Categoría: Geovanny Vicente

Commercial Lending Market Thaws in 4Q20

BALTIMORE, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Cerebro Capital, a commercial loan platform, today released its Q4 2020 survey on non-bank lending for middle-market commercial and industrial (C&I) loans. The results are paired with the <a target="_blank"…

BALTIMORE, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Cerebro Capital, a commercial loan platform, today released its Q4 2020 survey on non-bank lending for middle-market commercial and industrial (C&I) loans. The results are paired with the Federal Reserve’s 4Q20 survey of commercial banks to illustrate a comprehensive perspective of corporate lending to middle-market borrowers and how it compares to the previous quarter.

Cerebro’s quarterly non-bank lending survey was initially launched in the second half of 2020 to provide deeper insights into the $1T private credit market. The Q4 survey was completed by Vice Presidents and Managing Directors of alternative lenders that target middle-market borrowers and offer loan sizes of between $2 million and $100 million.

With over 70% of non-banks surveyed by Cerebro seeing increased demand for C&I loans from their lending institutions in Q4 2020, non-bank lenders, which includes mezzanine funds, business development companies, and venture debt lenders, are a critical part of the middle-market financing landscape.

Credit Markets Improve for Mid-Market Corporate Borrowers in Q4
Both commercial bank and non-bank lenders saw credit standards ease up in 4Q20 compared to the prior quarter. Twenty percent of non-bank lender respondents indicated terms eased compared to only 6% in the prior quarter. Twelve percent of commercial banks responded that terms were easing compared to only 3% in the prior quarter.

«Borrowers seeking new loans in 4Q20 have the benefit of two quarters of history through the pandemic, which allowed them to generate more accurate forecasts for 2021,» said Allan Smallwood, Senior Director of Capital Markets for Cerebro Capital. «Additionally, the FDA approval of vaccines in Q4 helped lenders have more confidence in improving economic conditions.»

Non-Bank Lending Institutions See Demand Increase More in Q4 than Commercial Banks
Over 70% of non-banks surveyed by Cerebro saw demand for C&I loans from their lending institutions increase in Q4 2020. During the same period, only 26% of bank lenders saw C&I loan demand increase. Eighty percent of non-bank lenders indicated that the increased demand to their institutions was from borrowers looking to leave their incumbent lenders. Cerebro’s loan data indicates that non-bank lenders attracted new borrowers with more flexible covenant packages and loan structures compared to their commercial bank counterparts. 

M&A Activity Drives Demand for New Financing
Seventy-nine percent of commercial banks participating in the Federal Reserve’s survey and 72% of non-bank lenders participating in Cerebro’s survey indicated that M&A activity drove demand in 4Q20. «The pandemic has created remarkable M&A opportunities for those who have access to capital for acquisitions,» said Matt Bjonerud, founder and CEO of Cerebro Capital. «Tremendous buying opportunities are coming from companies offering themselves for sale at a discount due to temporary impacts to revenue and cash flows. Creditworthy companies are taking advantage of the opportunity to buy competitors at a temporary discount.»

Lenders Show Signs of Optimism in 2021 Outlook
Heading into 2021, 45% of the non-bank lenders included in the survey expect lending standards to ease over the course of the year. In contrast, commercial banks were more measured in their outlook with 80% of respondents expecting lending standards to remain the same. Commercial banks have a regulatory burden that makes it difficult for them to lower their underwriting standards and they lean heavily on historical financial information to complete their underwriting, which is broadly limiting their ability to underwrite new borrowers.

At the same time, lenders expect a significant increase in competition, with 75% of non-banks responding that competition will be an important driver of improved loan terms for borrowers in the coming year. «Government stimulus led to significant growth in deposits at the large commercial bank in Q4 while, owing to weak economic activity, their loan issuance decreased. Concurrently, low interest rates fueled rapid growth in AUM at private debt funds. Competition in the corporate lending markets is therefore likely to strengthen over the coming year, as banks rebalance their loan books and debt funds deploy their ‘dry powder,'» said Ken Singleton, the Adams Distinguished Professor of Management, Emeritus at Stanford University.

Other Key Highlights
The survey information from both Cerebro and the Federal Reserve point to several other shifts in lending trends. Download the survey report to see more detail about the following trends and insights:

  • Lenders willingness to increase their risk tolerance
  • Demand for new loans
  • Competitive impact on loan terms
  • Borrower demand for precautionary cash

Cerebro’s 800+ lender network is split evenly between commercial banks and non-bank lending institutions. With such a broad lender network, Cerebro offers middle-market companies a data-driven approach to navigating hundreds of commercial bank and non-bank lenders.

About Cerebro Capital: Powered by over 800 commercial bank and non-bank lending institutions, Cerebro Capital («Cerebro») is a data-driven platform purposefully designed to democratize access to credit markets by connecting corporate borrowers and lenders to find and close corporate loans ranging from $2 million to $100 million. Working with finance and technology experts, Cerebro has created a holistic corporate loan management solution designed to revolutionize the way borrowers, lenders, intermediaries and stakeholders manage corporate debt. To learn more about Cerebro, please visit, https://www.cerebrocapital.com/.

Marley Vawter
Marley.Vawter@finnpartners.com
Taylor.Trovillion@finnpartners.com 
312-329-3912

SOURCE Cerebro Capital

Related Links

https://www.cerebrocapital.com

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SOURCE Cerebro Capital

Finalists Selected for $10 Million Climate Challenge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S.

