Featured Stories
SBA Announces $9 Million in Grant Funding for the Supply Chain Acceleration and Logistics Enablement Program
WASHINGTON, July 24 -- The Small Business Administration issued the following news release on July 23, 2026:
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SBA Announces $9 Million in Grant Funding for the Supply Chain Acceleration and Logistics Enablement (SCALE) Program
Funding will help small firms scale production and support strategic priorities
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Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced it is seeking proposals for a new funding competition as part of the Supply Chain Acceleration and Logistics Enablement (SCALE) Program, which will award 20 grants of up to $500,000 each over a two year period of performance.
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WASHINGTON, July 24 -- The Small Business Administration issued the following news release on July 23, 2026:
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SBA Announces $9 Million in Grant Funding for the Supply Chain Acceleration and Logistics Enablement (SCALE) Program
Funding will help small firms scale production and support strategic priorities
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Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced it is seeking proposals for a new funding competition as part of the Supply Chain Acceleration and Logistics Enablement (SCALE) Program, which will award 20 grants of up to $500,000 each over a two year period of performance.The program, which will provide a total of $9 million in funding, is designed to help small businesses address supply chain constraints, increase production, and expand participation in strategically important supply chains.
"Thanks to President Trump's tireless commitment to building in America, this Administration is driving the most aggressive reindustrialization effort our nation has ever seen," said SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler. "The Trump SBA is dedicated to strengthening our manufacturing base by supporting the capital and resources required to return to Made in America. The SBA's SCALE Program offers targeted support to rebuild critical supply chains across our industrial base by empowering high potential domestic suppliers to meet new demand, reshore production, and put American workers and producers back in charge of the industries that keep our nation strong - from agriculture and energy to defense."
Eligible applicants include public or private entities, nonprofit organizations, and institutions capable of delivering accelerator programming, technical assistance, industry engagement, or related services that support small businesses in the identified priority supply chains. Applicants must focus on one of the following SCALE industry supply chain priorities:
* Advanced Manufacturing
* Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Supply Chains
* Defense Industrial Base Technologies and Components
* Energy, Critical Materials, and Industrial Inputs
* Food Supply and Agricultural Systems
* Transportation, Logistics, and Industrial Infrastructure
Under the leadership of President Donald J. Trump, the SBA has emphasized investment in manufacturing and critical supply chains as part of the broader America First agenda to restore U.S. industrial dominance. By pairing new grant programs like SCALE with expanded access to working capital, reforms to long term investment vehicles, and technical assistance for onshoring, the agency is building a comprehensive toolkit to help small businesses reshore the production, logistics, and industrial infrastructure that underpin America's economic and national security.
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, and modernized the Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) program so more private capital flows into critical, supply chain sensitive industries. 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.
Applicants must submit proposals electronically through Grants.gov. The deadline for proposal submissions is Aug. 7 by 4:00 p.m. ET. General questions about these grant opportunities should be directed to accelerators@sba.gov.
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About SBA Office of Investment and Innovation
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Investment and Innovation (OII) leads programs to support U.S. growth-oriented small businesses and startups. These programs provide access to capital, assistance, and networks to support the success of innovation-driven small businesses. OII's work is bolstered by public-private partnerships that drive small business growth from idea to impact. To learn more, visit https://www.sba.gov/about-sba/sba-locations/headquarters-offices/office-investment-innovation.
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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://www.sba.gov/article/2026/07/23/sba-announces-9-million-grant-funding-supply-chain-acceleration-logistics-enablement-scale-program
NASA Inspector General: SkillBridge Fellowship Accelerates Veteran's Career at the Intersection of Defense and Discovery
WASHINGTON, July 24 -- The NASA Inspector General issued the following news:
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SkillBridge Fellowship Accelerates Veteran's Career at the Intersection of Defense and Discovery
Securing America's future in space requires protecting vital assets on Earth and in orbit, while also pushing the boundaries of scientific discovery. Former NASA Office of Inspector General (OIG) SkillBridge Fellow Arthur "AJ" Thibert has forged a unique career at this intersection, merging national defense and data analytics. As a former scientist, he's a critical thinker with a knack for translating complex research
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WASHINGTON, July 24 -- The NASA Inspector General issued the following news:
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SkillBridge Fellowship Accelerates Veteran's Career at the Intersection of Defense and Discovery
Securing America's future in space requires protecting vital assets on Earth and in orbit, while also pushing the boundaries of scientific discovery. Former NASA Office of Inspector General (OIG) SkillBridge Fellow Arthur "AJ" Thibert has forged a unique career at this intersection, merging national defense and data analytics. As a former scientist, he's a critical thinker with a knack for translating complex researchfindings into actionable insights. As a U.S. Air Force and Space Force veteran, he's adept at leading intelligence teams that support vital aerospace and satellite operations. Today, he's combining his technical skills and military acumen to help the Navy chart another frontier: the depths of the ocean.
