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BOCA RATON, Fla., Jan. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Hispanics in the United States did not end 2020 with an optimistic view of their financial situations, even as new COVID-19 vaccines are expected to help the nation recover from the devastating effects of the pandemic.

In the fourth quarter of 2020, the Hispanic Consumer Sentiment Index fell to 79.3, about six points shy of the third quarter mark, according to the Florida Atlantic University Business and Economics Polling Initiative (FAU BEPI) in FAU’s College of Business.

The fourth quarter number, while about the same as the general population’s consumer confidence sentiment published by the University of Michigan, is nearly 22 points lower than it was a year ago before the start of the pandemic.

«Hispanics may be less optimistic due to the fact that the Latino unemployment rate is higher than the overall unemployment rate in the United States,» said Monica Escaleras, Ph.D., director of FAU BEPI.

The fourth quarter poll found that 47 percent of Hispanics said they are better off financially today than a year ago, compared to 57 percent who felt that way during the third quarter. In addition, 62 percent of respondents said they expect to be better off financially in the next year, while 69 percent of respondents felt that way in the third quarter.

The latest survey also revealed that fewer respondents feel it is a good time to buy big-ticket items, while more respondents believe the cost of living has gone up.

Still, Hispanics appear confident in the long-run economic outlook, with 66 percent saying they expect it to be good in the next five years. That’s up nine points from the third quarter.

The poll is based on a sampling of 617 Hispanics, 18 years of age and older, from Oct. 1 to Dec. 31, 2020. The margin of error is +/- 3.95 percentage points. The survey was administered using both landlines via IVR data collection and online data collection using Dynata. Responses for the entire sample were weighted to reflect the national distribution of the Hispanic population by region, education, gender, age and income, according to latest American Community Survey data. The polling results and full cross-tabulations can be viewed at www.business.fau.edu/BEPI.

SOURCE Florida Atlantic University Business and Economics Polling Initiative

WASHINGTON, Jan. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) announced today the publication in the Federal Register of the 2021 Nationwide Permits (NWPs). The 12 reissued and four new 2021 NWPs in the rule are necessary for work in streams, wetlands and other waters of the United States under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899.

The NWPs in this rule take effect March 15, 2021. The 12 reissued NWPs replace the 2017 versions of those permits, which now expire March 14, 2021. All activities authorized by the remaining 40 NWPs from 2017 remain authorized until the March 18, 2022, expiration date of those NWPs. 

The 2021 nationwide permits have been published in today’s Federal Register at https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/01/13/2021-00102/reissuance-and-modification-of-nationwide-permits, and will be posted to the USACE Web site at http://www.usace.army.mil/Missions/CivilWorks/RegulatoryProgramandPermits/NationwidePermits.aspx. 

«Our goals in updating, developing and authorizing these 16 nationwide permits are to enhance regulatory efficiency and provide clarity for the regulated public without decreasing environmental protection,» said Maj. Gen. William «Butch» Graham, USACE Deputy Commanding General for Civil and Emergency Operations. «Our nationwide permits are an important tool in encouraging project proponents to avoid and minimize impacts to wetlands, streams, and other aquatic resources.»

The updated permits streamline the requirements of the Clean Water Act and the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899, and are informed by extensive feedback from the public and other key stakeholders.

All nationwide permits provide expedited review of projects that have no more than minimal impact on the aquatic environment. Categories of activities that may be covered under these NWPs include residential developments, agricultural activities, stormwater management facilities, land-based renewable energy generation facilities, commercial and industrial developments, and recreational facilities.

The four new nationwide permits are NWPs 55, 56, 57, and 58.  NWP 55 provides an appropriate mechanism for an efficient authorization process to authorize structures in navigable waters for seaweed mariculture activities.  Similarly, NWP 56 provides the same appropriate efficient

Army Corps of Engineers announces publication of 2021 Nationwide Permits/2-2-2

authorization process to authorize structures in navigable waters for finfish mariculture activities. Both of these NWPs also enable project proponents to obtain authorization, as appropriate, to grow multiple species on or in the same structure.

NWP 57 covers the discharges of dredged or fill material and structures and work in regulated waters associated with the construction of electric utility lines and telecommunications activities. Finally, NWP 58 provides authorization for activities in waters of the United States associated with the construction of utility lines for water and other substances.

Notification requirements and impact limits have been revised for some permits to provide greater national consistency and foster timely decision-making for the regulated community without reducing environmental protection. All improvements, additions, and revisions to the package are consistent with the USACE commitment to evaluate minor activities efficiently while ensuring appropriate environmental protection for our nation’s aquatic resources.

The nationwide permits announced today have no major changes from 2017, the last time the nationwide permits were authorized in accordance with the law.

USACE division commanders may add, after public review and consultation, regional conditions to nationwide permits in order to protect local aquatic ecosystems such as fens or bottomland hardwoods, or to minimize adverse effects on fish or shellfish spawning, wildlife nesting or other ecologically critical areas.

Division and district commanders are also charged with ensuring appropriate coordination and consultation occurs with federally recognized American Indian and Alaska Native governments.

Additionally, NWP 26 has not been assigned since 2000, and NWP 47 was in effect for only one five-year cycle (2007 to 2012).

