Comcast Supports American Small Business Growth, Awarding 500 Grant Packages to Entrepreneurs in Five Regions
Now in its fifth year, Comcast RISE is part of Project UP, the company's $1 billion initiative to connect people to the internet, provide digital opportunity, and build a future of Unlimited Possibilities. To date, RISE has provided a total of $160 million in monetary, marketing, and technology resources to 14,500 small businesses nationwide ─ underscoring Comcast's belief that when small businesses thrive, communities thrive.
'Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy,' said Dalila Wilson-Scott, EVP and Chief Impact & Inclusion Officer, Comcast Corporation & President, Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation. 'Comcast RISE is just one of the ways we're investing in entrepreneurs who drive innovation, create jobs, and build stronger communities. This is about more than grants, it's about providing the resources and support to drive long-term local impact.'
Each Comcast RISE recipient will receive a comprehensive grant package that includes:
TECHNOLOGY MAKEOVER – Computer equipment and 12 months of internet, voice, and cybersecurity services by Comcast Business.
CREATIVE PRODUCTION & MEDIA – Professionally produced 30-second TV commercial, media strategy consultation, and a 180-day linear media schedule from Comcast Advertising.
EDUCATION RESOURCES – 24/7 access for one year to online entrepreneurship courses, learning modules, and resources for small business owners.
MONETARY GRANT – $5,000 monetary grant to support business operations or growth initiatives.
BUSINESS COACHING – Personalized assessment and coaching sessions to help business owners identify opportunities to grow their businesses.
Comcast Business powers more small businesses in America than any other provider plus equips them with the advanced technology solutions they need to thrive.
Comcast Advertising is a global leader in media, technology and advertising that fosters powerful connections between brands and their audiences.
About Comcast Corporation
Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company. From the connectivity and platforms we provide, to the content and experiences we create, our businesses reach hundreds of millions of customers, viewers, and guests worldwide. We deliver world-class broadband, wireless, and video through Xfinity, Comcast Business, and Sky; produce, distribute, and stream leading entertainment, sports, and news through brands including NBC, Telemundo, Universal, Peacock, and Sky; and bring incredible theme parks and attractions to life through Universal Destinations & Experiences. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information.
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The Hill
a few seconds ago
- The Hill
California regulators back moves to boost zero-emissions vehicles as feds take on state's standards
California regulators on Tuesday vowed to strengthen their commitment to slashing harmful vehicular emissions as the Trump administration ramps up efforts to overturn the state's pollution policies. 'Clean air efforts are under siege, putting the health of every American at risk,' Liane Randolph, chair of the California Air Resources Board (CARB), said on a Tuesday press call. 'California is continuing to fight back and will not give up on cleaner air and better public health — we have a legal and moral obligation,' she added. Randolph spoke alongside the publication of a new CARB report that outlined ways the state could fight back: by accelerating zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) adoption via increased private investment, government incentives and changes in ZEV fuel pricing. The report, submitted to Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), identified these specific priority action areas and others relating to state regulations and ZEV procurement, as requested by the governor in a June executive order. Chief among the CARB report's priorities was ensuring that private investment continues to support the ZEV market. To do so, the agency recommended sustaining California's Low Carbon Fuel Standard, a program designed to reduce the carbon intensity of fuels, decrease petroleum dependency and achieve air quality gains. As far as government incentives are concerned, CARB suggested that the governor and the legislature consider backfilling federal clean vehicle tax credits, which are set to expire at the end of September. Those credits could take the form of point-of-sale rebates or vouchers and could be scaled to match state policy goals, per the report. The agency also proposed creating an education pipeline for high-paying jobs in the clean transportation industry, as well as investigating opportunities to reinstate high-occupancy vehicle lane access for ZEVs. Regarding infrastructure, CARB identified a need for collaborative buildouts of charging and refueling infrastructure. As for the price of fuels, the agency suggested implementing an electric bill crediting system for EV charging, while support Western grid regionalization and leveraging private investments to bring down the cost of hydrogen. In the regulations area, the agency recommended advancing ZEV consumer assurance measures and working with local air districts on reducing 'indirect sources' of pollution, such as warehouses or railyards. The final priority, procurement, would benefit from the purchase of ZEVs for state fleets and support for doing so in local governments, according to the report. The recommendations, Randolph said, serve to steer near-term actions and 'ensure the state stays on track to meet its air quality and climate goals.' Newsom's June executive order — which mandated the CARB report — occurred after President Trump signed three congressional resolutions revoking California's previously approved emissions rules. That approval had come from the Biden administration, which granted California a waiver to set stricter-than-federal rules via the 1970 Clean Air Act. One such rule was the Advanced Clean