Growing up, Thibert aspired to be an astronaut, performing spacewalks and conducting science experiments in microgravity. This fascination with discovery led him to the University of Central Florida, where he earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry. He went on to complete his PhD at the University of California, Davis, using ultra-fast lasers to study how microscopic materials interact with light.
Even as he immersed himself in the minute world of chemical interactions, Thibert still maintained high-altitude aspirations. Once he finished his PhD, he joined the Air Force in hopes of becoming a pilot. Instead, he was recruited as an intelligence officer, putting his analytical skills to the test while aiding global drone operations. He spent 3 years at Creech Air Force Base in Nevada, where he led a team of analysts who helped pilots and sensor operators track emerging threats and guide mission-critical decisions in real time.
Next, Thibert was stationed in Washington, DC, as an intelligence officer at the National Reconnaissance Office. There, he aided acquisitions by ensuring next-generation satellite technology could effectively support the military's tactical needs.
To bolster his expertise in imagery analysis, he transferred to the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency in 2019 and enrolled in the Junior Officer Geospatial Intelligence Program. Through this program, he learned how to direct satellite data collection, analyze thermal imagery, write daily intelligence reports, and evaluate threats to U.S. space operations.
Around this time, the U.S. Space Force was established as the first new branch of the armed services in 73 years. Thibert applied to transfer as soon as he could; he viewed it as a natural career progression and an opportunity to protect Earth from the ultimate high ground.
"While the Air Force leverages certain space capabilities, such as the Global Positioning System, the Space Force specializes in defending space assets," Thibert explained. "These assets include satellites and the International Space Station, as well as launch sites."
In 2024, as his Space Force service commitment drew to a close, Thibert decided to participate in the Department of War's SkillBridge Program, which offers military members hands-on industry training during their last 180 days of service. He set his sights on securing a fellowship at the agency that first spurred his interest in space: NASA. He ultimately accepted an offer from the OIG, working in the Office of Data Analytics (ODA).
During his 6-month fellowship, Thibert tackled two primary projects. The first involved conducting in-depth interviews with OIG special agents to understand their workflows and daily operations. The information Thibert gathered helped ODA determine which custom tools they'd need to develop to best support ongoing investigations. For his second project, Thibert learned how to use a software tool called Power BI to build data analytics dashboards. These dashboards tracked key performance metrics, allowing OIG business units to easily visualize personnel management trends and streamline decision making.
"I appreciated that these projects reflected the two main themes of my career," Thibert said. "The qualitative interviews tapped into the people-focused, collaborative skills I developed as a military officer, while the Power BI dashboards allowed me to exercise the technical expertise I built as a researcher."
Power BI is a useful tool to know as a government data analyst, he explained, because he remembers it was a sought-after skill when he was applying for jobs post-fellowship. "Having the OIG at the top of my resume also helped catch the attention of potential employers," he added.
Today, Thibert is a civilian data analyst at the Naval Oceanographic Office, which gathers data about global seas to help the Navy operate safely and effectively. He uses tools like Python and ArcGIS to manage these vast data collections, performing quality control assessments and ensuring the Navy has accurate, easily retrievable marine data for its daily operations. Even now, he's not too far from NASA--the Naval Oceanographic Office shares a campus with Stennis Space Center.
"I'm grateful for my OIG SkillBridge Fellowship, because it helped me return to my hands-on, technical roots," he said. "Without the fellowship, it would have been much harder to transition from my managerial role as an intelligence officer to my current coding-heavy position."
