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Fonds de solidarité FTQ-Québec agreement – Official opening of Le Chevalier housing project in Lac-Mégantic

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LAC-MÉGANTIC, QC, Sept. 20, 2024 /CNW/ – Together with the governments of Quebec and Canada, the Fonds de solidarité FTQ, the City of Lac-Mégantic, the Mégantic-area SADC, Hydro-Québec, and Ste Agnès Knights of Columbus Council 2043 of Lac-Mégantic have officially opened Le Chevalier, a building with 21 social and affordable housing units on three floors. The building, the first of its kind in Quebec, equipped with innovative technology and costing nearly $10.5 million, was built under the Fonds de solidarité FTQ-Québec agreement.

In addition to addressing a critical need for affordable housing, Le Chevalier will be a major hub for local community activities. In addition to housing, Lac-Mégantic Ste Agnès Knights of Columbus Council 2043’s building includes a common room on the ground floor. All units are accessible and adapted for people with reduced mobility. The building has been full since July 2024.

The financial package includes investments by the Government of Quebec ($4.3 million, including an amount from the Fonds au benefice de la communauté de Lac-Mégantic), the Government of Canada through Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, the Affordable Housing Fund (AHF), and CED Canada ($3.07 million), the City of Lac-Mégantic ($1.3 million), Ste Agnès Knights of Columbus Council 2043 of Lac-Mégantic ($760,000), Hydro-Québec ($600,000), the Fonds de solidarité FTQ ($350,000), the Mégantic-area SADC ($100,000) and Caisse Desjardins de Lac-Mégantic–Le Granit ($33,000).

A building that promotes energy efficiency

This innovative building is part of Quebec’s first microgrid and targets fundamental energy transition principles with its focus on energy efficiency and the technology it has for its tenants.

The Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of National Revenue and Member of Parliament for Compton–Stanstead, François Jacques, Member of the National Assembly for Mégantic and Government Caucus Chair, on behalf of France-Élaine Duranceau, Quebec Minister Responsible for Housing, Julie Morin, Mayor of Lac-Mégantic, Maude Gauthier, Director, Innovative Solutions–Distribution Network and Customers at Hydro-Québec, Marianne Duguay, Senior Vice-President, Social, Community and Affordable Housing at the Fonds immobilier de solidarité FTQ, Richard Boulanger, Denis Lacroix and Benoit Vachon, representing Ste Agnès Knights of Columbus Council 2043 of Lac-Mégantic, and Marc Cantin, Executive Director of the Mégantic-area SADC, proudly took part in the official opening.

Toward the creation of 2,250 social or affordable housing units

As part of the innovative partnership between the Government of Quebec and the the Fonds de solidarité FTQ, 2,250 social or affordable housing units are scheduled to be built by 2027. Most of the projects will be new construction, and will also include, to a lesser extent, acquisitions of existing buildings for the purpose of renovating them and sustaining rent affordability.

Quotes:

“I’ve often said that we need to innovate to build more housing, faster, especially given the current housing crisis. This collaboration with the Fonds de solidarité FTQ led to the official opening of another important project today. It’s further proof that our government is taking concrete action, alongside the Government of Canada, municipalities and housing organizations, to better house Quebecers.”

France-Élaine Duranceau, Quebec Minister Responsible for Housing

“Everyone deserves a home, and the Affordable Housing Fund is one way we’re making that vision a reality for Canadians. We’ll continue investing in affordable housing projects, like the ones announced today, and working with partners across the country to end the housing crisis.”

The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities

“I’m proud to see that we’re leveraging all the resources at our disposal to improve the quality of life for low-income families in the Estrie region. The involvement of Ste Agnès Knights of Columbus Council 2043 of Lac-Mégantic, combined with contributions from the provincial and federal governments, the City of Lac-Mégantic and all the partners, shows that we can be agile and join forces to build quality living spaces.”

François Jacques, Member of the National Assembly for Mégantic and Government Caucus Chair

“Every Quebecer deserves a safe and affordable place to call home. The Government of Canada is proud to contribute to the creation of 21 new affordable housing units for Lac-Mégantic’s most vulnerable through the Affordable Housing Fund. This demonstrates our unwavering commitment to ensuring that no one in Lac-Mégantic is left behind.”

The Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of National Revenue and Member of Parliament for Compton–Stanstead

“Le Chevalier is an innovative project that has put our community on course for a green future. The project has been eagerly awaited in our city, and we’re pleased to be among the many partners who have believed in it all along. We’re thrilled to get a new building that reflects every aspect of our vision for a vibrant, eco-responsible downtown where people really live.”

Julie Morin, Mayor of Lac-Mégantic

“This building is the first in Quebec to combine social and affordable housing with such an array of equipment and technology. Le Chevalier is equipped with hybrid solar panels, local heat storage and heat pumps. Hydro-Québec will be there to support the residents, working jointly with building managers to assess the ability of the equipment to increase building energy efficiency and contribute to cutting-edge management.”

Maude Gauthier, Director, Innovative Solutions–Distribution Network and Customers, Hydro-Québec

“We play a tangible role in sustainable real estate and work hard to accelerate housing starts. Today’s announcement shows that by sparing no effort and with the necessary funding, we can build the housing we need. And Le Chevalier isn’t just affordable housing, it meets key sustainable real estate criteria as well, satisfying our objectives in two ways.”

Marianne Duguay, Senior Vice-President, Social, Community and Affordable Housing, Fonds immobilier de solidarité FTQ

“We’re especially proud to see our financial contribution make this community centre a reality. It will without a doubt become a place where all residents will come together and share.”

Marc Cantin, Executive Director of the Mégantic-area SADC 

“Our being together here today is rich with meaning. It’s a great source of pride for the Sainte Agnès Knights of Columbus to be rebuilding this common room and providing homes for the community. We found incredible partners to inspire us to take on a project of this scale—it all bears witness to tremendous strength—the strength of an entire community.”

Benoit Vachon, Ste Agnès Knights of Columbus Council 2043 of Lac-Mégantic

Highlights:

Seniors who will occupy 11 of these units and are eligible may benefit from the Société d’habitation du Québec’s (SHQ’s) Rent Supplement Program, which would ensure that they don’t spend more than 25% of their income on housing. This financial assistance is covered by the SHQ (90%) and the City of Lac-Mégantic (10%).The Affordable Housing Fund (AHF) provides funding in the form of low-interest loans, forgivable loans or contributions. These funds are used to build affordable housing and renovate and repair existing affordable and community housing.As part of the 2023 Fall Economic Statement, the government announced an additional $1 billion for the AHF, bringing total funding to over $14 billion. To further support non-profit, co-operative and public housing providers and meet the needs of those most affected by the housing crisis, the 2024 budget committed an additional $1 billion to the fund.The building is equipped with heat pumps, double-sided solar panels that allow for the production of electricity and preheat water for domestic use, heat storage that will help manage respond to peak demand for heating in winter, LED lighting, and a state-of-the-art management system.The technologies integrated into the building are a first in Quebec. Combined, they will save tenants money on utility bills. Research is planned to understand the adoption of these technologies in an effort to replicate them in other buildings of the same type.

ABOUT THE SOCIÉTÉ D’HABITATION DU QUÉBEC

As a leader in housing, the SHQ’s mission is to meet the housing needs of Quebecers through its expertise and services to citizens. It does this by providing affordable and low-rental housing and offering a range of assistance programs to support the construction, renovation and adaptation of homes, and access to homeownership.

To find out more about its activities, visit www.habitation.gouv.qc.ca/english.html.

Facebook : SocietehabitationQuebec

X : HabitationSHQ

LinkedIn : LinkedIn 

About Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation

As Canada’s authority on housing, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) contributes to the stability of the housing market and financial system, provides support for Canadians in housing need, and offers unbiased housing research and advice to all levels of Canadian government, consumers and the housing industry. CMHC’s aim is that by 2030, everyone in Canada has a home they can afford, and that meets their needs. For more information, follow us on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn and Facebook.

