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SBA Adds Five New Surety Bond Partners for Small Businesses Competing for Contracts
WASHINGTON, Oct. 6 -- The Small Business Administration issued the following news release:
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SBA Adds Five New Surety Bond Partners for Small Businesses Competing for Contracts
New partners expand access to SBA-backed surety bonds for small manufacturers, contractors, and suppliers
October 5, 2026
WASHINGTON -- Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced that five new surety companies were approved during fiscal year 2026 to participate in its Surety Bond Guarantee (SBG) Program. The expanded network will increase access to surety bonds for small businesses in construction,
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WASHINGTON, Oct. 6 -- The Small Business Administration issued the following news release:
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SBA Adds Five New Surety Bond Partners for Small Businesses Competing for Contracts
New partners expand access to SBA-backed surety bonds for small manufacturers, contractors, and suppliers
October 5, 2026
WASHINGTON -- Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced that five new surety companies were approved during fiscal year 2026 to participate in its Surety Bond Guarantee (SBG) Program. The expanded network will increase access to surety bonds for small businesses in construction,manufacturing, and supply-chain industries. Surety bonds help small businesses compete for and win public and private contracts by providing the customer with a guarantee that the work will be completed.
"Small manufacturers, contractors, and suppliers are essential to rebuilding America's industrial base, but too often they are held back from pursuing major projects because they cannot obtain the bonding those contracts require," said SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler. "By adding five new surety partners, the Trump SBA is expanding the capacity of our Surety Bond Guarantee Program, offering qualified small businesses a fair chance to compete for--and win--public and private contracts. The expanded network will help manufacturers and contractors obtain bonds for facility expansions, industrial repairs, infrastructure improvements, and the delivery of American-made products."
Through its Surety Bond Guarantee Program, the SBA provides a guarantee on surety bonds for participating surety companies, which allows them to offer surety bonds to small businesses that might not meet the criteria for other sureties. Surety bonds can support qualified small businesses pursuing a range of contracts, including contracts associated with construction, manufacturing, fabrication, and industrial facilities. For example, contractors and fabricators may seek bonds for projects involving new facilities, expansions, repairs, infrastructure improvements, or the delivery and installation of manufactured components.
The SBA's Office of Surety Guarantees provides guarantees for bid, performance, payment, and maintenance bonds issued by participating surety companies for contracts and subcontracts up to $9 million. For certain federal contracts, SBA can guarantee bonds up to $14 million when a federal contracting officer certifies that the guarantee is necessary for the small business to obtain bonding.
The five new surety partners admitted in FY26 are:
* Merchants National Bonding Inc., domiciled in Iowa, joined SBA's Prior Approval Program to increase its reach to new small and emerging businesses.
* United Fire & Casualty Company, domiciled in Iowa, also joined SBA's Prior Approval Program to support small businesses. United Fire & Casualty Company's regional underwriting offices and $7,259,000 Treasury limit will allow the surety to support many small firms requiring SBA assistance.
* RLI Insurance Company, domiciled in Illinois, joined SBA's Preferred Surety Bond Program to enhance service to its agents and small business clients. RLI's objective is to support a firm's immediate bonding needs while helping small businesses progress toward qualification under RLI's standard bonding programs.
* Capitol Indemnity Corporation and Platte River Insurance Company, both domiciled in Wisconsin, joined the Prior Approval Program to focus on small businesses to broaden their reach to small construction firms. These CapSpecialty companies intend to support small businesses until they have gained additional experience and improved financial standing to qualify for standard surety support.
The SBA has committed to rebuilding American supply chains and domestic manufacturing through a series of targeted initiatives. This year, the agency waived loan fees for manufacturing NAICS codes, established the first-ever loan program dedicated to American manufacturers. The agency also announced a new 90% Made in America Loan Guarantee for small manufacturers and continues to promote existing programs such as the asset-based 7(a) Working Capital Pilot (WCP) Program. Through its ongoing Supplier Matchmaking Expo series and its Make Onshoring Great Again Portal, the agency has also played an active role in helping large companies source small suppliers to onshore supply chains across industries.
To learn more, see SBA's Surety Bond Guarantee Program or contact suretybonds@sba.gov.
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About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of entrepreneurship. As the leading voice for small businesses within the federal government, the SBA empowers job creators with the resources and support they need to start, grow, and 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 www.sba.gov.
