding portfolios of more than $150 billion. Certified CDFIs include 573 loan funds, 516 credit unions, 161 depository institution holding companies, 197 banks or thrifts, and 15 venture capital funds in rural and urban areas in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam. In FY 23, CDFI Fund Financial Assistance recipients financed more than 126,000 businesses, provided funding for more than 76,000 affordable homes, and originated more than $57 billion in loans and investments. Thirty years ago, only a handful of CDFIs had been funded with philanthropy and other support, and their success provided the roadmap for the 1994 legislation and the impetus for the CDFI fund. One of the more unexpected successes of the CDFI movement and the CDFI fund are the offshoots that they have supported and enabled. Significant new programs were built on the CDFI infrastructure and commitment created in 1994 by the Riegle Act. “The CDFI 30 th Anniversary Report contains numerous success stories from CDFIs around the nation about how the credit, the products and the technical assistance they have made available have been transformative in their communities,” said CDFI Coalition spokesperson Bob Rapoza. For example: CDFI Program Financial Assistance (FA) Awards – The CDFI Fund makes FA awards to both large and small certified CDFIs. CDFIs use FA awards for lending capital, loan loss or capital reserves, operations, or development services. Award recipients must match their FA award dollar-for-dollar with non-federal funds. The Native American CDFI Assistance Program, launched in 2001 to encourage investing in Native Communities by supporting the creation and expansion of Native CDFIs -- which in turn help to create jobs, establish, or improve affordable housing, and provide appropriate financial services and counseling to community residents. The number of Native CDFIs has increased from 14 in 2001 to 66 in 2024. The New Markets Tax Credit Program, authorized in 2000 to stimulate private investment in low-income communities. The CDFI Fund has made 1,563 allocation awards totaling $76 billion to date. New Markets tax Credit investments have created more than one million jobs that cost the federal government less than $20,000 per job. The CDFI Bond Guarantee Program, authorized in 2010 to empower the Treasury Department to guarantee notes or bonds issued at no cost to the federal government to support CDFI lending and investment activity. Since 2013, the CDFI Fund has guaranteed nearly $2.5 billion in bond authority through the program. The Capital Magnet Fund, administered by the CDFI Fund, provides grants on a competitive basis to CDFIs and other non-profit organizations to finance affordable housing and related economic development efforts for low-income families and communities. The Capital Magnet Fund has generated $20 additional investment for every $1 of award funding and created more than 63,000 affordable homes. The report also highlights the power of CDFIs, their investors and stakeholders in responding to our nation’s racial equity challenges as well as the Great Recession and the COVID 19 Pandemic. For example: CDFIs served as economic shock absorbers, providing flexible and patient capital, rigorous risk management, and commitment to the projects in their communities and the sustainability of their borrowers. When traditional lenders pull back from economically distressed communities, policymakers look to CDFIs to fill the void. Recognizing the power of CDFIs, during the height of the pandemic, Congress made an investment in 2020 through appropriations for three temporary programs to support CDFIs, totaling $12 billion, including $1.25 billion for what became the Rapid Response Program, $1.75 billion for increased investment in low-income communities of color, and $9 billion for an emergency capital investment program for CDFI’s certified depositories and MDIs. CDFIs used those new resources to provide a wide variety of financial services to support the recovery of underserved markets under siege from COVID-19. In addition to stabilizing businesses, CDFIs financed initiatives to expand access to healthy food, health centers and hospitals, affordable housing, shelters, treatment centers, and other businesses and community facilities on the front lines of the pandemic. Private sector corporations and foundations have also recognized the efficacy and power of CDFIs. For example, between 2020 and 2022, in the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd and the ongoing pandemic, the eight largest US banks made $9.2 billion in commitments to CDFIs. This commitment and the increased federal support allowed CDFIs to expand their efforts and launch new initiatives in communities of color. “As we look forward to the next 30 years, we know that CDFIs are going to continue to be a major force for bringing access to credit to low-income communities and individuals across the nation. They will be pivotal in our collective efforts to eliminate racial wealth gaps and increase opportunities for people and communities of color,” Rapoza added. CDFIs continue to innovate, to solve problems, to finance opportunities and to make sure that lending capital and technical assistance is available to all communities in our nation. In doing so, they acknowledge there is a newer and burning challenge – how CDFIs can support reducing the carbon in our atmosphere and ensure that low-income communities and communities of color can access the same opportunities, tools and resources that will help mitigate the impact of climate change on our communities and economy. “The confidence of Congress and the Administration in providing such a key role to CDFIs under the Green House Gas Reduction Fund is a wonderful testament to the positive impact and reach of CDFIs in our most underserved communities,” said Rapoza. “We know that CDFIs will bring their innovative cultures, their commitment to serving low-income communities and communities of color, and their experience leveraging federal and philanthropic resources with private capital to make such a difference in America’s communities.” DOWNLOAD THE CDFI FUND 30 TH ANNIVERSARY REPORT About the CDFI Coalition Community development financial institutions (CDFIs) are lenders with a mission to provide fair, responsible financing to rural, urban, Native and other communities that mainstream finance doesn’t traditionally reach. The CDFI Coalition, formed in 1992, is the unified national voice of community development financial institutions. Our mission is to encourage fair access to financial resources for America’s underserved people and communities. Through its member organizations, the Coalition represents CDFIs working in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. This national network of CDFIs includes community development loan funds, community development banks, community development credit unions, microenterprise lenders, community development corporations and community development venture capital funds. The CDFI Coalition coordinates industry wide initiatives to increase the availability of capital, credit and financial services to low-income communities across the nation. For more information, visit www.CDFI.org Contact Details Greg Wilson +1 571-239-7474 gregwilsonpr@gmail.com

March 14, 2024 11:06 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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