Cars II standard, which sought to require that all cars sold in California would be zero-emissions by 2035. A second was the Advanced Clean Trucks rule, requiring 7.5 percent of heavy-duty vehicles to be emissions-free by 2035. A third, the Omnibus Regulation, focused on slashing nitrogen oxide releases. Just last week — in an about-face on compliance with the Golden State's standards — four major truck manufacturers sued California regulators over the latter two rules. Soon after, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced that a voluntary ' Clean Truck Partnership ' between the companies and the state was 'unenforceable.' Then, Friday, the Department of Justice declared its intent to sue California about the same partnership, in a bid to 'advance President Donald J. Trump's commitment to end the electric vehicle (EV) mandate.' Later that day, CARB only said that it would not comment on pending litigation. On Tuesday, however, Randolph said that regardless of federal government's waiver revocation, California is continuing 'to fight hard for the emissions reductions that can easily be achieved in the heavy-duty sector and are already being achieved.' Referring specifically to the Advanced Clean Trucks regulation, she noted that 'the actual adoption is way ahead of the compliance obligation in that regulation.' 'The market is there, and the market is moving,' she said. Randolph also told reporters that CARB is already working on updating Advanced Clean Cars, with the idea that rulemaking processes can take two to four years. By starting now, she explained, the rule might 'be ready, ideally, for a more receptive U.S. EPA.' Slamming the current federal administration for 'choosing to quit the race,' she stressed that 'California is still in.' 'The world is accelerating forward toward cleaner vehicle technologies and is going to watch the U.S. fade into the rearview mirror,' Randolph added.
Associated Press
2 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Snail, Inc. Reports Second Quarter 2025 Financial Results
CULVER CITY, Calif., Aug. 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Snail, Inc. (Nasdaq: SNAL) ('Snail Games' or the 'Company'), a leading global independent developer and publisher of interactive digital entertainment, today announced financial results for its second quarter ended June 30, 2025. Second Quarter 2025 and Recent Operational Highlights ARK Franchise Updates: Game Portfolio Updates: Business Updates: Management Commentary Company co-Chief Executive Officer Hai Shi commented: 'The second quarter marked a pivotal and transformative period for Snail, highlighted by our official announcement to develop and launch our own proprietary stablecoin. This strategic initiative represents a significant evolution in our business model, aligning with both our long-term vision and broader momentum in digital financial innovation. Our decision to enter the stablecoin space was both timely and intentional, catalyzed by the recent passage of the GENIUS Act. This legislation has begun to establish a formal regulatory foundation for stablecoins, offering a clearer framework that supports innovation while fostering trust and transparency, creating an ideal environment to develop a fully compliant digital asset. Beyond its role in the broader financial ecosystem, we envision our stablecoin unlocking a wide range of external use cases - delivering secure, compliant, and scalable solutions that address key gaps in today's digital asset payment landscape. Importantly, we see strong potential to integrate stablecoin functionality within our core gaming business, offering long-term opportunities to enhance game economies and facilitate seamless transactions. 'To that end, we've taken deliberate steps to set this initiative up for success, beginning with the retainment of strategic consultant partners and legal advisors. We are actively building the technological infrastructure and compliance architecture required to support a robust, scalable, and secure stablecoin ecosystem. We also recently entered into an at-the-market offering agreement, marking the beginning of our capital formation strategy to build the reserve backing needed for our stablecoin initiative. We remain committed to providing consistent market updates to foster transparent communications with our shareholders as we work toward the successful long-term launch of our stablecoin.' Company co-Chief Executive Officer Tony Tian commented: 'Beyond our stablecoin initiative, our core gaming business continues to demonstrate strong momentum, with notable performance in the month of June driven by our annual Steam Publisher Sale event. This event drove significant engagement across our game portfolio, especially within the ARK franchise, which remains a key pillar of our content ecosystem. June also marked the 10-year anniversary of the ARK franchise, an achievement that could not be accomplished without the support of the ARK community. Tied to the anniversary, there were many new content drops and updates to celebrate this milestone, further driving engagement. We remain committed to delivering consistent value through regular content updates and expansions for ARK, while also strategically pursuing opportunities to develop, acquire, and launch titles within our indie portfolio. Looking ahead to the remainder of the year, our teams are focused on preparing for the launch of ARK: Lost Colony, while simultaneously advancing a slate of indie titles currently in the pipeline. These efforts underscore our dedication to growing across all facets of our business and continuing to serve our global player base with compelling and original content.' Second Quarter 2025 Financial Highlights Net revenues for the three months ended June 30, 2025, increased to $22.2 million compared to $21.6 million in the same period last year. The increase was primarily due to an increase in total ARK sales of $3.3 million, $3.0 million recognized for the inclusion of ARK: Survival Ascended in a platform subscription program in 2025, an