From air to Earth to sea, Thibert is once again in his element, operating at the intersection of national defense and scientific discovery to advance human exploration.
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Original text here: https://oig.nasa.gov/news/skillbridge-fellowship-accelerates-veterans-career-at-the-intersection-of-defense-and-discovery/
FHLBanks Will Not Issue a Global on July 23, 2026
WASHINGTON, July 24 -- The Federal Home Loan Banks Office of Finance issued the following news release on July 23, 2026:
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FHLBanks Will Not Issue a Global on July 23, 2026
Today, the FHLBank System is announcing that no Global will be issued or reopened on the July 23 calendar date.
The next Global opportunity for the FHLBanks is August 12, 2026, per the Global calendar that is published and available on the Office of Finance website. On these predetermined dates, the FHLBanks have the option of issuing a new Global, reopening an existing Global, or deferring until the next scheduled
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WASHINGTON, July 24 -- The Federal Home Loan Banks Office of Finance issued the following news release on July 23, 2026:
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FHLBanks Will Not Issue a Global on July 23, 2026
Today, the FHLBank System is announcing that no Global will be issued or reopened on the July 23 calendar date.
The next Global opportunity for the FHLBanks is August 12, 2026, per the Global calendar that is published and available on the Office of Finance website. On these predetermined dates, the FHLBanks have the option of issuing a new Global, reopening an existing Global, or deferring until the next scheduledopportunity.
This announcement is neither an offer to sell, nor a solicitation of offers to buy, these securities.
The FHLBanks have delivered innovation and service to the U.S. housing market since 1932, and currently have approximately 6,300 members serving all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories.
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Original text here: https://www.fhlb-of.com/news/fhlbanks-will-not-issue-a-global-on-july-23-2026/
Smithsonian Institution: Scientists Discover Genetically Distinct Avocados in Nicaragua That People Transported From South America Thousands of Years Ago
WASHINGTON, July 23 (TNSjou) -- The Smithsonian Institution issued the following news release:
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Scientists Discover Genetically Distinct Avocados in Nicaragua That People Transported From South America Thousands of Years Ago
Using Leaf Samples and Insights From Local Farmers, Researchers Reveal a Hotbed of Avocado Diversity in Central America That Could Boost Sustainable Agriculture and Commercial Varieties
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A team of scientists led by researchers with the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History and Texas A&M University recently uncovered genetic traces of ancient migration
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WASHINGTON, July 23 (TNSjou) -- The Smithsonian Institution issued the following news release:
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Scientists Discover Genetically Distinct Avocados in Nicaragua That People Transported From South America Thousands of Years Ago
Using Leaf Samples and Insights From Local Farmers, Researchers Reveal a Hotbed of Avocado Diversity in Central America That Could Boost Sustainable Agriculture and Commercial Varieties
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A team of scientists led by researchers with the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History and Texas A&M University recently uncovered genetic traces of ancient migrationin DNA from avocados growing in Nicaragua. They found evidence that, around 5,000 years ago, people migrating north from South America carried the oversized seeds of one of their favorite fruits--avocados. As these seeds were dispersed throughout the humid lowlands of Central America, they hybridized with native varieties, producing a diversity of avocado varieties that produce the large, smooth-skinned berries that are now enjoyed around Central America. Despite resembling the avocados found in humid regions like Florida and the Caribbean, these local varieties are genetically distinct from the commercially grown fruits found in guacamole.
In a paper published today, July 22, in the journal Plants, People, Planet (https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ppp3.70236), a team led by archaeobotanist Kevin Wann, who conducted the research as a fellow at the museum, examined DNA from avocado leaves collected in Nicaragua, Honduras and southern Mexico. They also spoke with the farmers and gardeners to learn how they cultivate these local avocados.
"There is a much wider breadth of avocado diversity that science had not yet documented," said Wann, who is now pursuing his doctorate in the Department of Anthropology in the College of Arts and Sciences at Texas A&M and had never eaten an avocado before this project. "We could potentially tap into this genetic diversity to conserve commercial avocado plants that are vulnerable to disease."