CHICAGO, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Today, Lever for Change announced five finalists for the 2030 Climate Challenge, a $10 million award launched last year to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the buildings, industry,…

CHICAGO, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Today, Lever for Change announced five finalists for the 2030 Climate Challenge, a $10 million award launched last year to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the buildings, industry, and/or transportation sectors in the U.S. by 2030. The Challenge, sponsored by an anonymous donor, will fund proven, data-driven solutions ready to serve as a model for change in communities across the country.

The U.S. currently has the second highest amount of greenhouse gas emissions in the world. Three-quarters of these emissions derive mainly from four energy sectors: electricity, transportation, buildings, and industry. As the U.S. makes progress in decarbonizing the electricity sector, the other three key sectors—transportation, buildings, and industry—currently account for more than half of the national greenhouse gas emissions. 

«While the world is rolling out a rapid response to the coronavirus pandemic, there is no vaccine for climate change,» said Cecilia Conrad, CEO of Lever for Change. «The global nature of this threat requires a similar sense of urgency and commitment to significantly reducing our greenhouse gas emissions. The solutions proposed by the finalists for the 2030 Climate Challenge are a promising start.»

The five finalist projects are:

  • Building with Biomass: Using Buildings to Sequester Carbon at Gigaton-Scale: The Carbon Leadership Forum at the University of Washington, in partnership with Endeavour Center, University of Colorado Boulder, and Building Transparency, proposes to convert buildings to carbon sinks by storing carbon in buildings using biogenic materials and reducing carbon emissions in all other building materials.
  • Decarbonizing U.S. Industry with Renewable Thermal Energy: World Wildlife Fund, Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, and David Gardiner and Associates will harness collective corporate demand through the Renewable Thermal Collaborative to drive investments in technology, markets, and policy to double industrial renewable thermal energy by 2025 and triple it by 2030, slashing industrial thermal emissions by 30% over the decade.
  • First Statewide Virtual Power Plant: Equitable Transition to Clean Energy: Solar United Neighbors, in partnership with Liberty Homes, Clean Energy Works, National Renewable Energy Laboratory and Resource Media proposes to push the pedal to the floor on an inclusive financing tool that enables home energy upgrades to reach mass scale by assuring all households can participate regardless of their income, credit score, or renter status. It will create the first demonstration for the nation of full statewide residential sector decarbonization and creation of a statewide virtual power plant—all through equitable energy transition.
  • Scale Zero: Healthy, Zero-Emission, Affordable Housing for All: RMI, in partnership with Emerald Cities Collaborative, NYCEEC, Association for Energy Affordability, and Enterprise Community Partners, will decarbonize the nation’s building sector through a two-pronged campaign focused on policy and retrofits of multifamily, affordable housing in five states.
  • Turning Point: Driving Southeast Transportation Electrification: The World Resources Institute, Electrification Coalition, EVHybridNoire, and the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy will drive Southeast transportation electrification, increasing Electric Vehicle market share to 50% and reducing transportation emissions by 50 million tons per annum by 2030.

Lever for Change is featuring the finalists for the 2030 Climate Challenge in its Bold Solutions Network. This Network seeks to match outstanding nonprofits and social enterprises from Lever for Change competitions with additional donors and funding.

Sixty-eight proposals were evaluated during a three-month process that included peer  reviews, as well as a final review by an expert panel of more than 45 philanthropic and civic leaders, and climate experts. Applications were evaluated based on four criteria: whether they were impactful, feasible, scalable, and durable.

Over the next three months, the finalists will work with a team of technical experts to strengthen, revise, and re-submit their proposed solutions for the $10 million award.

A final grant recipient will be announced in the summer of 2021.

Donors interested in supporting 2030 Climate Challenge finalists projects may contact Dana Rice, Vice President of Philanthropy at Lever for Change.

More information on the 2030 Climate Challenge can be found at www.2030climatechallenge.org.

Lever for Change
Lever for Change, a nonprofit affiliate of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, helps donors to find and fund solutions to the world’s greatest challenges, ranging from racial and gender equity to economic development and climate change. Building on the success of the MacArthur Foundation’s $100 million competition, 100&Change, Lever for Change customizes and manages open and transparent competitions for donors. In addition, we match donors with nonprofits and social enterprises in our Bold Solutions Network whose solutions to significant social challenges were highly ranked after rigorous evaluation in one of our competitions. Currently, Lever for Change is managing nine competitions, ranging in size from $10-to-100 million, awarding $295 million to grant recipients and strengthening dozens of top organizations. For more information, visit www.leverforchange.org.

CONTACT:
Marc Moorghen, 773.789.1714, mmoorghen@leverforchange.org

 

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SOURCE Lever for Change

Greenberg Traurig Reports 7th Consecutive Year of Record Revenue, Announces Elevations

NEW YORK, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP reported revenues of USD $1.73 Billion for FY 202o, the seventh consecutive year of record revenue, and a 5.48% increase over the previous year. The firm also announced the elevation of 44 attorneys to…

NEW YORK, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP reported revenues of USD $1.73 Billion for FY 202o, the seventh consecutive year of record revenue, and a 5.48% increase over the previous year. The firm also announced the elevation of 44 attorneys to shareholder and of counsel.

