ALEXANDRIA, Va.-NCUA announced recently that it would be participating in another White House Conference on Faith-Based and Community Initiatives on July 29 in Minnesota. Additionally, in October, NCUA will be holding its next Partnering and Leadership Successes workshop in Washington, D.C. NCUA Director of Credit Union Development Anthony LaCreta will be representing NCUA, along with representatives from Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. "Once again, we are pleased to join with our federal partners for this White House conference on the important issue of community development and facilitating greater access to lower-cost financial services in underserved communities," NCUA Chairman Dennis Dollar said. "Together, we will address the issues of homeownership and the role of credit unions in helping families gain financial self-sufficiency." The free, daylong conference is aimed at providing participants with information about programs suited to their needs, the federal funding process, and the legal process to apply for federal funds. NCUA, in partnership with CUNA and the Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia and District of Columbia credit union leagues, is hosting a workshop for federal and state chartered credit unions on member business lending on Oct. 16. NCUA Board Member Deborah Matz and Vice Chair JoAnn Johnson will be in attendance of the Washington, D.C. workshop. The workshop will provide participating credit unions with a member business lending "toolbox." "Business lending is another tool that can keep credit unions on the cutting edge of member service," Matz commented. "Many credit union CEOs tell me that they would like to develop member business loan programs. This workshop is an opportunity for credit unions to not only learn about the new regulation, but to learn from one another." The workshop is the third of Matz' PALS initiative under the Access Across America program. The agency is expected to approve revisions to its member business lending rule at the Sept. 18 board meeting. "Credit unions are the perfect ally to assist small businesses with their financing needs," Johnson said. "Our enhanced member business lending regulation will empower credit unions to provide that assistance." [email protected]