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Original text here: https://legacy.sba.gov/article/2026/10/05/sba-adds-five-new-surety-bond-partners-small-businesses-competing-contracts
Fannie Mae Announces Results of Tender Offer for Any and All of Certain CAS Notes
WASHINGTON, Oct. 5 -- Fannie Mae issued the following news release:
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Fannie Mae Announces Results of Tender Offer for Any and All of Certain CAS Notes
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WASHINGTON, DC - Fannie Mae (FNMA/OTCQB) today announced the results of its fixed-price cash tender offers (each, an "Offer" and, collectively, the "Offers") for any and all of certain Connecticut Avenue Securities(r) (CAS) Notes listed in the table below (the "Notes") upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase and related Notice of Guaranteed Delivery, each dated as of September 28, 2026 (collectively,
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WASHINGTON, Oct. 5 -- Fannie Mae issued the following news release:
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Fannie Mae Announces Results of Tender Offer for Any and All of Certain CAS Notes
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WASHINGTON, DC - Fannie Mae (FNMA/OTCQB) today announced the results of its fixed-price cash tender offers (each, an "Offer" and, collectively, the "Offers") for any and all of certain Connecticut Avenue Securities(r) (CAS) Notes listed in the table below (the "Notes") upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase and related Notice of Guaranteed Delivery, each dated as of September 28, 2026 (collectively,the "Offer Documents").
A total of $1,026 million in original principal amount of Notes were validly tendered and not validly withdrawn on or before the designated Expiration Time for the Offers, which was 5:00 p.m. New York City time on October 2, 2026. The table below sets forth the original principal balance of the Notes, the percentage of original principal amount tendered, and the original principal amount tendered in the Offers.
Name of SecurityREMIC TrustRule 144A CUSIPRule 144A
ISIN
Regulation S CUSIPOriginal Principal Balance 1Percentage of Original Principal Amount Tendered 2Original Principal Amount Tendered 3
Connecticut Avenue Securities, Series 2022-R08, Class 1M-2 NotesConnecticut Avenue Securities Trust 2022-R0820755DAB2US20755DAB29U19479AB7$125,973,000.0090.60%$114,133,000.00
Connecticut Avenue Securities, Series 2023-R01, Class 1M-1 NotesConnecticut Avenue Securities Trust 2023-R01207932AA2US207932AA28U18907AA0$76,275,000.007.01%$5,350,000.00
Connecticut Avenue Securities, Series 2023-R01, Class 1M-2 NotesConnecticut Avenue Securities Trust 2023-R01207932AB0US207932AB01U18907AB8$247,164,000.0098.80%$244,193,000.00
Connecticut Avenue Securities, Series 2023-R02, Class 1M-1 NotesConnecticut Avenue Securities Trust 2023-R0220755AAB8US20755AAB89U19448AB2$113,906,311.002.98%$3,400,000.00
Connecticut Avenue Securities, Series 2023-R04, Class 1M-1 NotesConnecticut Avenue Securities Trust 2023-R0420754QAA6US20754QAA67U1945QAA3$377,100,000.0074.60%$281,319,946.00
Connecticut Avenue Securities, Series 2023-R04, Class 1M-2 NotesConnecticut Avenue Securities Trust 2023-R0420754QAB4US20754QAB41U1945QAB1$188,550,000.0052.32%$98,642,000.00
Connecticut Avenue Securities, Series 2023-R05, Class 1M-2 NotesConnecticut Avenue Securities Trust 2023-R05207942AB9US207942AB90U18917AB7$230,559,000.0061.93%$142,782,413.00
Connecticut Avenue Securities, Series 2023-R06, Class 1M-2 NotesConnecticut Avenue Securities Trust 2023-R0620754EAB1US20754EAB11U19467AB2$231,342,000.0058.92%$136,303,500.00
1 Represents the aggregate original principal amount of the applicable Class issued on the issue date thereof, less the aggregate original principal amount of such Class repurchased by the Company pursuant to one or more prior tender offers, if applicable.
2 Rounded to the nearest hundredth of a percent.
3 Original Principal Amount tendered includes $18,775,847 of Notes tendered using the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery.
The settlement date for the Notes tendered and accepted for purchase in the Offers is expected to occur on Tuesday, October 6, 2026 (the "Settlement Date"). Notes tendered using the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery and accepted for purchase are expected to be purchased on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, but payment of accrued interest on such Notes will only be made to, but not including, the Settlement Date.