A Crop of Clones
The natural range of avocado trees (Persea americana) extends from Mexico to Peru. For more than 10,000 years, humans in this area have coveted the plant's fruit, whose yellowish-green flesh is packed with nutrients and fats. These superfoods are now cultivated around the world--in 2024, growers produced more than 11 million metric tons of avocados.
More than 80% of these avocados were a single variety known as the Hass avocado. These large, long-lasting avocados are produced through clonal grafting, where a branch is taken off one Hass avocado tree and attached to another tree to bear the same exact fruit. As a result, most avocados in grocery stores are genetically indistinguishable. This makes all Hass avocados vulnerable to the same threats. A single disease or change in temperature or precipitation can wipe out an entire population of Hass avocados.
Increasing the genetic diversity of avocados is crucial to protecting this multi-billion-dollar industry. According to Wann, the muggy lowlands of countries like Nicaragua and Honduras are rich in avocado diversity. Here, traditional agricultural practices have honed the region's native avocado varieties, also known as landraces, for thousands of years.
A Hotbed of Avocado Diversity
To document the diversity of avocado landraces in Central America, Wann and his colleagues collected leaf samples from dozens of varieties in southern Mexico, Nicaragua and coastal Honduras. During the field work in southern Mexico, Wann dealt with bouts of food poisoning and was stung in the face by a wasp while collecting samples from a roadside grove of avocado trees.
The researchers also interviewed local gardeners and rural farmers in Nicaragua and Honduras to learn more about native avocado varieties. This agricultural perspective was crucial according to Logan Kistler, the museum's curator of archaeobotany and archaeogenomics who advised Wann during his fellowship and was the senior author of the new paper.
"You can't think about biodiversity without considering agriculture, because it's one of the most impactful ecological activities we do," Kistler said. "Traditional agricultural practices have shaped these plants for thousands of years."
During a tour of one grove in Nicaragua, a farmer offered Wann an avocado, unaware that the scientist had never tasted the fruit he studied.
"I wanted to see how far I could go into my dissertation studying avocados without ever eating one," he said. "I made it four years but when one of the native farmers offered me one, I couldn't turn him down.
"And it was delicious," adds Wann, who now routinely enjoys guacamole.
The locals shared valuable insights with the researchers. They confirmed that these lowland avocado landraces had not experienced root rot, the most common disease affecting commercial avocados. Some Nicaraguan farmers even graft commercial avocado branches onto native avocado trees, which are better adapted to the local environment.
Ancient Genetic Clues
In the lab, the team extracted and analyzed DNA from the harvested leaf samples. In total, the team collected DNA from 47 native avocado landraces (32 of which came from Nicaragua). The scientists compared the DNA from the various landraces with previously published genetic data from more than 200 other avocado lineages.
The team discovered that the avocado samples collected in southern Mexico were closely related to ancestral highland populations found in other parts of Mexico as well as commercial varieties. In contrast, the landraces sampled in the lowlands of Nicaragua were genetically tied to avocados found further south, including populations along the coast of Colombia.
This revealed that many local landraces in this part of Central America are planted from fruits originally grown in South America. The team posits that human populations brought their local avocado varieties with them as they migrated through the Americas. Based on the genetics, this avocado relocation likely occurred around 5,000 years ago, which is roughly when other South American crops, like chocolate and certain varieties of maize, appear in the Central American archaeological record.
Kistler thinks varieties of this fleshy fruit continued to move back and forth as ancient communities migrated over thousands of years.
"It was a very connected landscape throughout Central and South America," Kistler said. "It's not one big episode of people moving avocados and other food species around, it's a constant interchange."
The Fruit's Future
Wann thinks the trove of avocado diversity preserved in Central America's lowlands could help protect commercial avocados from the fate of other clonal crops like bananas, which have been devastated by fungal pathogens in the past. The region's local landraces are also adapted to warmer and wetter climates.
However, some of these local avocado varieties are at risk. Wann and his colleagues heard that several Nicaraguan farmers have cut down some of their local avocado trees to make more space for commercial varieties. Decreasing this ancient avocado diversity could threaten the fruit's future.
