Author: sHq_LoGiNz

STAMFORD, Conn., May 7, 2026 /3BL/ – Webster Bank provided $25,000 in grants during National Small Business Week, recognizing eight small businesses across its footprint.

Winners of Webster’s First National Small Business Week Contest were selected from a competitive pool of eligible small businesses across Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island with annual revenues of under $1 million and fewer than 100 employees.

“Small businesses are essential to the economic health and well-being of the communities we serve,” said Marissa Weidner, Chief Corporate Responsibility Officer, Webster Bank. “These winners are recognized for their resilience, innovation, and local commitment. We’re proud to celebrate their impact and help fuel their continued growth.”

“The winners plan to use the grants in a variety of practical ways, from hiring staff and expanding operations to investing in equipment and new services,” said Therest Billouin‑Roberts, Market President, Small Business Banking, Webster Bank. “Through funding, guidance and opportunities like our Small Business Week contest, we’re reinforcing and putting into action our commitment to community growth and economic empowerment.”

2026 Webster Bank Small Business Contest Winners:

First Place Winner — $10,000

• CT Health Advocate LLC, Glastonbury, Conn., is an independent elder care advocacy and healthcare navigation service supporting older adults and their caregivers.

Second Place Winners — $5,000 each

• Shari’s Tea, Long Island City, N.Y., is a specialty tea business that creates custom loose‑leaf blends and travel‑friendly tea products.
• Silk City Coffee – Willimantic (SCC EAST, LLC), Willimantic, Conn., is an independently owned specialty coffee shop and roastery offering freshly roasted coffee, espresso drinks, teas, and homemade baked goods and light meals.

Third Place Winners — $1,000 each

• Aikido New London County, LLC, Waterford, Conn., is a martial arts school offering instruction in Aikido, a Japanese discipline focused on self‑defense, balance, and personal development.
• Alasa Media, LLC, Manchester, Conn., is a media and publishing company focused on creating wholesome, family‑friendly books and entertainment.
• Charhause Gluten Free Microbakery & Café, Bolton, Conn., is a dedicated gluten‑free bakery and café specializing in small‑batch baked goods, breakfast and lunch items, and specialty coffee.
• JJ Creative Ventures, Brooklyn, N.Y., is an educational consultant that provides programs, training services and other curriculum to help kids and adults learn socio-emotional skills.
• VeegMyEats, Hartford, Conn., is a vegan bakery specializing in plant‑based desserts such as cupcakes, cookies, and cheesecakes in a wide variety of flavors.

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About Webster

Webster Bank (“Webster”) is a leading commercial bank in the Northeast that provides a wide range of digital and traditional financial solutions across three differentiated lines of business: Commercial Banking, Consumer Banking and Healthcare Financial Services, one of the country’s largest providers of employee benefits and administration of medical insurance claim settlements solutions. Headquartered in Stamford, Conn., Webster is a values-driven organization with more than $80 billion in assets. Its core footprint spans the northeastern U.S. from New York to Massachusetts, with certain businesses operating in extended geographies. Webster Bank is a member of the FDIC and an equal housing lender. For more information about Webster, including past press releases and the latest annual report, visit the Webster website at www.websterbank.com.

Media Contact:
Janette Baxter, 203-232-5112
jbaxter@websterbank.com

What’s happening across the world’s premium food‑producing regions isn’t a gradual shift that investors and asset managers can afford to ignore. It’s an accelerating agri-food transition that is rewriting the sector’s fundamentals, from land quality to water security to market stability. Across geographies, converging signals highlight the need for an immediate shift toward agricultural markets aligned with thriving natural systems. This transition creates both urgent needs and exciting opportunities for private capital participation.

It is increasingly understood that biodiversity loss is a systemic economic risk that is already disrupting supply chains and financial stability in the food system. More than half of global GDP rests on ecosystem services now in decline. News coverage from 2023-2025 highlighted volatile climate events that contributed to more than 140 instances of crop destruction worldwide. In response, governments are making historic commitments to mobilize capital to reverse biodiversity loss.

This agri-food transition is not theoretical for those of us working inside it. Through the RRG Sustainable Water Impact Fund (SWIF, the Fund), a $1B diversified, non-concessionary real assets platform, we see daily how these realities are reshaping both agricultural and ecological systems and the capital flows that depend on them.