BofA Securities, Inc. acted as the designated lead dealer manager and Citigroup Global Markets Inc. acted as the designated dealer manager for the Offers. Global Bondholder Services Corporation was engaged as the tender agent and information agent for the Offers.
Related Links
CAS Debt Tender Offer Press Release
CAS Notes Tender Offer Frequently Asked Questions
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Original text here: https://www.fanniemae.com/newsroom/fannie-mae-news/tender-offer-results-any-all-certain-cas-notes-sep-2026
EPA Implements Updated Cleanup Approach to Address Groundwater Contamination at Baird & McGuire Superfund Site
WASHINGTON, Oct. 5 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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EPA Implements Updated Cleanup Approach to Address Groundwater Contamination at Baird & McGuire Superfund Site
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BOSTON (Oct. 5, 2026) - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has selected an interim cleanup plan for groundwater at the Baird & McGuire Superfund Site located in Holbrook, Massachusetts.
After approximately 25 years of active site remediation, contaminant levels at the site have decreased, but groundwater remains impacted. In 2023, EPA began a Focused Feasibility Study (FFS)
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 5 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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EPA Implements Updated Cleanup Approach to Address Groundwater Contamination at Baird & McGuire Superfund Site
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BOSTON (Oct. 5, 2026) - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has selected an interim cleanup plan for groundwater at the Baird & McGuire Superfund Site located in Holbrook, Massachusetts.
After approximately 25 years of active site remediation, contaminant levels at the site have decreased, but groundwater remains impacted. In 2023, EPA began a Focused Feasibility Study (FFS)to evaluate additional cleanup options, and in 2026 selected a new cleanup approach based on the evaluations performed during the FFS.
"We've made real progress at the Baird & McGuire Site, but we need a different approach to address the groundwater contamination that remains," said EPA Regional Administrator Mark Sanborn. "This updated plan will move the cleanup forward and put us on a better path toward restoring the groundwater to drinking water standards."
The updated cleanup plan is based on past investigations, a pilot test, updated human health and ecological risk assessments, the 2026 FFS, and comments received on EPA's Proposed Plan during a 37-day public comment period. This cleanup plan is formally called an Interim Record of Decision Amendment for Operable Unit 1 (Groundwater and Surface Water).
EPA's interim cleanup plan includes:
* Treating polluted groundwater directly underground. This includes injecting sulfate into groundwater to help naturally break down harmful chemicals and to trap arsenic so it cannot spread.
* Additional cleanup options for reducing arsenic contamination may involve:
* Cleaning groundwater using filters designed to remove arsenic, and/or
* Underground treatment using air or a special barrier that helps capture arsenic until groundwater conditions improve.
EPA will continue to track groundwater and see whether pollution outside the treatment areas is decreasing enough for groundwater to achieve drinking water standards. EPA will also watch for any signs that contamination is spreading to the bedrock groundwater.
EPA will also continue to use groundwater use restrictions and engineered barriers that prevent people from using contaminated groundwater and keep activities from disturbing the pollution plume. These protective measures will remain in place until cleanup goals are met.
EPA estimates the interim cleanup plan including construction, operation, maintenance, and long-term monitoring will cost about $7.1 million.
More information
A copy of the interim cleanup plan, the Administrative Record supporting the cleanup plan, and other background information about the Baird & McGuire Superfund Site can be found at: www.epa.gov/superfund/baird
Background
The Baird & McGuire Superfund Site is located at 775 South Street in Holbrook, Massachusetts. Baird & McGuire Company, Inc. operated a chemical mixing and batching operation at the Site for approximately 71 years. Manufactured products included herbicides, pesticides, disinfectants, soaps, floor waxes, and solvents.
Operations from the facility resulted in contaminant releases to soil and groundwater. Site-related contamination includes various volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds (VOCs and SVOCs), pesticides, and arsenic.
Record of Decision Administrative Record:
Baird & McGuire Interim Record of Decision Amendment Administrative Record
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Original text here: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-implements-updated-cleanup-approach-address-groundwater-contamination-baird
Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute: Tropicos Magazine Web Issue is Now Live
PANAMA CITY, Panama, Oct. 3 -- The Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute issued the following news:
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Human connection and resilience
New Tropicos magazine web issue is now live
October 2, 2026
The latest issue of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute's magazine Tropicos, Human Connection and Resilience, is available for viewing online.