"These locally grown fruit trees are vital to the longevity of avocados as a species," Wann said. "Their high levels of genetic diversity makes them more prepared to face potential shifts in climate or diseases compared to the ones you'd buy at a supermarket."
In addition to Wann and Kistler, the study included authors affiliated with the University of Oklahoma and California State University Long Beach. This research was supported by the Wenner-Gren Society.
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About the National Museum of Natural History
The National Museum of Natural History is connecting people everywhere with Earth's unfolding story. It is one of the most visited natural history museums in the world. Opened in 1910, the museum is dedicated to maintaining and preserving the world's most extensive collection of natural history specimens and human artifacts. The museum is open daily, except Dec. 25, from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, visit the museum on its website, blog, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.
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Original text here: https://www.si.edu/newsdesk/releases/scientists-discover-genetically-distinct-avocados-nicaragua-people-transported
NASA's Juno Takes Temperature of Jupiter's Fiery Moon Io
PASADENA, California, July 23 (TNSres) -- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory issued the following news:
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NASA's Juno Takes Temperature of Jupiter's Fiery Moon Io
The first measurements of the subsurface of the most volcanic world in the solar system reveal heat rising from below.
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NASA's Juno mission has provided the first measurements of the temperature below the surface of Jupiter's moon Io, revealing significant heating within the shallow subsurface of the most volcanically active world in the solar system. Collected during two close flybys, the data also shows that most of Io's surface
... Show Full Article
PASADENA, California, July 23 (TNSres) -- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory issued the following news:
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NASA's Juno Takes Temperature of Jupiter's Fiery Moon Io
The first measurements of the subsurface of the most volcanic world in the solar system reveal heat rising from below.
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NASA's Juno mission has provided the first measurements of the temperature below the surface of Jupiter's moon Io, revealing significant heating within the shallow subsurface of the most volcanically active world in the solar system. Collected during two close flybys, the data also shows that most of Io's surfaceis remarkably smooth and composed of material of very low density.
Published Wednesday in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets, these findings break new observational ground for both fiery and icy worlds beyond our planet.
Io's extreme volcanism is powered by tidal heating. The moon is constantly stretched and squeezed by Jupiter's immense gravity as it travels its slightly elliptical orbit, generating internal heat output many times greater than Earth's. Until now, virtually everything known about that heat came from infrared observations, which sense only the temperature of the top surface. The latest findings are derived from data collected by the spacecraft's Microwave Radiometer (MWR) instrument.
"The Juno Microwave Radiometer directly observed Io's heat output by looking below the surface," said Scott Bolton, study coauthor and Juno's principal investigator at Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio. "The surprising discovery that we could see below a rocky moon's surface has important implications for studying Earth's volcanoes. Juno has taught us that if we look with an MWR-type instrument near a volcano on Earth, we might see a similar signature in the subsurface temperature gradient, providing new information on how terrestrial volcanoes work."
Fire, ice
Juno's Microwave Radiometer was designed by Bolton to peer beneath Jupiter's cloud tops to investigate the dynamics and composition of the gas giant's deep atmosphere. The MWR's six microwave antennas serve as a single instrument, simultaneously detecting microwaves at a wide range of wavelengths, from about half an inch to 20 inches (1.3 to 51 centimeters). During the mission's extended phase, the MWR instrument has provided the opportunity to observe three of the planet's Galilean moons: Ganymede, Europa, and Io.
"The technique is novel in that each wavelength explores different depths, providing a new way to characterize the deep atmosphere of giant planets and the subsurface crusts of icy and rocky moons," said Bolton. "At Ganymede and Europa, we explored tens of miles below the surface, assuming their ice shells were mostly pure water, but the ability to probe into the volcanic rock at Io was an unexpected discovery."
During flybys on Dec. 30, 2023, and Feb. 3, 2024, the solar-powered Juno spacecraft came within about 930 miles (1,500 kilometers) of the moon's surface.
"The instrument measured Io's thermal emission at depths ranging from a few inches down to tens of feet. Everywhere we looked, we found the temperature rising by more than 40 degrees Fahrenheit just several feet into the surface -- a gradient far steeper than solar heating alone can explain," said Shannon Brown, the paper's lead author at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California.