Greenberg Traurig’s 30 new shareholders span 17 offices and 12 practice areas. The 14 attorneys elevated to of counsel or counsel come from nine different offices and practice in six areas of law.

«These individuals should be commended for this significant achievement, which recognizes the dedicated work and commitment they have shown to client service,» said Brian L. Duffy, Greenberg Traurig Chief Executive Officer. «We have a phenomenal group of next generation leaders at the firm, and I feel tremendous confidence about the future of our culture and our clients in the hands of professionals like those in the elevated Class of 2021.»

Duffy acknowledged that the diversity of the elevated class represents Greenberg Traurig’s long-standing commitment to fostering an environment that supports diversity, equity, and inclusion. Of the attorneys elevated 59% are diverse, defined as being attorneys who are women, ethnic minorities, or LGBTQ+.

«Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is at the core of who we are as a firm. This class is further evidence of the importance we place on advancing diversity at all levels of our firm, including in leadership roles,» Duffy said.

«2020 was a year of unprecedented human challenge, but was also a year of unprecedented strength for Greenberg Traurig: financially, achieving both record revenues and record profits, with a profit-per-partner increase in excess of 6%; culturally, becoming closer than ever; and qualitatively, elevating our excellence and the consistency of our service worldwide,» said Richard A. Rosenbaum, Executive Chairman of Greenberg Traurig.

«The members of the Class of 2021 are a key to our future, in which we will continue to nimbly change to serve our clients,» Rosenbaum added, «but no matter what else may change going forward, we will do so as one firm, united»

Elevated to Shareholder

  • Giuliano Apadula – Philadelphia – Environmental
  • Benjamin Babcock – Fort Lauderdale – Private Wealth Services
  • Lennie A. Bersh – New Jersey – Intellectual Property
  • Kiyan Bigloo – Fort Lauderdale – Corporate
  • Elliott K. Califf – Chicago – Real Estate
  • Dillon R. Colucci – Los Angeles – Immigration & Compliance
  • Jeroen den Dunnen – Amsterdam – Corporate
  • Christopher S. Dodrill – Dallas – Litigation
  • Benjamin J. Einbinder – Los Angeles – Corporate
  • Sergio M. Eslait – Miami – Real Estate
  • Rebekah S. Guyon – Los Angeles – Litigation
  • Nathan M. Iacovino – Philadelphia – Corporate
  • Julia G. Jeffery – Miami – Real Estate
  • Martin S. Kedziora – Chicago – Litigation
  • Homin Lee – Los Angeles – Corporate
  • Kelly L. McNamee – Albany – Litigation
  • Ana C. Montalbán – Philadelphia – Public Finance & Infrastructure
  • Marissa A. Neufeld – Miami – Land Development
  • Erica L. Okerberg – Las Vegas – Gaming
  • Maciej Pietrzak – Warsaw – Corporate
  • Melissa López Rogers – Atlanta, Orlando – Public Finance & Infrastructure
  • Sylvia E. Simson – New York – Litigation
  • Jacqueline E. Tambone – Atlanta – Litigation
  • Shomari B. Wade – Washington, D.C. – Government Contracts
  • Travis M. Walker – Fort Lauderdale – Corporate
  • Mian R. Wang – Boston – Litigation
  • Eric D. Wong – New Jersey – Litigation
  • Paul G. Yakulis – New York – Corporate
  • Jay Yu – New York – Corporate
  • Dr. Laura M. Zentner – Berlin – Technology, Media & Telecommunications

Elevated to Of Counsel or Counsel

  • Justin Bernstein – Austin – Litigation
  • Nicola T. Coleman – Albany – Government Law & Policy
  • Sonali Dohale – Washington, D.C. – International Trade
  • Dale Rose Goldstein – New York – Litigation
  • Matthew Handler – New York – Real Estate Operations
  • Emina Kwok – Las Vegas – Real Estate
  • Victoria J. Langton – Atlanta – Litigation
  • Ashley A. LeBlanc – New York – Litigation
  • Antoni Libiszowski – Warsaw – Litigation
  • John C. Molluzzo, Jr. – New York – Litigation
  • Leo Muchnik – New York – Restructuring & Bankruptcy
  • Katy O’Brien – Denver – Real Estate
  • David Ortigoza – Dallas – Real Estate
  • Barbara Pancer – Warsaw – Real Estate

About Greenberg Traurig: Greenberg Traurig, LLP (GT), has approximately 2200 attorneys 40 locations in the United States, Latin America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. GT has been recognized for its philanthropic giving, diversity, and innovation, and is consistently among the largest firms in the U.S. on the Law360 400 and among the Top 20 on the Am Law Global 100. The firm is net carbon neutral with respect to its office energy usage and Mansfield Rule 3.0 Certified. Web: http://www.gtlaw.com

Media Contact

Joey Kaiser, Greenberg Traurig, LLP, 212-801-6983, kaiserj@gtlaw.com

Twitter

 

SOURCE Greenberg Traurig, LLP

Survey: American Consumers Turn to Stock Market amid Pandemic Restrictions and Stimulus

NEW YORK, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Record-high stock valuations—and fewer things to spend on as COVID-19 restrictions enter a second year—are enticing more US consumers to invest discretionary funds in the stock market. In Q4 2020, 20% of consumers surveyed invested in shares of stocks or mutual funds, up from 16% in Q2. By contrast, record-low interest rates have resulted in just 43% of consumers putting money into savings in Q4—down from 49% in Q2.