Human Connection and Resilience covers a broad set of topics around the intersection of people and conservation. Whether it's advancing science, describing mangrove ecosystems, coffee farms, ocean resources or reforestation initiatives, it is more
... Show Full Article
PANAMA CITY, Panama, Oct. 3 -- The Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute issued the following news:
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Human connection and resilience
New Tropicos magazine web issue is now live
October 2, 2026
The latest issue of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute's magazine Tropicos, Human Connection and Resilience, is available for viewing online.
Human Connection and Resilience covers a broad set of topics around the intersection of people and conservation. Whether it's advancing science, describing mangrove ecosystems, coffee farms, ocean resources or reforestation initiatives, it is moreessential than ever for collaboration and mutual understanding to be at the forefront of conservation efforts.
"Behind every project are researchers and communities adapting to the unpredictable, rebuilding after setbacks, and persisting through changing environments and conditions," writes STRI Director Joshua Tewskbury in the issue's opening letter.
This issue of Tropicos owes a special thanks to philanthropist Adrienne Arsht, founding donor of the Adrienne Arsht Community-Based Resilience Solutions Initiative, whose generous contribution is supporting the Initiative's mission to find and champion innovative solutions that benefit both people and nature.
To preview the latest issue of Tropicos, we invite you to read Adrienne Arsht's special contribution, which reflects on the importance of resilience, collaboration and investing in solutions that benefit communities and ecosystems alike.
We hope you enjoy this new issue of Tropicos. Visit the website here (https://stri.si.edu/tropicos-2026/en/).
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About the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
Headquartered in Panama City, Panama, STRI is a unit of the Smithsonian Institution. Our mission is to understand tropical biodiversity and its importance to human welfare, to train students to conduct research in the tropics and to promote conservation by increasing public awareness of the beauty and importance of tropical ecosystems. Watch our video, and visit our website, Facebook, X and Instagram for updates.
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Original text here: https://stri.si.edu/story/human-connection-and-resilience
SBA Awards $5.3 Million to Expand National Women's Business Center Network
WASHINGTON, Oct. 3 -- The Small Business Administration issued the following news release:
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SBA Awards $5.3 Million to Expand National Women's Business Center Network
New Centers Will Support Women Entrepreneurs in Florida, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia
October 2, 2026
WASHINGTON -- Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced five grant recipients under its new Women's Business Center (WBC) Modernization Initiative, awarding a combined $5.3 million to expand statewide support networks for women entrepreneurs in Florida, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas,
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 3 -- The Small Business Administration issued the following news release:
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SBA Awards $5.3 Million to Expand National Women's Business Center Network
New Centers Will Support Women Entrepreneurs in Florida, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia
October 2, 2026
WASHINGTON -- Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced five grant recipients under its new Women's Business Center (WBC) Modernization Initiative, awarding a combined $5.3 million to expand statewide support networks for women entrepreneurs in Florida, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas,and West Virginia. The Initiative is designed to augment resources in states where existing WBC funding has not kept pace with the number of women entrepreneurs.
"Nearly four decades ago, President Ronald Reagan helped establish the Women's Business Center Program to help women entrepreneurs start, grow, and compete," said SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler. "Today, the Trump Administration is building on that legacy by modernizing the program and expanding its reach in states where demand for WBC services has outpaced existing resources. Through coordinated statewide networks, these awards will bring counseling, training, and access to capital closer to the women starting businesses, creating jobs, and strengthening their communities."
Building on the SBA's nationwide network of 138 existing Women's Business Centers, the Modernization Initiative funds private organizations that will create State Lead Centers supported by local Service Centers. This new model, which is funded by statutorily obligated funds, will bring counseling, training, and technical assistance closer to women entrepreneurs. Each State Lead Center will serve as a statewide hub, working with local Service Centers to deliver assistance directly to entrepreneurs - reducing fragmentation, improving coordination and efficiency, and ensuring that women business owners can more easily access the SBA's resources at every stage of business ownership.
The Women's Business Center Modernization Initiative grant recipients are as follows:
Florida Institute of Technology Inc.