Additional information about the USACE Regulatory Program can be found at http://www.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Regulatory-Program-and-Permits/.

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/army-corps-of-engineers-announces-publication-of-2021-nationwide-permits-301207831.html

SOURCE U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

BOCA RATON, Fla., Jan. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Hispanics in the United States did not end 2020 with an optimistic view of their financial situations, even as new COVID-19 vaccines are expected to help the nation recover from the devastating effects of the pandemic.

In the fourth quarter of 2020, the Hispanic Consumer Sentiment Index fell to 79.3, about six points shy of the third quarter mark, according to the Florida Atlantic University Business and Economics Polling Initiative (FAU BEPI) in FAU’s College of Business.

The fourth quarter number, while about the same as the general population’s consumer confidence sentiment published by the University of Michigan, is nearly 22 points lower than it was a year ago before the start of the pandemic.

«Hispanics may be less optimistic due to the fact that the Latino unemployment rate is higher than the overall unemployment rate in the United States,» said Monica Escaleras, Ph.D., director of FAU BEPI.

The fourth quarter poll found that 47 percent of Hispanics said they are better off financially today than a year ago, compared to 57 percent who felt that way during the third quarter. In addition, 62 percent of respondents said they expect to be better off financially in the next year, while 69 percent of respondents felt that way in the third quarter.

The latest survey also revealed that fewer respondents feel it is a good time to buy big-ticket items, while more respondents believe the cost of living has gone up.

Still, Hispanics appear confident in the long-run economic outlook, with 66 percent saying they expect it to be good in the next five years. That’s up nine points from the third quarter.

The poll is based on a sampling of 617 Hispanics, 18 years of age and older, from Oct. 1 to Dec. 31, 2020. The margin of error is +/- 3.95 percentage points. The survey was administered using both landlines via IVR data collection and online data collection using Dynata. Responses for the entire sample were weighted to reflect the national distribution of the Hispanic population by region, education, gender, age and income, according to latest American Community Survey data. The polling results and full cross-tabulations can be viewed at www.business.fau.edu/BEPI.

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hispanics-consumer-confidence-declines-in-fourth-quarter-301207825.html

SOURCE Florida Atlantic University Business and Economics Polling Initiative

NEW CANAAN, Conn., Jan. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — The number of publicly announced seniors housing and care acquisitions in the fourth quarter of 2020 rose to a record high, with 120 deals announced, based on new acquisition data from Irving Levin Associates. This represents a 107% increase from the 58 transactions in the previous quarter and 5% higher than the 114 deals made public in the fourth quarter of 2019. Also, the $2.52 billion spent on the fourth quarter transactions surpassed the previous quarter’s total of $1.49 billion by 69%, based on publicly disclosed prices. However, compared with the fourth quarter of 2019, which saw $3.73 billion spent, dollar volume was 32% lower.

«As seniors began to receive the first doses of COVID-19 vaccines, investors were unleashed on the M&A market in the fourth quarter of 2020,» stated Ben Swett, Editor of The SeniorCare Investor. «Lenders gave the go-ahead on dozens of deals that were delayed because of the pandemic, leading to record transaction volume.»

Portfolio deals were prevalent in the fourth quarter, particularly for skilled nursing facilities, with 26 portfolio sales (three properties or more) announced, versus eight in the third quarter and 10 in the second quarter. Those portfolio sales in the fourth quarter accounted for well over 170 properties. There were four deals that surpassed $100 million in publicly disclosed value, including Eagle Arc Partners’ purchase of 20 skilled nursing facilities in the Southeast for more than $300 million, and Welltower’s $200 million sale of six seniors housing communities around the Boston, Massachusetts area to a fund co-managed by global private equity firm Taurus Investment Holdings and Northbridge Asset Management.

Unlike previous quarters, skilled nursing deals represented a majority of fourth quarter M&A, in terms of both transactions (52%) and properties (more than 70%). «Average skilled nursing occupancy plummeted during the pandemic, but federal relief has stabilized many facilities’ bottom lines. Also, both residents and staff have been among the first to receive the vaccine. These factors have given buyers the green light to start acquiring value-add facilities again,» added Swett. Once again, assisted living and memory care made up the majority of the seniors housing deals, or 51%, followed by independent living with 17% of the share, affordable seniors housing with 16%, active adult with 10% and CCRCs accounting for 5% of the seniors housing deals.

All long-term care M&A deals dating back to 1993 can be accessed on the Deal Search Online database and can be purchased via a site license. All quarterly results are published in The Health Care M&A Report for all 13 sectors of health care, which is part of the HealthCareMandA.com. In addition, annual results of the seniors housing and care acquisition markets were published last year in the 25th Edition of The Senior Care Acquisition Report. The comprehensive report has 400 pages of transaction details and valuation statistics in a two-volume set, separated out by seniors housing and skilled nursing. The 26th Edition will be available by March 2021. For information, or to order the reports, call 800-248-1668. Irving Levin Associates was established in 1948 and has headquarters in New Canaan, Connecticut. The company publishes research reports and newsletters and maintains databases on the healthcare and seniors housing M&A markets.

Media Contact

Ben Swett, Irving Levin Associates LLC, 203-846-6800, swett@levinassociates.com

SOURCE Irving Levin Associates LLC