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NEW YORK, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Record-high stock valuations—and fewer things to spend on as COVID-19 restrictions enter a second year—are enticing more US consumers to invest discretionary funds in the stock market. In Q4 2020, 20% of consumers surveyed invested in shares of stocks or mutual funds, up from 16% in Q2. By contrast, record-low interest rates have resulted in just 43% of consumers putting money into savings in Q4—down from 49% in Q2.

These findings and more are detailed in US Consumer Dynamics Report: Q4 2020. It is the first in a new quarterly series drawn from The Conference Board® Global Consumer Confidence Survey, fielded online in 67 markets worldwide. Overall, the Q4 survey confirmed that pandemic-related forces—including more time at home, reduced opportunities to spend, and enhanced fiscal support from the government—continue to be the chief factors shaping consumer behavior in the United States.

«The booms and busts of a few unlikely ‘meme stocks’ have grabbed recent headlines, but the rise of individual investors tells a broader story about spending habits during COVID-19,» said Denise Dahlhoff, Senior Researcher at The Conference Board. «Trends like low interest rates and declining debt concerns—alongside below-normal spending on vacations and out-of-home entertainment due to pandemic restrictions—have left a portion of Americans with more disposable income and fewer ways to spend it. Stocks, which continue to yield strong returns, have become an increasingly attractive option for these consumers.»

Additional insights from the inaugural US Consumer Dynamics Report are featured below.

The proportion of US consumers spending discretionary money on stocks and home improvements rose in Q4 2020—and shrank in every other category.

Consumers’ share of spending on essentials fell in Q4, fueled by historic declines in the relative cost of housing:

  • In Q4 2020, the share of US consumers’ budget devoted to housing costs fell to 18%, a record low and down −3.5 percentage points (ppts) compared to Q2 2020. Plummeting rental rates in city centers, rent abatements and cuts, temporary rent and mortgage non-payments, and historically low mortgage rates all drove this decline.
  • With these housing savings, total spending on essential goods and services (including food/beverage at home, routine transportation, education, and medical) fell −4.1 ppts in Q4 2020 compared to Q2.
  • Consumers shifted their spending, in large part, to discretionary products (+3.8 ppts)—including electronics and, especially, apparel.

Political stability and climate change climbed on the list of US consumers’ top concerns over the next 6 months:

  • In the aftermath of a highly contentious election, 9% of consumers in Q4 2020 named political stability their top worry for the next 6 months, up from just 3% in Q2.
  • 5% of consumers in Q4 named global warming their top worry. Eclipsed as an immediate concern by economic and health concerns in the first half of 2020, the share of consumers focused on climate change is now back near the pre-pandemic average of 6%.
  • Unsurprisingly, more than half of US consumers continue to name the economy (26%), health (18%), or job security (9%) as their top concern for the months ahead. Notably, however, focus on all three areas was lower in Q4 compared to Q2, in the early months of the COVID-19 crisis.

About The Conference Board
The Conference Board is the member-driven think tank that delivers trusted insights for what’s ahead. Founded in 1916, we are a non-partisan, not-for-profit entity holding 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt status in the United States. www.conference-board.org

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SOURCE The Conference Board

Black And Latinx People Benefit From Free 7-Month Virtual Coding Class

SEATTLE, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Reskill Americans is launching tuition-free online software development training for historically underrepresented minorities throughout the U.S. Unlike other coding programs, Reskill Americans is solving the problem of access by eliminating typical barriers to entry such as tuition cost, prior software development knowledge, or other educational requirements.

The inaugural program begins March 15, 2021,…

SEATTLE, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Reskill Americans is launching tuition-free online software development training for historically underrepresented minorities throughout the U.S. Unlike other coding programs, Reskill Americans is solving the problem of access by eliminating typical barriers to entry such as tuition cost, prior software development knowledge, or other educational requirements.

The inaugural program begins March 15, 2021, and is accepting 1,000 participants who enroll by March 7, 2021. To get an opportunity to launch a career in tech, enroll at ReskillAmericans.org.

«We want to live in a world where the minority representation in the tech sector mirrors its representation in the U.S. population,» said Femi Akinde, Co-Founder of Reskill Americans. «To address this, we’ve created a software training model that scales up access to thousands of underrepresented racial minorities to help them build a career in this growth industry.»

Training Provides Participants Required Skills for Software Development Jobs

Participants can learn from anywhere, at any time, as long as they stay on track with weekly assignments. The program includes mentorship and provides participants the following:

  • Virtual internship experiences
  • Portfolio of work to show your future employers
  • Skills needed to apply for tech internships and jobs
  • Tailored instruction for relevant programming languages for all skill levels

Reskill Americans enables scaled-up access to tuition-free training in the U.S. by customizing a proven, low-cost online training model. HNG Tech, the African online training and virtual internship platform, has enrolled 25,000 students across Africa into various software development specializations. HNG Tech has secured sponsorships from Google, Slack and GitHub and has partnered with Oracle and Figma.

«My instructors were really good people who wanted to explain things to me,» said Ore Ogundipe, who completed HNG’s program and is now a software engineer for Azure at Microsoft. «I learned things from that period that I still apply every day in my job.»