Geographic Scope: Florida
Total Proposed Budget: $1,540,617
Description: Florida Tech educates global thinkers, resilient problem solvers, and future leaders, ready to support industry and societal needs by responsibly integrating science, technology, and other key disciplines. Florida Institute of Technology Inc. has expertise in supporting entrepreneurs and growth-oriented small businesses throughout Florida's Space and Treasure Coast regions through programs designed to scale with businesses. Florida Institute's trademarked IGNITE 360(TM) program provides eight unique programs to support every business stage by providing clients with the resources and coaching in a timely manner. In addition, through continued partnership with Florida Tech's Vertex Applied Innovation hub, Florida Institute can provide capabilities to support innovative business acceleration, applied research, and the launch of advanced manufacturing ventures.
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Women's Business Enterprise Center East
Geographic Scope: Pennsylvania
Total Proposed Budget: $930,077
Description: WBEC-East is an advocate for small business owners and entrepreneurs throughout Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Southern New Jersey. Through certification, entrepreneurial education, training, networking, and strategic partnerships, WBEC-East helps entrepreneurs start, grow, and scale successful businesses. WBEC-East supports entrepreneurs through workshops and consulting in supply chain readiness, certification, government contracting, business growth strategy, and access-to-capital education. WBEC-East connects Pennsylvania's entrepreneurs with corporate, government, and economic development partners that fuel America's industrial growth and competitiveness.
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Proof Programs
Geographic Scope: Tennessee
Total Proposed Budget: $494,329
Description: Proof Programs strengthens entrepreneurs, businesses, and communities through practical education, technical assistance, capital-readiness support, rural business development, and coordinated partnerships. Proof Programs will provide women entrepreneurs in all 95 counties with a coordinated entry point to counseling, training, capital preparation, and specialized resources. Through virtual services, regional Service Centers, local outreach, and referral partnerships, access will be expanded in rural and economically distressed communities while strengthening coordination among existing providers.
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Better Business Bureau Education Foundation
Geographic Scope: Texas
Total Proposed Budget: $2,084,765
Description of Training Services: The Foundation for Better Business (FBB) propels the potential of Texas entrepreneurs by delivering essential education, vital resources, and powerful networks that spark growth, fuel leadership, and strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem of Texas. Through its affiliation with BBB Heart of Texas, which is staffed by more than 100 employees, FBB draws on an established 105-county platform, relationships with more than 14,000 Accredited Businesses, and a record of delivering scalable entrepreneur education throughout Texas.
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Economic and Community Development Institute Inc.
Geographic Scope: West Virginia
Total Proposed Budget: $250,000
Description: ECDI of West Virginia will bring unique value to the state by serving some of the state's rural and underserved areas. The region's limited broadband access and dispersed population centers create barriers to entrepreneurship that are not as prevalent in more suburban or urban areas. The programming offered by ECDI is tailored to address unique geographic challenges in West Virginia. By meeting clients where they are, whether through in-person outreach in county seats, hybrid programming, or virtual services designed around limited connectivity, ECDI will ensure that geography and infrastructure gaps don't determine who gets to start, sustain, or grow a business.
This Modernization Initiative operates as a stand alone project and does not change existing WBC funding. All 138 current WBCs remain in the program and continue receiving their FY26 base awards under their existing cooperative agreements. In states selected to participate in the Initiative, Lead Center awards will overlay current funding. Questions about these grant opportunities should be directed to the Women's Business Ownership Office at owbo@sba.gov.
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About the Women's Business Ownership Office (WBOO)
The Women's Business Ownership Office (WBOO) mission is to enable and empower women entrepreneurs through outreach, education, and support. Since it was established in response to an Executive Order in 1979, WBOO has provided training, counseling, technical assistance, access to credit and capital, as well as marketing opportunities to women.
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About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of entrepreneurship. As the leading voice for small businesses within the federal government, the SBA empowers job creators with the resources and support they need to start, grow, and 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 www.sba.gov.