SOURCE Government of Canada

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Achieve named to Az Business Magazine’s ’10 Best Places for Women to Work in Arizona’ for 2026

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July 23, 2026

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Recognition highlights the company’s commitment to creating opportunities for women to grow and lead

SAN MATEO, Calif., July 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Achieve, the leader in digital personal finance, has been named among the 2026 10 Best Places for Women to Work in Arizona by Az Business Magazine. The annual recognition highlights organizations that create supportive environments where women can thrive professionally, advance into leadership roles and build meaningful careers.

The honor reflects Achieve’s ongoing investment in workplace programs that support employee growth, flexibility, leadership development and career advancement. Women serve in leadership roles across the organization and play a critical role in shaping the company’s culture, products and long-term success.

“Creating an environment where women can grow, lead and build rewarding careers is central to who we are as a company,” said Achieve Senior Vice President of Human Resources Heather Marcom. “We’re honored to be recognized among Arizona’s top workplaces for women and remain committed to fostering a culture where employees feel supported, valued and empowered to do their best work.”

Achieve maintains a major corporate presence in the Phoenix area, where hundreds of employees contribute to the company’s mission of helping people move from struggling to thriving financially. The company supports employees through leadership development opportunities, employee resource groups, mentorship and learning programs designed to help team members reach their professional goals.

The recognition adds to a growing list of workplace honors for Achieve. Earlier this year, the company was named among the Top 3 Best Workplaces for LGBTQ+ Employees by BestCompaniesAZ and was also recognized by AZ Big Media as one of Arizona’s Most Admired Companies.

“Strong organizations are built by diverse perspectives and inclusive leadership,” said Marcom. “We’re proud of the talented women across Achieve who help drive our business forward every day and grateful for the impact they make on our employees, customers and communities.”

The 10 Best Places for Women to Work in Arizona list is determined through a public voting process conducted by AZ Big Media and published in Az Business magazine.

About Achieve

Achieve, THE digital personal finance company, helps everyday people get on, and stay on, the path to a better financial future. Achieve pairs proprietary data and analytics with personalized support to offer personal loans, home equity loans, debt relief and debt consolidation, along with financial tips and education and free mobile apps: Achieve MoLO® (Money Left Over) and Achieve GOOD™ (Get Out Of Debt). Achieve is frequently recognized for providing top-rated customer experience and satisfaction by both consumers and leading personal finance review platforms and has 2,200 dedicated teammates across the country, with hubs in Arizona, California, Florida and Texas.

Achieve refers to the global organization and may denote one or more affiliates of Achieve Company, including Achieve.com, Equal Housing Opportunity (NMLS ID #138464); Achieve Home Loans, Equal Housing Opportunity (NMLS ID #1810501); Achieve Personal Loans (NMLS ID #227977); Freedom Debt Relief (NMLS ID # 1248929); and Freedom Financial Asset Management (CRD #170229).

Contacts

Austin Kilgore
akilgore@achieve.com
214-908-5097

Elina Tarkazikis
etarkazikis@achieve.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/achieve-named-to-az-business-magazines-10-best-places-for-women-to-work-in-arizona-for-2026-302833720.html

SOURCE Achieve

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National Press Club Statement on the withdrawal of subpoenas targeting New York Times journalists

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51 minutes ago

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July 23, 2026

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WASHINGTON, July 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — National Press Club President Mark Schoeff Jr. released the following statement:

“The Justice Department’s decision to withdraw subpoenas targeting journalists at The New York Times is a welcome and necessary step to protect the public’s constitutional right to an independent press.

These subpoenas should never have been issued in the first place. Compelling journalists to reveal confidential sources sends a chilling message to those who seek to inform the public and threatens the very foundation of press freedom.

Every American should understand what is at stake when the government turns its investigative powers on journalists. It is not routine. It is an extraordinary intrusion that strikes at the heart of the First Amendment and your right to information about your government.

The greatest danger was not the subpoenas themselves, but the message they sent: That sources could be exposed, that whistleblowers should remain silent, and that the American people might know less about the actions of their own government.

A strong democracy depends on a press that can report freely, hold power to account, and inform the public without intimidation.

We urge continued vigilance to ensure that journalists can do their jobs without interference and that protections for source confidentiality are upheld consistently.”