Reskill Americans is a diverse group of tech executives that each have more than 20 years of experience in the industry.

«Unlike most open online courses, our participants will get lots of individualized support: they are assigned a mentor to guide them through the program and there’s a low student-to-instructor ratio,» said Mike Koss, Co-Founder and CTO. Mike was a founding developer for some of Microsoft’s most iconic programs in the 1980s, and focuses on curriculum and mentorship at Reskill Americans.

About Reskill Americans: We are a nonprofit that provides tuition-free software development training, mentorship and community to historically underrepresented racial minorities across the U.S. We eliminate traditional barriers to access so that aspiring tech professionals with no prior experience can enroll in our rigorous, instructor–led online program. Participants who complete our seven-month program are prepared for a career in technology, equipped with internship experience, interview skills, and a portfolio to show future employers.   

Contact Information
Media Contact: Jessica Modkins
Office: 305.970.1518
Email: jgm@hiprockstar.com

SOURCE Hip Rock Star Advertising; ReSkill Americans

TCSA Shares Macroeconomic Governance Insights at High-Level International Symposium

SHENZHEN, China, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — TCSA participated in the high-level International Symposium: The Post-Covid Era: Redefining and Redesigning the Global Economy Management, hosted by the Reinventing Bretton Woods Committee, St. Petersburg State University of Economics, Hamburg Institute of International Economics, and The Frenkel -Zuckerman Institute for Global Economics, February 9th…

SHENZHEN, China, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — TCSA participated in the high-level International Symposium: The Post-Covid Era: Redefining and Redesigning the Global Economy Management, hosted by the Reinventing Bretton Woods Committee, St. Petersburg State University of Economics, Hamburg Institute of International Economics, and The Frenkel -Zuckerman Institute for Global Economics, February 9th – 10th, 2021. Marc Uzan, Executive Director of the Reinventing Bretton Woods Committee; Mr. Igor Maksimtsev, Rector of St. Petersburg State University of Economics (UNECON); Mr. Henning Voepel, Director of Hamburg Institute for International Economics (HWWI); Mr. Jihad Azour, Director Central Asia and Middle East Department, International Monetary Fund; and Mr. Kairat Kelimbetov, Governor of AIFC, attended the online conference. Constructive and critical questions were proposed during the meeting. Topics discussed included how the current pandemic has changed the world economy in multiple dimensions, prospects of BRICS countries, Eurasian economic integration, and the future of global finance and trade after Covid-19. Together with other economic and academic experts, TCSA shared its insights on Data-Empowered Macroeconomic Governance System, Precise Improvement of Governance Efficiency, etc.

The online conference was internationally recognized by global financial experts and well-known academic and governmental counterparts worldwide. During the webinar, Ms. Mengya Li, the Director of TCSA Global Affairs, explained the significant challenges in modern macroeconomic governance, including the obscurity of current economic policies worldwide and the lack of value anchor in existing monetary systems. Given the current circumstances, especially under the profound influence of the current Covid-19 pandemic, Ms. Li indicated that all countries’ macroeconomic governing bodies ought to understand the value of a data-empowered governance system and the importance of a precise improvement of macroeconomic governance efficiency. To clarify the concepts and achieve future macroeconomic goals, a national data collection network consisting of algorithmic units with multidimensional algorithmic platforms and data transmission systems was introduced. After being filtered by such an algorithmic unit, heterogeneous data is automatically homogenized.

According to Ms. Li, the Infrastructural Algorithmic Platforms have helped local governments in China increased their fiscal revenue to more than 60 billion RMB through the application in actuarial calculation and allocation of financial resources of urban infrastructure. Meanwhile, the Infrastructural Algorithmic Platforms have also highlighted the necessity of accurate measurement of government expenditures and the precise benefits of public goods for citizens, thereby resolving cyclical fiscal risks and establishing a fiscal actuarial balance mechanism.

About TCSA: https://tcsa.cloud/

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SOURCE TCSA

Top 10 States for LEED Green Building in 2020 Show Strong Adoption by Offices, Schools and Healthcare

WASHINGTON, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Today, the U.S. Green Building Council released (USGBC) its annual list of the top 10 states for LEED green building with Massachusetts ranking first in the nation. LEED is the world’s most widely used green building program and was created by USGBC to set standards…

WASHINGTON, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Today, the U.S. Green Building Council released (USGBC) its annual list of the top 10 states for LEED green building with Massachusetts ranking first in the nation. LEED is the world’s most widely used green building program and was created by USGBC to set standards and define best practices for high-performing, healthy, green buildings. The top states in 2020 certified a remarkable 1,171 projects with more than 60% representing offices, education and healthcare facilities.

«If we are to rebuild an economy that supports our health and our planet, we must lead with changing the way we design and build,» said Mahesh Ramanujam, president and CEO of USGBC. «Last year was a stark reminder that the quality of our buildings impacts the quality of our life. Looking ahead, people want to trust that the spaces they occupy are good for them and their communities, and LEED has always been a tool to support those goals. Now is the time to ensure that every building is LEED certified as that is the only way we are accomplishing our goals of access to healthy, green buildings, homes and spaces.»