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Original text here: https://legacy.sba.gov/article/2026/10/02/sba-awards-53-million-expand-national-womens-business-center-network
SBA Awards $3.75 Million to Train Veteran-Owned Small Businesses to Compete for Federal Contracts
WASHINGTON, Oct. 3 -- The Small Business Administration issued the following news release:
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SBA Awards $3.75 Million to Train Veteran-Owned Small Businesses to Compete for Federal Contracts
New Training Program Offers Veterans an Onramp into Federal Procurement
October 2, 2026
WASHINGTON -- Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced it has awarded a $3.75 million grant over five years to the Maryland-based Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce Community Foundation Veterans Institute for Procurement (MCCCF-VIP). The organization will operate the Veteran Federal Procurement
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 3 -- The Small Business Administration issued the following news release:
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SBA Awards $3.75 Million to Train Veteran-Owned Small Businesses to Compete for Federal Contracts
New Training Program Offers Veterans an Onramp into Federal Procurement
October 2, 2026
WASHINGTON -- Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced it has awarded a $3.75 million grant over five years to the Maryland-based Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce Community Foundation Veterans Institute for Procurement (MCCCF-VIP). The organization will operate the Veteran Federal ProcurementEntrepreneurship Training Program (VFPETP), a nationwide initiative to help veteran-owned small businesses build the knowledge, capabilities, and procurement readiness to compete for federal contracts.
"Unlike the prior Administration, which diverted resources from veterans in favor of 'socially and economically disadvantaged' businesses, the Trump Administration is investing in our nation's most deserving job creators who wore our nation's uniform," said SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler. "The new Veteran Federal Procurement Entrepreneurship Training Program will give veteran-owned small businesses the practical training and mentorship needed to compete for--and win--federal work. Especially in high-demand industries such as manufacturing and defense, veteran entrepreneurs will be better positioned to secure federal contracts, expand the industrial base, and strengthen the Arsenal of Freedom."
The initial $750,000 award covers the 12-month period from Sept. 1, 2026, to Aug. 31, 2027. The program will provide no-cost entrepreneurial-development services through in-person training for participants across the United States. It will focus on serving certified veteran-owned small businesses, service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses, veterans in the certification-application pipeline, and transitioning servicemembers exploring entrepreneurship.
VFPETP will conduct five cohorts each year and serve approximately 250 veteran-owned small businesses annually. Through cohort-based training, mentorship, and practical federal-procurement instruction, participants will learn how to identify contracting opportunities, develop capability statements, prepare competitive proposals and pricing, and build the operational readiness needed to perform successfully as federal contractors.
This award advances Administrator Loeffler's commitment to ensure the veterans who served our nation can compete for--and win--federal contracts. In November 2025, SBA cleared the Biden-era backlog of 2,700 VetCert applications--restoring dedicated staffing and funding after the prior Administration diverted all resources from VetCert to increase 8(a) Program certification approvals. The SBA has also advanced broader reforms intended to restore integrity, accountability, and fair competition in federal small-business contracting programs, including with its recent proposed reforms to the 8(a) Business Development Program.
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About the Office of Veterans Business Development
The SBA Office of Veterans Business Development (OVBD) works through SBA's extensive resource partner network, including 51 Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC) locations throughout the nation. VBOCs are the leading partners in delivering the "Boots to Business (B2B)," "Boots to Business Reboot," and "Military Spouse Pathway to Business" programs--entrepreneurship courses offered on military installations and in local communities. Since B2B's inception in 2013, these programs have collectively trained and graduated nearly 260,000 service members, veterans, National Guard and Reserve members, and military spouses. OVBD's broader resource partner network also includes Small Business Development Centers, the SCORE mentoring program, and Women's Business Centers. For more information on the resources available for veteran entrepreneurs, visit sba.gov/veterans.
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About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of entrepreneurship. As the leading voice for small businesses within the federal government, the SBA empowers job creators with the resources and support they need to start, grow, and 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 www.sba.gov.
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Original text here: https://legacy.sba.gov/article/2026/10/02/sba-awards-375-million-train-veteran-owned-small-businesses-compete-federal-contracts
Mitchell P. Rales Elected President of the National Gallery of Art
WASHINGTON, Oct. 3 -- The National Gallery of Art issued the following news release:
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Mitchell P. Rales Elected President of the National Gallery of Art
October 1, 2026
Rales Succeeds Darren Walker in the Role Leading the Board of Trustees
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Washington, DC--The National Gallery of Art announced today that Mitchell P. Rales has been elected as president, a leadership role on the Board of Trustees. Rales succeeds Darren Walker, who will remain a trustee.