increase in sales of the ARK Mobile of $0.6 million that was driven by the release of ARK: Ultimate Mobile Edition, and an increase in revenues related to other games of $0.3 million due to the release of various games, partially offset by the increase in deferred revenues of $3.7 million and a decrease in revenues related to Bellwright of $3.0 million in the three months ended June 30, 2025 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2024. Net loss for the three months ended June 30, 2025, was $(16.6) million compared to net income of $2.3 million in the same period last year, primarily due to increases in the cost of revenues and operating expenses – a result of the Company's increased headcount, research and development, and marketing expenses and the recognition of a valuation allowance against the Company's deferred tax assets of $12.9 million during the quarter ended June 30, 2025. Bookings for the three months ended June 30, 2025, increased 18.5% to $27.1 million compared to $22.9 million in the same period last year. The increase was primarily driven by various sales promotions in 2025 that did not occur in 2024, specifically around ARK: Survival Evolved and the release of ARK: Lost Colony to presale in 2025. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ('EBITDA') for the three months ended June 30, 2025, was $(2.4) million compared to $3.1 million in the same period last year. The decrease was primarily due to an increase in net loss of $18.9 million, partially offset by an increase in interest income and interest income – related parties of $0.1 million, and an increase in the income tax provision of $13.3 million. As of June 30, 2025, unrestricted cash was $7.9 million compared to $7.3 million as of December 31, 2024. Six Months 2025 Financial Highlights Net revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2025, increased 18.4% to $42.3 million compared to $35.7 million in the same period last year. The increase was primarily due to an increase in total ARK sales of $6.1 million, $3.0 million in revenues for the inclusion of ARK: Survival Ascended in a platform subscription program and an increase in sales of the ARK Mobile of $1.9 million that was driven by the release of ARK: Ultimate Mobile Edition, partially offset by the decrease in revenue specific to Bellwright of $2.2 million, a non-reoccurring Angela Games settlement of $1.2 million occurring in 2024, the related decrease in Angela Games revenues of $0.7 million, and the increase in deferred revenue of $0.3 million during the six months ended June 30, 2025 compared to June 30, 2024. Net loss for the six months ended June 30, 2025, was $(18.5) million compared to $0.5 million in the same period last year, primarily due to increases in the cost of revenues and operating expenses – a result of the Company's increased headcount, research and development, and marketing expenses, and an increase in income tax provision of $12.3 million, a result of the valuation allowance recognized against the Company's deferred tax assets during the six months ended June 30, 2025. Bookings for the six months ended June 30, 2025, increased 16.3% to $49.4 million compared to $42.4 million in the same period last year. The increase was primarily driven by the releases of ARK: Survival Ascended DLC Astraeos in the first quarter of 2025, sales promotions that were the first of their kind on ARK: Survival Evolved in 2025, and the release of ARK: Lost Colony to presale in 2025. EBITDA for the six months ended June 30, 2025, was $(5.8) million compared to $1.2 million in the same period last year. The decrease was primarily due to an increase in net loss of $19.0 million, a decrease in interest expense of $0.3 million, partially offset by an increase in the provision for income taxes of $12.3 million. Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures In addition to the financial results determined in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, Snail believes Bookings and EBITDA, as non-GAAP measures, are useful in evaluating its operating performance. Bookings and EBITDA are non-GAAP financial measures that are presented as supplemental disclosures and should not be construed as alternatives to net income (loss) or revenue as indicators of operating performance, nor as alternatives to cash flow provided by operating activities as measures of liquidity, both as determined in accordance with GAAP. Snail supplementally presents Bookings and EBITDA because they are key operating measures used by management to assess financial performance. Bookings adjusts for the impact of deferrals and, Snail believes, provides a useful indicator of sales in a given period. EBITDA adjusts for items that Snail believes do not reflect the ongoing operating performance of its business, such as certain non-cash items, unusual or infrequent items or items that change from period to period without any material relevance to its operating performance. Management believes Bookings and EBITDA are useful to investors and analysts in highlighting trends in Snail's operating performance, while other measures can differ significantly depending on long-term strategic decisions regarding capital structure, the tax jurisdictions in which Snail operates and capital investments. Bookings is defined as the net amount of products and services sold digitally or physically in the period. Bookings is equal to revenues, excluding the impact from deferrals. Below is a reconciliation of total net revenue to Bookings, the closest GAAP financial measure. We define EBITDA as net loss before (i) interest expense, (ii) interest income, (iii) benefit from income taxes and (iv) depreciation expense. The following table provides a reconciliation from net loss to EBITDA: Webcast Details The Company will host a webcast at 4:30 PM ET today to discuss the second quarter 2025 financial results. Participants may access the live webcast and replay via the link here or on the Company's investor relations website at Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains