AURORA ASSAULT, OFFICER’S CRIMINAL PAST, UNDERSCORE URGENCY FOR GEORGE FLOYD JUSTICE IN POLICING ACT

NEW YORK (July 29, 2021) – The brutal assault of an unarmed Black man at the hands of Aurora, Colorado, police – one of whom has a prior firearms arrest – has underscored the urgency for a robust George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial said today.

The Urban League of Greater Madison (Madison, WI) is receiving a $400,000 grant from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. (WEDC) for a fund that will provide loans, grants and technical assistance to startups and existing businesses considering moving into the South Madison Black Business Hub.

“The purpose of the hub will create a space to grow and nurture Black and other businesses,” Urban League President and CEO Ruben Anthony said. “It’s critical when you have a hub coming up to have an accelerator and grant and loan program.”

In addition to the WEDC grant, the Urban League also announced another state grant — $185,000 from the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development — to support its career training program with Exact Sciences to prepare participants for potential jobs at the growing Madison-based medical diagnostics company.

U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) announced that the United States Economic Development Administration (EDA) has awarded a $1.8 million CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to the Urban League of Greater Cleveland, Inc. (Cleveland, OH) The grant will be used to administer a Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) and will provide gap financing to small businesses in Cuyahoga County who have been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. This grant will be matched with $450,000 in local funds and is expected to retain 300 jobs, create 300 new jobs, and help generate over $3 million in private investment for the community.

Three families officially became homeowners when they closed on their new homes through Invest Newark’s Section 8 homeownership program. The residents were selected via lottery from the program and are now ready to move in.

“I'm in disbelief as to how fast Invest Newark and NACA [Neighborhood Assistance Corporation Of America]  worked together to help me become a  homeowner,” said Hakeemah Neal, one of the new homeowners in the Section 8 program. “In less than eight months, along with the professional and caring staff of both departments,  my dreams came true. I'm so excited to start this journey, this is something I dreamed of for my family, and Invest Newark and NACA have made it come true."

Dear Mr. President. Last week, Marc Morial met with President Biden & VP Harris + other civil rights leaders to discuss protecting our voting rights. | Off the charts. The 2021 State of Black America report is officially here! Take a look at one of the most anticipated sources for assessing Black progress. | Don’t miss the wave. This year’s virtual event was filled with Black excellence centered around building up our communities. Catch up on the gems! | New variant, who this? As COVID-19 continues to spread in unexpected ways, a key way to stay safe is to get vaccinated. Find out more. | Time for change. We’ve been waiting far too long and Congress holds the power. Here’s how we demand action to get justice + accountability in policing.

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Save our youth. Here’s why we’re urging cities to protect our youth from crime and violence through summer jobs funded by stimulus aid. | Building economic sustainability. Learn more about our partnership with Fifth Third Bank to expand career opportunities in our communities. | Save the date. On July 15th we want you to have a seat at the table for our State of Black America virtual event + report release. Stay tuned! | CROWN Day. Today we celebrate how far we've come since the first signing of the CROWN Act to ban hair discrimination! Tune in at 7PM ET on Facebook. | Justice NOW. The Justice in Policing Act is sitting in the hands of the Senate and we need action NOW. Here’s how you can demand change. | COVID-19 update. As the Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus surges, we want you + your loved ones to stay safe. Here’s how to get vaccinated in your area. | New jobs report. Dr. Bernard Anderson, our Chief Economics Adviser, shares an in-depth look at the state of the economy. Here’s what the numbers tell us.

State of Black America® report. Here’s how our latest report serves as the blueprint for Black communities as the nation emerges from “three pandemics.” | Catch up on the gems. Can cancel culture be viewed as modern day white supremacy? Watch the full segment from the #StateofBlackAmerica event. | New podcast. If you loved the For the Movement podcast, join us as we relaunch it as the State of Black America podcast! Subscribe + tune in. | Vax facts. COVID-19 cases are on the rise all over the nation. Getting vaccinated gets us one step closer to reclaiming our lives. Here’s how. | If not now, then when? It’s time to uproot injustice and reimagine public safety. Here’s how we get justice for George Floyd and many others. | #AmplifyBlackVoices. We’ve partnered with Doritos to support Black innovators nationwide and our entrepreneurship programs. Find out more.