Rales, who assumes the role immediately, has served on the National Gallery's board since 2006 and will continue his work advancing
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 3 -- The National Gallery of Art issued the following news release:
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Mitchell P. Rales Elected President of the National Gallery of Art
October 1, 2026
Rales Succeeds Darren Walker in the Role Leading the Board of Trustees
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Washington, DC--The National Gallery of Art announced today that Mitchell P. Rales has been elected as president, a leadership role on the Board of Trustees. Rales succeeds Darren Walker, who will remain a trustee.
Rales, who assumes the role immediately, has served on the National Gallery's board since 2006 and will continue his work advancingthe National Gallery's mission alongside director Kaywin Feldman, his fellow trustees, and the museum's executive team. Rales previously served as president of the National Gallery from 2019 to 2024.
"I look forward to partnering with Mitch as he resumes the role of president. For two decades as a trustee and a benefactor of the National Gallery, he has never wavered in his belief in the power of art and his commitment to serving the nation through his work at our institution. His trusted counsel and generous support have been key in expanding the museum's reach through new programs and initiatives. We are deeply appreciative of Darren, Mitch, and all the trustees for their dedication to carrying out the National Gallery's mission," said Kaywin Feldman, director of the National Gallery. "Darren's bold vision and incomparable expertise have been an invaluable asset to the National Gallery and its service to the nation during his tenure as president. I remain inspired by his boundless energy, creative drive, and steadfast belief in the power of philanthropy. I, along with the entire board of trustees and executive team, am grateful for his continued partnership as a trustee going forward."
Throughout his previous tenure as president and his decades of service on the Board of Trustees and the Collectors Committee, Rales has provided astute counsel and helped steer the museum through periods of growth and change. A longtime benefactor of the National Gallery, Rales made a transformational gift of $116 million in April 2026 to endow Across the Nation, the museum's nationwide loan partnership program launched in 2025. The landmark gift, the largest to endow programming in the museum's history, funds the program in perpetuity, immeasurably strengthening the National Gallery's ability to reach all Americans by loaning masterpieces from the nation's collection to regional museums across the country.
Rales has also contributed major gifts to further institutional initiatives, including towards the renovation of the East Building in 2016 and for the acquisition of significant works meaningfully expanding the scope of the permanent collection. Among the works added to the museum's collection with the support of Rales's Glenstone Foundation are Jaune Quick-to-See Smith's Target (1992), Simone Leigh's Sentinel (2022), and Katharina Fritsch's Hahn/Cock (2013). A noted art collector and philanthropist, Rales is also cofounder of Glenstone, a museum and foundation in Montgomery County, Maryland.
Walker, an internationally recognized philanthropist and a deeply experienced cultural-sector executive, has served as president of the National Gallery since October of 2024. Under his leadership as president, the National Gallery presented an ambitious slate of programming to commemorate America's 250th anniversary, anchored by the launch of the Across the Nation loan initiative and through special exhibitions and programs that enabled deeper engagement with the museum's extensive collection of American art.
Since Walker joined the Board of Trustees in 2019, he has established a major art acquisition fund, made possible by the Ford Foundation, to support the National Gallery's commitment to artistic excellence and broadening the scope of art-historical narratives. The fund facilitated the acquisition of the Ross J. Kelbaugh Collection of 19th- and early 20th-century American photographs in 2023, which will be on view in the forthcoming exhibition Remember Me: Picturing African Americans in Early Photography, opening November 7, 2026.
Walker is currently president and chief executive of Anonymous Content, an award-winning global media company working across film, television, and branded content. He previously served as president of the Ford Foundation for more than a decade, leading one of the largest private foundations in the United States in its work advancing human welfare and achievement. Walker will continue to serve the museum as a trustee.
David Rubenstein, one of the country's leading civic philanthropists, will continue to serve as chair of the board of trustees, and Indra Nooyi and Sarah F. Perot will continue in their roles as trustees. The National Gallery of Art Board of Trustees currently comprises nine members who contribute a wide range of perspectives and backgrounds to advance the museum's mission and initiatives. They include four ex-officio trustees: the Chief Justice of the United States, the Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution.
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About the National Gallery of Art
The National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, is the nation's art museum, home to a renowned collection of over 160,000 works of art, from antiquity to today. Each year, the museum welcomes millions of people in person and online to explore art, creativity, and our shared humanity. Located on the National Mall, admission to the West and East Buildings, Sculpture Garden, special exhibitions, and public programs is always free.
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Original text here: https://www.nga.gov/press/mitchell-p-rales-elected-president-national-gallery-art