About the National Press Club

Founded in 1908, the National Press Club is the world’s leading professional organization for journalists and a leading voice for press freedom in the U.S. and worldwide.

Contact: Beth Francesco, Executive Director of the National Press Club Journalism Institute, media@press.org

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/national-press-club-statement-on-the-withdrawal-of-subpoenas-targeting-new-york-times-journalists-302833722.html

SOURCE National Press Club

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NCC Launches NCC Connect™ to Put Credit, Fraud, and Compliance Inside the CRM Dealers Already Use

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51 minutes ago

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July 23, 2026

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A powerful new solution that embeds credit access, fraud detection, and compliance directly into the dealership’s existing CRM — removing the system-switching that slows deals and exposes dealers to risk.

AUSTIN, Texas, July 23, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — NCC, a leading provider of credit and compliance solutions for automotive dealerships, today announced the launch of NCC Connect™, a powerful platform that runs credit, fraud, and compliance from inside the CRM a dealership already uses — without friction or duplicate entry.

“Dealers don’t need another system to log into,” said Brian Skutta, President and CEO of NCC. “They need the tools they already have to work better together. NCC Connect puts credit, fraud detection, and compliance right where the team already works — inside the CRM they use every day.”

“Dealers don’t need another system to log into,” said Brian Skutta, President and CEO of NCC. “They need the tools they already have to work better together. NCC Connect puts credit, fraud detection, and compliance right where the team already works — inside the CRM they use every day.”

As deals grow more complex and fraud more sophisticated, dealers are juggling more disconnected systems than ever — the CRM, the credit system, the compliance tools — switching between them on every transaction. Each switch breaks momentum, invites a skipped step, and slows the path to funding. NCC Connect meets this moment with a single, seamless solution that keeps the full credit, fraud, and compliance engine right where the team already works.

Why NCC Connect Matters Right Now

Dealers lose time and margin switching between the CRM, credit, and compliance systems on every dealAuto lending fraud continues to climb, with industry fraud exposure reaching a record $10.4 billion in 2025, according to Point Predictive’s 2026 Auto Lending Fraud Trends ReportState compliance is tightening, with laws like California’s SB 766 (CARS Act) taking effect October 1, 2026Every disconnected step is another chance for an error, a delay, or a deal that stalls before funding

These pressures are forcing dealers to consolidate, and NCC Connect delivers the edge.

Product Highlights:

Inside the CRM — Soft-pull and hard credit access from all three major bureaus — Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax — without leaving the workflowFraud & Identity Built In — Identity verification and synthetic fraud detection delivered within the credit pull, flagging Red Flag conditions before the deal moves to fundingCompliance on Autopilot — FCRA and FTC controls with automatic, audit-ready documentation stored in the deal record99.99% Uptime — The industry’s highest, so the platform is there when a deal is on the desk

NCC Connect runs soft-pull pre-qualifications and hard credit pulls from any bureau or score model without leaving the CRM, while customer data stays inside the existing CRM structure. Every credit, fraud, and compliance result is captured on the deal record — giving dealers a single, audit-ready source of truth and a faster, cleaner path to funding.

NCC Connect extends the same powerful, credit-first engine behind NCC’s Complete Credit™ platform into the CRM where dealers already work. For dealers, that means more approvals, stronger fraud protection, and faster funding, without changing how the team works.

Learn more about NCC Connect at https://nccdirect.com/ncc-connect/

About NCC:

With offices in Austin, TX, Bettendorf, IA, and Las Vegas, NV, NCC has been a trusted partner in credit-driven retailing for automotive dealerships for nearly three decades. We combine a powerful credit and compliance engine with a fully integrated Desking platform to drive maximum profitability. Our focus on innovation, user-friendly products, and dependable systems — supported by a dedicated account management team — has solidified our reputation as a leader in the industry. www.nccdirect.com

Media Contact

Holly Smith, NCC, 1 8285732722, hsmith@nccdirect.com, https://nccdirect.com/

View original content:https://www.prweb.com/releases/ncc-launches-ncc-connect-to-put-credit-fraud-and-compliance-inside-the-crm-dealers-already-use-302832007.html

SOURCE NCC

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