The data suggests two possible explanations. First, heat could be rising steadily through a conductive crust. While this background heat flow -- measured at 1 to 3 watts per square meter -- is relatively gentle on a local scale (roughly equivalent to a small nightlight glowing under every square yard), across the entire moon it represents a release of energy up to 30 times Earth's average. Alternatively, the signal could be coming from cooling lava flows, capped by roughly 30 to 35 feet (9 to 11 meters) of solidified crust, that cover about 10% of the moon's surface at any given time.
"Io provides a unique window into learning how tidal heating works throughout the cosmos, a fundamental process that provides energy and heat to worlds that are far from their parent star," said Bolton. "This process can not only create the most volcanic body in the solar system, in the case of Io, but also fuels the subsurface oceans on the moons of giant planets, such as Europa and Ganymede. Up until this point we could only observe the heat escaping at the surface or through eruptions. Now we can characterize how the heat is moving from the interior toward the surface."
Great plains of Io
Another big insight gained from the two flybys is just how smooth Io is. Prior to the recent findings, the moon was known for its tall mountains, but the MWR indicates that apart from this visible topography, the surface features expansive smooth patches that stretch for 60 miles (100 kilometers) or more. Because Juno flew by overlapping regions of Io at different angles, the team was able to map how the surface reflects microwaves, much like an airline passenger might see the ocean flash with sunlight only at specific angles.
"Away from its mountains, the surface is more like the Great Plains of North America, and even though Io is a rocky body, the surface material has a very low density -- more like pumice or a fluffy volcanic ash than solid rock," said Brown.
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More about Juno
A division of Caltech in Pasadena, California, JPL manages the Juno mission for the principal investigator, Scott Bolton, of the Southwest Research Institute. Juno is part of NASA's New Frontiers Program, which is managed at the agency's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, for the NASA's Science Mission Directorate in Washington. Lockheed Martin Space in Denver built and operates the spacecraft.
More information about Juno is at:
https://www.nasa.gov/juno
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Original text here: https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasas-juno-takes-temperature-of-jupiters-fiery-moon-io/
IDB Group to Support Ecuador 2040 Growth Agenda With Ecuador Crece
WASHINGTON, July 23 -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following news release on July 22, 2026:
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IDB Group to Support Ecuador 2040 Growth Agenda with Ecuador Crece
QUITO -- Inter-American Development Bank Group (IDB Group) President Ilan Goldfajn today announced $7.5 billion in support from the institution to accompany Ecuador's development over the next five years. This financial package could reach up to $10.5 billion, depending on the evolution of enabling conditions for investment and implementation.
The support, aligned with the new Country Strategy between Ecuador
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, July 23 -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following news release on July 22, 2026:
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IDB Group to Support Ecuador 2040 Growth Agenda with Ecuador Crece
QUITO -- Inter-American Development Bank Group (IDB Group) President Ilan Goldfajn today announced $7.5 billion in support from the institution to accompany Ecuador's development over the next five years. This financial package could reach up to $10.5 billion, depending on the evolution of enabling conditions for investment and implementation.
The support, aligned with the new Country Strategy between Ecuadorand the IDB Group, will combine sovereign financing and private-sector operations through IDB Invest and IDB Lab, as well as technical assistance and support for reforms to foster growth and improve the lives of Ecuadorians.
Ecuador Crece: Supporting the Implementation of the Ecuador 2040 Agenda
As part of this support, the IDB Group launched Ecuador Crece, a new initiative to advance the implementation of the Ecuador 2040 Growth Agenda promoted by the government of Ecuador. Ecuador Crece is part of LAC Crece, an IDB Group initiative designed to support private investment-led growth across the region.
"Ecuador has defined a clear agenda to accelerate growth. Our commitment is to support that agenda with financing, knowledge, and technical assistance. Ecuador Crece will be the initiative to help turn the 2040 Agenda into concrete results for Ecuadorian families and businesses," President Goldfajn said.
Ecuador Crece will focus its support on sectors with high growth potential, including energy, mining, agribusiness, manufacturing, tourism, and housing. It will also promote improvements in regulation, access to finance, logistics infrastructure, human capital, and security.