The ranking is based on gross square feet of certified space per person using 2010 U.S. Census data and includes commercial and institutional projects certified in 2020. The full top 10 rankings for 2020 are as follows:

Rank

State

GSF Per Capita

2020 Certifications

2020 GSF

TOP 10 TOTALS

1,171

281,055,474

1

Massachusetts

2.91

76

19,034,129

2

Washington

2.82

74

18,957,253

3

Illinois

2.61

94

33,475,682

4

Colorado

2.35

64

11,826,927

5

New York

2.28

108

44,172,684

6

Maryland

2.23

88

12,898,921

7

California

2.12

417

78,912,603

8

Virginia

2.05

97

16,404,078

9

Texas

1.66

139

41,749,345

10

Nevada

1.34

14

3,623,852

*

District of Columbia

39.53

129

23,783,731

*Washington, D.C. is not ranked due to its status as a federal district.

Green building leadership in 2020
Buildings account for an estimated 39% of total U.S. energy consumption and transitioning these spaces to be more sustainable is key to climate action. The global green building community is continually improving LEED to ensure it helps buildings, communities and cities to be more sustainable, healthy, resilient and equitable. LEED provides a framework for designing, constructing and operating buildings that are cost-effective, reduce carbon, use fewer resources and support human health.

In 2020, LEED green building was not limited to a single part of the country and reflects progress across east, west, south and Midwest regions. Of note is that nearly 50% of projects in the top 10 states achieved LEED Gold, one of the highest levels of certification, indicating a commitment to high performance.

While offices, education and healthcare accounted for a majority of certifications in the top 10 states, warehouses, distribution centers, multifamily housing and retail projects represented almost 20%. LEED can be used by virtually any building type and has been adopted across industries to support corporate sustainability and ESG commitments, as well as by the public sector. President Biden recently signed an executive order around greening the federal government’s own footprint, which includes its buildings. During his campaign, then candidate Biden also committed to upgrade four million buildings in four years as part of a sustainable infrastructure and clean energy plan.

Path to net zero
Over the last year, commitments to net zero emissions have roughly doubled, according to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Transitioning buildings to also be net zero is a critical factor in reaching those larger goals. USGBC’s LEED Zero certification is that pathway for buildings and verifies achievements in net zero carbon, energy, water and waste.

In the two years since LEED Zero launched, certifications have doubled, and the number of projects certified in 2020 exceeded 2019. Among the top 10 states for LEED, six are home to LEED Zero projects, including Virginia, California, Illinois, New York, Colorado and Maryland.

Growing the green workforce
Transforming the building sector to be green requires a skilled and knowledgeable workforce. This workforce is contributing to the development and advocacy of LEED and is being quickly embraced by the next generation workforce and decision makers. To aid in its commitment to supporting a green workforce, this year, USGBC is also releasing a first-ever ranking of the top 10 states with the most LEED green building professionals. The list represents more than 100,000 workers with thousands more outside the top 10 and around the world.

Top 10 States for LEED Professionals in 2020

Rank

State

Total # of Credential Holders

TOP 10 TOTAL

100,015

1

California

26,906

2

New York

12,575

3

Texas

10,474

4

Florida

9,694

5

Illinois

8,640

6

Massachusetts

6,901

7

Virginia

6,612

8

Colorado

6,393

9

Washington

5,968

10

Pennsylvania

5,852

More information about LEED certification and green building is available at usgbc.org.

About the U.S. Green Building Council
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is committed to a healthy, resilient and equitable future for all through the development of green buildings, cities and communities. For more than 20 years, USGBC has been advancing green building practices through the development of LEED, the world’s most widely used green building program. With the support of thousands of members, volunteers and partners, USGBC provides robust green building education courses, a rigorous professional credentialing program, and advocates for effective public policies. It convenes an international network of green building and sustainability leaders through the annual Greenbuild International Conference & Expo, and forward thinking programs, including the Center for Green Schools. For more information, visit usgbc.org and connect on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. 

Media Contact: Sarah Stanley
sstanley@usgbc.org
202-256-0456

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SOURCE U.S. Green Building Council

Black And Latinx People Benefit From Free 7-Month Virtual Coding Class

SEATTLE, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Reskill Americans is launching tuition-free online software development training for historically underrepresented minorities throughout the U.S. Unlike other coding programs, Reskill Americans is solving the problem of access by eliminating typical barriers to entry such as tuition cost, prior software development knowledge, or other educational requirements.

The inaugural program begins March 15, 2021, and is accepting…

SEATTLE, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Reskill Americans is launching tuition-free online software development training for historically underrepresented minorities throughout the U.S. Unlike other coding programs, Reskill Americans is solving the problem of access by eliminating typical barriers to entry such as tuition cost, prior software development knowledge, or other educational requirements.

The inaugural program begins March 15, 2021, and is accepting 1,000 participants who enroll by March 7, 2021. To get an opportunity to launch a career in tech, enroll at ReskillAmericans.org.

«We want to live in a world where the minority representation in the tech sector mirrors its representation in the U.S. population,» said Femi Akinde, Co-Founder of Reskill Americans. «To address this, we’ve created a software training model that scales up access to thousands of underrepresented racial minorities to help them build a career in this growth industry.»

