File Photo
Vice President Hosts White House Reception for 2009 National MED Week Award Winners
Washington (Aug. 26)—This evening, Vice President Joe Biden, Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) National Director David Hinson and Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Karen Mills congratulated the 2009 National Excellence in Minority Business Award Winners at a reception held at the White House. This year’s recipients will be officially recognized at the annual gala held during the Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week conference in Washington on August 28, 2009. (2009 MED Week Web site)
Statement from Under Secretary for Economic Affairs on July 2009 New Home Sales
Washington (Aug. 26)—The U.S. Commerce Department’s Bureau of the Census today released new home sales data for July 2009. Sales of new single-family houses rose 9.6 percent, a far stronger gain than the expected rise of 1.6 percent. Sales have risen 31.6 percent above their low in January of this year. “These new numbers are another sign that we have put the brakes on the worst economic downturn in generations,” U.S Commerce Under Secretary for Economic Affairs Rebecca Blank said. (More) (July Residential Sales Release)
Secretary Locke Reads “To the Top!” with DC Grade School Students
Washington (Aug. 25)—At lunchtime, Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Donovan and Education Secretary Duncan participated in the Department of Education’s summer reading initiative, “Read to the Top!” During the reading, Secretary Locke read, “Those Shoes,” a picture book by Maribeth Boelts to a group of District of Columbia grade school students. The Department has partnered with community organizations nationwide to combat summer reading loss in response to President Obama’s national volunteer campaign, “United We Serve,” which challenges all Americans to engage in sustained, meaningful service to meet growing social needs resulting from the economic downturn.
- Last Updated:
- August 26, 2009
- Questions regarding this section may be directed to the Department of Commerce Webmaster