Expected results from Ecuador Crece include expanding access to housing and mortgage financing for 23,800 families, training and certifying 265,000 people, and supporting approximately 500 small and medium-sized enterprises to increase their exports.
New Guarantee to Support the Reduction of Chronic Child Malnutrition
As part of the support for the country, President Goldfajn also announced that the IDB Executive Board today approved a policy-based guarantee of up to $250 million to support Ecuador's efforts to reduce chronic child malnutrition. The guarantee will back the country's issuance of a results-linked financing instrument, expected to mobilize approximately $500 million in international capital markets.
Through this operation, the IDB will support Ecuador in closing structural gaps in governance, financing, and health service delivery to achieve sustained reductions in chronic child malnutrition. The program will benefit 250,000 pregnant women and 500,000 children under the age of two, with special attention to vulnerable populations.
Broad Agenda During President Goldfajn's Visit
The announcements were made during President Goldfajn's visit to the country, where he met with government authorities and private-sector representatives. Together with President Daniel Noboa, he participated in the launch of the Ecuador 2040 Growth Agenda and visited the Miti-Miti social housing program, which the IDB has supported since its initial stages. For this program, the IDB also recently approved another $250 million guarantee that enabled the mobilization of $500 million for mortgage financing.
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About the IDB Group
The Inter-American Development Bank Group (IDB Group) is the leading source of financing and knowledge for improving lives in Latin America and the Caribbean. It comprises the IDB, which works with the region's public sector and enables the private sector; IDB Invest, which directly supports private companies and projects; and IDB Lab, which spurs entrepreneurial innovation.
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Original text here: https://www.iadb.org/en/news/idb-group-support-ecuador-2040-growth-agenda-ecuador-crece
EPA Region 4 Takes Action to Halt Illegal Pesticide Sales in Metro Atlanta
WASHINGTON, July 23 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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EPA Region 4 Takes Action to Halt Illegal Pesticide Sales in Metro Atlanta
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ATLANTA (July 23, 2026) - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued Stop Sale, Use, or Removal Orders (SSUROs) to eight facilities to immediately cease the sale and distribution of the unregistered pesticide Sniper that contains the illegal active ingredient dichlorvos. The active ingredient in these products is dichlorvos (2,2-dichlorovinyl dimethyl phosphate), also known as DDVP, an organophosphate pesticide.
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, July 23 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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EPA Region 4 Takes Action to Halt Illegal Pesticide Sales in Metro Atlanta
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ATLANTA (July 23, 2026) - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued Stop Sale, Use, or Removal Orders (SSUROs) to eight facilities to immediately cease the sale and distribution of the unregistered pesticide Sniper that contains the illegal active ingredient dichlorvos. The active ingredient in these products is dichlorvos (2,2-dichlorovinyl dimethyl phosphate), also known as DDVP, an organophosphate pesticide.EPA has restricted the use of DDVP and other organophosphates in the United States because of the dangers they present to human health. EPA's SSUROs also immediately ceases the sale and distribution of two additional unregistered pesticides (Sniper Flying Insect Killer and Green Leaf Powder Cockroach and Ant Killing Bait).
"The issuance of these eight Stop Sale, Use, or Removal Orders underscores our commitment to a swift, sharp enforcement response when public health is on the line," said Regional Administrator Kevin McOmber. "By immediately freezing the sale and distribution of these unregistered pesticides, EPA's Southeastern Region is successfully removing the threat from the marketplace and preventing further unauthorized chemical exposure to consumers and communities across the Southeast."
During the week of July 9, 2026, EPA conducted 16 inspections in the metropolitan Atlanta area to protect public health and the environment from exposure to highly dangerous chemicals. Inspectors discovered the unregistered pesticides at eight of the inspected facilities that were found selling the unregistered pesticides directly to end users, posing an immediate risk to consumers. In response to these findings, EPA acted swiftly to issue SSUROs to the eight facilities, requiring them to remove these dangerous products from the marketplace and immediately halt any further sale or distribution.
For more information, visit EPA's DDVP Fact Sheets webpage.
Contact Us about Enforcement to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
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Original text here: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-region-4-takes-action-halt-illegal-pesticide-sales-metro-atlanta