statements that constitute forward-looking statements. Many of the forward-looking statements contained in this press release can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as 'anticipate,' 'believe,' 'could,' 'expect,' 'should,' 'plan,' 'intend,' 'may,' 'predict,' 'continue,' 'estimate' and 'potential,' or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions. Forward-looking statements appear in a number of places in this press release and include, but are not limited to, statements regarding Snail's intent, belief or current expectations. These forward-looking statements include information about possible or assumed future results of Snail's business, financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, plans and objectives. The statements Snail makes regarding the following matters are forward-looking by their nature: growth prospects and strategies; launching new games and additional functionality to games that are commercially successful; expectations regarding significant drivers of future growth; its ability to retain and increase its player base and develop new video games and enhance existing games; competition from companies in a number of industries, including other casual game developers and publishers and both large and small, public and private Internet companies; its ability to attract and retain a qualified management team and other team members while controlling its labor costs; its relationships with third-party platforms such as Xbox Live and Game Pass, PlayStation Network, Steam, Epic Games Store, My Nintendo Store, the Apple App Store, the Google Play Store and the Amazon Appstore; the size of addressable markets, market share and market trends; its ability to successfully enter new markets and manage international expansion; protecting and developing its brand and intellectual property portfolio; costs associated with defending intellectual property infringement and other claims; future business development, results of operations and financial condition; the ongoing conflicts involving Russia and Ukraine, and Israel and Hamas, on its business and the global economy generally; actions in various countries, particularly in China and the United States, have created uncertainty with respect to tariff impacts on the costs of our merchandise and costs of development; rulings by courts or other governmental authorities; the Company's current program to repurchase shares of its Class A common stock, including expectations regarding the timing and manner of repurchases made under this share repurchase program; its plans to pursue and successfully integrate strategic acquisitions; and assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Further information on risks, uncertainties and other factors that could affect Snail's financial results are included in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the 'SEC') from time to time, including its annual reports on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q filed, or to be filed, with the SEC. You should not rely on these forward-looking statements, as actual outcomes and results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements as a result of such risks and uncertainties. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based on management's beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to Snail, and Snail does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements provided to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made. About Snail, Inc. Snail, Inc. (Nasdaq: SNAL) is a leading, global independent developer and publisher of interactive digital entertainment for consumers around the world, with a premier portfolio of premium games designed for use on a variety of platforms, including consoles, PCs, and mobile devices. For more information, please visit: Investor Contact: John Yi and Steven Shinmachi Gateway Group, Inc. 949-574-3860 [email protected]
Fox News
29 minutes ago
- Fox News
White House rejects ‘blank checks' for Ukraine, presses NATO to shoulder costs
The U.S. isn't interested in open-ended funding for Ukraine amid ongoing peace talks to end the war between Russia and Ukraine, according to the White House. President Donald Trump, who ruled out sending U.S. troops on the ground to support Ukraine, is very "sensitive to the needs of the American taxpayer," according to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. "He made it very clear that we're not going to continue writing blank checks to fund a war very far away, which is why he came up with a very creative solution to have NATO purchase American weaponry, because it is the best in the world, and then to backfill the needs of the Ukrainian army and the Ukrainian people in their military," Leavitt told reporters Tuesday. "So that's the solution the president has come up with. We'll continue to see that forward," Leavitt said. "As for any additional sales, I'll have to refer you to the Department of Defense." Congress has passed several pieces of legislation to support Ukraine, totaling at least $175 billion in spending to aid Ukraine since February 2022, according to the Council on Foreign Relations. Meanwhile, Trump approved a deal in July allowing European allies to purchase U.S. weapons, like Patriot missile defense systems, for Ukraine. Leavitt's comments echo ones made by Vice President JD Vance, who said on Aug. 10 following meetings with European officials in the U.K. that he communicated to European leaders that the U.S. is "done with the funding of the Ukraine war business," and that European allies must take one greater responsibility in ending the conflict. "What we said to Europeans is simply, first of all, this is in your neck of the woods, this is in your back door," Vance said in an interview with Fox News. "You guys have got to step up and take a bigger role in this thing, and if you care so much about this conflict you should be willing to play a more direct and a more substantial way in funding this war yourself." This is a breaking news story and will be updated.