Training Provides Participants Required Skills for Software Development Jobs

Participants can learn from anywhere, at any time, as long as they stay on track with weekly assignments. The program includes mentorship and provides participants the following:

  • Virtual internship experiences
  • Portfolio of work to show your future employers
  • Skills needed to apply for tech internships and jobs
  • Tailored instruction for relevant programming languages for all skill levels

Reskill Americans enables scaled-up access to tuition-free training in the U.S. by customizing a proven, low-cost online training model. HNG Tech, the African online training and virtual internship platform, has enrolled 25,000 students across Africa into various software development specializations. HNG Tech has secured sponsorships from Google, Slack and GitHub and has partnered with Oracle and Figma.

«My instructors were really good people who wanted to explain things to me,» said Ore Ogundipe, who completed HNG’s program and is now a software engineer for Azure at Microsoft. «I learned things from that period that I still apply every day in my job.»

Reskill Americans is a diverse group of tech executives that each have more than 20 years of experience in the industry.

«Unlike most open online courses, our participants will get lots of individualized support: they are assigned a mentor to guide them through the program and there’s a low student-to-instructor ratio,» said Mike Koss, Co-Founder and CTO. Mike was a founding developer for some of Microsoft’s most iconic programs in the 1980s, and focuses on curriculum and mentorship at Reskill Americans.

About Reskill Americans: We are a nonprofit that provides tuition-free software development training, mentorship and community to historically underrepresented racial minorities across the U.S. We eliminate traditional barriers to access so that aspiring tech professionals with no prior experience can enroll in our rigorous, instructor–led online program. Participants who complete our seven-month program are prepared for a career in technology, equipped with internship experience, interview skills, and a portfolio to show future employers.   

Contact Information
Media Contact: Jessica Modkins
Office: 305.970.1518
Email: jgm@hiprockstar.com

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SOURCE Hip Rock Star Advertising; ReSkill Americans

Innovative Product Launch and Adoption of Sustainable Production Process to Create Growth Opportunities for the Global Mezcal Market: TMR

ALBANY, N.Y., Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Manufacturers of food and beverages are diversifying their product offerings in natural ingredients based and organic products to cater to the changing tastes of consumers. As such, players in the global mezcal market are making efforts to raise awareness about the benefits and rich taste and flavor of natural ingredients based beverages.

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ALBANY, N.Y., Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Manufacturers of food and beverages are diversifying their product offerings in natural ingredients based and organic products to cater to the changing tastes of consumers. As such, players in the global mezcal market are making efforts to raise awareness about the benefits and rich taste and flavor of natural ingredients based beverages.

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Premiumization is a popular trend in the global mezcal market. Tequila, a type of premium mezcal, is an extremely popular drink that is consumed in the form of a shot. Producers of Tequila are making efforts to market the drink as a spirit that can not only be consumed in shots but also be sipped and savored. Customers are shifting from price-centric consumption to premium drinks, which is likely to benefit growth of the global mezcal market over the analysis timeline, from 2019 to 2027. A rise in the demand for 100%-agave tequila is likely to favor the market in the near future. Introduction of premium products by market players have successfully attracted the attention of potential customers. In addition, celebrity endorsements have further enhanced brand image and value of Tequila, which have assisted businesses sustain despite price fluctuations of agave.

Request for Covid-19 Impact Analysis on Mezcal Market: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/Covid19.php

The global mezcal market is anticipated to clock double-digit growth rate at ~13% CAGR over the projection timeline, from 2019 to 2027. Exhibiting promising growth opportunities, the market is estimated to gather traction from the evolving tastes and preferences of customers.

Key Findings of Mezcal Market Study

Rising Demand for Mezcal to Drive Launch of Innovative Products

Mezcal comes with smoky and complex flavor and it is utilized in the production of tequila, a more popular drink. Mezcal is not easily available and has gaining traction amongst the youth and connoisseurs of such beverages. Riding on the back of increased demand, producers are coming up with launch of innovative products to make the most of growing popularity of mezcal. These factors are likely to support development of the global mezcal market over the analysis timeline, from 2019 to 2027. On the other hand, augmented consumption of mezcal has resulted in shortage of agave and is pressurizing mezcal producers and local farmers to increase their yield.

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Sustainability in the Production Process to Gather Traction in the Market

Stakeholders in the global mezcal market are bringing in changes in business operations right from the stage of agave plantation to the stage of wood burning to amplify the smoky flavor of mezcal. As such, ongoing efforts by market participants toward adoption of sustainable operations in the bottling process of mezcal and agave production. Market stakeholders are trying to attain 100% sustainability in the process of agave production. As such, they are collaborating with producers and local farmers to produce in-house seed banks and are supported by constant maintenance of harvest and plantations. Sustainability in the production process is likely to emerge as an important trend in the global mezcal market in the near future.

View Detailed Table of Contents at https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/report-toc/57489

 Mezcal Market: Key Driving Factors

  • Mezcal comes is many health benefits, which is likely to benefit the market. It is known to facilitate easy digestion of food and also assists in maintaining and regulating level of blood sugar in the body. Mezcal is also capable of controlling the cholesterol levels of body and prevents growth of cancerous tumor.
  • A rise in the demand for alcoholic drinks due to the changing lifestyles of people and growing influence of social media is likely to drive the demand for mezcal over the forecast timeline, from 2019 to 2027

Purchase Premium Research Report on Mezcal Market @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/checkout.php

Mezcal Market: Key Market Participants

The global mezcal market is considered to be a consolidated one and is estimated to be dominated by a handful of industry players. These low numbers of industry players are likely to be in possession of a large market share. As such the entry of new players in the global mezcal market is foreseen to be restricted. Already established market players are already having sound hold in the regions that allow production of mezcal.

