The Mayor and Town Council of Oakland have endorsed the concept of offering incentives to potential new businesses, land owners, tenants, or existing businesses willing to invest in downtown Oakland.

A bill to increase the lending authority for SBA's 7(a) loan program for FY 2015 was passed by Congress and signed by the President.

Sen. George Edwards has the backing of R. Michael “Mike” Gill, secretary of the Department of Business and Economic Development, when Edwards tries to pass the economic stimulus bill next year.