Did you miss key news from Commerce this week? Each week, we recap the latest U.S. Department of Commerce highlights spanning a wide range of issues promoting job creation and economic growth, programs, and events in one blog post.
Here are the key moments from Commerce: This Week
Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross
On June 24, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross joined President Donald Trump in welcoming President Andrzej Duda of Poland to the White House. The U.S. remains committed to generating economic growth and increasing trade and commercial ties between the U.S. and Poland.
On June 25, Secretary Ross delivered remarks to the Advisory Committee on Commercial Remote Sensing, an independent advisory body to NOAA’s Commercial Remote Sensing Regulatory Affairs office. Secretary Ross spoke about the Department’s final rule on licensing of private remote sensing systems, issued May 19, 2020.
On June 26, Secretary Ross delivered remarks at the sixth meeting of the American Workforce Advisory Board. The American Workforce Policy Advisory Board is co-chaired by Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and Advisor to the President Ivanka Trump. The Pledge to America’s Workers has added over 16 million new opportunities to educate, train, and reskill U.S. workers from all walks of life!
Since June 16, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration awarded over $12 million CARES Act Recovery Assistance grants in 20 states to update economic development plans and fortify programs to assist communities in responding to the coronavirus pandemic.
“The Trump Administration is eager to allocate these essential CARES Act funds and deliver on our promise to help American communities recover from the impact of COVID-19,” said Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. “I am proud of the perseverance and strength shown by our communities coast to coast throughout this pandemic, and these funds will help provide the Western Piedmont region with the necessary resources to make a swift and lasting economic comeback.”
Deputy Secretary of Commerce Karen Dunn Kelley
On June 25, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce Karen Dunn Kelley commemorated the first anniversary of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s collaborative efforts with interagency partners, in coordination with the Prosper Africa Executive Secretariat, highlighting President Trump’s Prosper Africa initiative focused on expanding two-way trade and investment between the United States and Africa.
“Just one year after the Prosper Africa launch in Mozambique, our ‘all of Commerce’ approach has garnered the resources and expertise needed to connect U.S. businesses with export opportunities throughout the continent featuring eight of the world’s 10 fastest-growing economies and more than one billion consumers,” Deputy Secretary Kelley said. “A greater connection between the United States and Africa has delivered expanded markets for U.S. commercial interests, advanced mutual prosperity and security, fueled economic growth and job creation, and demonstrated the superior value proposition of transparent markets and private enterprise for driving growth. We hope to continue building on this important relationship through our Prosper Africa initiative.”
Around the Bureaus
On June 22, the Minority Business Development Agency announced $10 million in CARES Act funding to MBDA Business Centers and Minority Chambers of Commerce.
On June 23, the Bureau of Economic Analysis released personal income by state for the first quarter of 2020.
Also on June 23, the U.S. Census Bureau reported sales of new single-family houses in May 2020 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 676,000. This is 16.6 percent (+/- 15.5%) above the revised April 2020 estimate of 580,000.
On June 24, the U.S. Census Bureau announced the winners of the first-ever 2020 Census “Get Out the Count” Video Challenge during a live virtual event.
On June 25, the U.S. Department of Commerce joined with its government partners to release a Progress Report detailing the accomplishments of the American Broadband Initiative (ABI) after the release of the initial ABI Milestones Report.
On June 26, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office opened nominations to fill upcoming vacancies for the Patent Public Advisory Committee and Trademark Public Advisory Committee. Nominations must be postmarked or electronically transmitted on or before July 31, 2020.
2020 Census
Through your social media channels, you can help make a difference in your community. Share interesting facts and how-to guides to encourage your friends and family members to participate in the 2020 Census. And remind them—it’s not too late to respond! https://2020census.gov/