Some of the prominent industry players comprise Familia Camarena Tequila, Bacardi Limited, and Craft Distillers.

Explore Transparency Market Research’s award-winning coverage of the global Food & Beverages Industry,

Organic Herbal Extracts Market – https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/organic-herbal-extracts-market.html

Tomato Ketchup Market – https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/tomato-ketchup-market.html

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About Transparency Market Research

Transparency Market Research is a global market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. Our experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.

Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.

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SOURCE Transparency Market Research

CleanSpark Issues Bitcoin Mining Expansion Update

SALT LAKE CITY, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — CleanSpark, Inc. (Nasdaq: CLSK) (the «Company»), a diversified software and services company today provided a 60-day post-acquisition update on its Bitcoin mining operations and announces that it expects to further increase its Petahash rate in February 2021, beyond prior projections.  

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SALT LAKE CITY, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — CleanSpark, Inc. (Nasdaq: CLSK) (the «Company»), a diversified software and services company today provided a 60-day post-acquisition update on its Bitcoin mining operations and announces that it expects to further increase its Petahash rate in February 2021, beyond prior projections.  

CleanSpark’s Bitcoin Expansion Exceeds Prior Estimates.

CleanSpark has continued to procure and deploy mining equipment as part of its strategic growth initiative, purchasing its equipment mostly through dealer networks rather than directly through the manufacturers to ensure immediate availability. Orders for new mining equipment continue to be delivered in multiple shipments and are promptly commissioned as they arrive. Prior to the end of February, the Company expects to have in excess of 315 Ph/s of Bitcoin mining capacity deployed.  This will represent a greater than 65% increase in mining capacity since the December 10, 2020 acquisition. 

CleanSpark has focused on increasing energy capacity in conjunction with the expanding mining capacity as it continues to progress toward its goal of mining at the lowest cost of energy for any domestic Bitcoin mining operation. Energy costs and power capacity, factored with the overall environmental impact of mining operations will become increasingly important as difficulty levels increase, and greenhouse gas emissions are more strictly regulated under the Biden administration.  In light of companies like MicroStrategy, PayPal, Square and Tesla making substantial investments into Bitcoin, demand is expected to increase which will certainly invite scrutiny surrounding the single biggest factor in mining operations that support the blockchain–energy.

Zach Bradford, CleanSpark’s President and Chief Executive Officer stated, «With companies such as Tesla making large strategic investments in Bitcoin, we believe the validation as a currency has only just begun. CleanSpark has been focused on increasing mining capacity but this hasn’t changed any of the long-term plans for renewable energy implementation and deployment of our technologies and solutions to further decrease power costs.»  Adding, «The mining capacity that is expected to be fully online by month-end should rival many of the ‘pure play’ publicly traded mining companies ‘actual’ deployed mining capacity. While other companies have focused on pre-ordering machines, we have focused on putting available capacity immediately to work.»

Parties interested in learning more about CleanSpark products and services are encouraged to inquire by contacting the Company directly at info@cleanspark.com or visiting the Company’s website at www.cleanspark.com.

Investors are encouraged to contact the Company at ir@cleanspark.com, or visiting the Company’s website at https://ir.cleanspark.com/

About CleanSpark:

CleanSpark, Inc., a Nevada corporation, is in the business of providing advanced software and controls technology solutions to solve modern energy challenges.  We have a suite of software solutions that provide end-to-end microgrid energy modeling, energy market communications, and energy management solutions.  Our offerings consist of intelligent energy monitoring and controls, intelligent microgrid design software, middleware communications protocols for the energy industry, energy system engineering, and software consulting services. 

Through its wholly owned subsidiary ATL Data Centers LLC, CleanSpark owns and operates a data center that provides customers with traditional on-site and cloud-based data center services. The Company also owns and operates a fleet of Bitcoin miners producing over 200 PH/s in mining capacity. Capacity is expected to increase to over 300 PH/s in mining capacity in early 2021. CleanSpark plans to apply its energy technologies to these divisions with a goal of mining bitcoins at the lowest energy prices in the United States. For more information, visit https://ATL-DATA.com

Forward-Looking Statements:

CleanSpark cautions you that statements in this press release that are not a description of historical facts are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on CleanSpark’s current beliefs and expectations. The inclusion of forward-looking statements should not be regarded as a representation by CleanSpark that any of our plans will be achieved. Actual results may differ from those set forth in this press release due to the risk and uncertainties inherent in our business, including, without limitation: the value of Bitcoin, the successful deployment of energy solutions for bitcoin applications, the fitness of our energy hardware, software and ither solutions for this particular application or market, the expectations of future revenue growth may not be realized, ongoing demand for our software products and related services, the impact of global pandemics (including COVID-19) on the demand for our products and services; and other risks described in our prior press releases and in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including under the heading «Risk Factors» in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent filings with the SEC. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof, and we undertake no obligation to revise or update this press release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement, which is made under the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

Contact – Investor Relations:
CleanSpark, Inc.
Investor Relations
(801)-244-4405

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SOURCE CleanSpark, Inc.