Launched in 2019, SWIF is a collaboration between RRG Capital Management (RRG) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC), spearheaded at TNC by its impact investing team, NatureVest. SWIF aims to demonstrate how private capital can be successfully deployed to better manage land and water for people and nature.

SWIF uses a diversified strategy to create multi-layered value and measurable impact in premium agricultural regions by investing in business plans that aim to transition land and water assets from increasingly non-viable practices toward more resilient, water‑secure, climate‑adaptive uses.

Read the full article to learn more about the realities reshaping high-value crop regions, and what designing and managing a fund for the Agri-food Transition looks like in practice.

This article was originally published by GreenMoney in their May 2026 issue on ‘Investing in Regenerative Ag and Food”

For many Georgia businesses, sustainability starts inside their own operations. But as more companies dig into their data, a clear pattern is emerging: the majority of emissions often sit outside their direct control, embedded in supply chains, materials, and partners. That is exactly what Jacob Yarbrough, senior sustainability manager at Creature Comforts Brewing Co., is working to address.

In our latest Drawdown Georgia Climate Digest video interview, host Eriqah Vincent sits down with Jacob to explore how one of Georgia’s leading craft breweries is taking a practical, business-minded approach to reducing emissions, with a growing focus on Scope 3.

News Summary

• LG Electronics achieved the “Top 1%” ranking in S&P Global’s 2026 Corporate Sustainability Assessment for the third straight year.
• The company scored 77 out of 100 points, the highest in the Leisure Equipment & Products and Consumer Electronics industry categories.
• The Dow Jones Sustainability World Index listed LG for the 14th consecutive year, the longest record for a Korean home appliance company.
• Additional global ESG recognition includes an upgraded “AA” MSCI ESR Rating from Morgan Stanley Capital International and a “Platinum” rating from EcoVadis.

SEOUL, May 7, 2026 /3BL/ – LG Electronics has earned the “Top 1%” ranking in S&P Global’s Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA) for the third consecutive year, with a score of 77 out of 100. 

LG achieved the highest marks in the CSA’s Leisure Equipment & Products and Consumer Electronics industry categories, reflecting the company’s commitment to responsible environmental, social and governance (ESG) management. 

The ranking recognizes LG’s consistent performance across multiple criteria, including environmental policies, human rights, supply chain management and customer relations. LG also received high ratings in governance, reflecting its transparency and efforts to strengthen the independence of its board of directors. 

S&P Global’s CSA provides a detailed evaluation of companies’ ESG performance. In the latest assessment, only 70 of 9,243 companies across 62 industries earned the “Top 1%” ranking. LG was one of only two Korean companies to receive the distinction.

LG has also been recognized by other respected global institutions:

• The company was included in the Dow Jones Best-in-Class World Index for the 14th year in a row, underscoring LG’s sustained ESG leadership. This represents the longest index record for a Korean home appliance company and places LG among the top 10 percent for sustainability among the world’s 2,500 largest companies.
• LG earned an upgraded “AA” MSCI ESR Rating from Morgan Stanley Capital International this year after five years at the “A” level.
• The company also achieved a second consecutive “Platinum” rating from EcoVadis, a distinction reserved for the top 1 percent of companies in their industry category, and received a “Low” ESG Risk Rating from Sustainalytics.

As LG continues its commitment to sustainable management, it is working to transition all global business sites to 100 percent renewable energy by 2050, a goal that already has been achieved in the United States. To support a circular economy, LG is increasing its use of recycled plastics and developing paper-based cushioning materials as part of its plastic reduction initiatives. 

The range of carbon reduction initiatives LG is pursuing includes voluntary certification for its high-efficiency heat pump technologies. The company is also strengthening corporate governance by enhancing the board’s independence and transparency through the appointment of a chairman from among its independent directors. 

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About LG Electronics Inc.
LG Electronics is a global innovator in technology and consumer electronics with a presence in almost every country and an international workforce of more than 75,000. LG’s four Companies – Home Appliance Solution, Media Entertainment Solution, Vehicle Solution and Eco Solution – combined for global revenue of over KRW 89 trillion in 2025. LG is a leading manufacturer of consumer and commercial products ranging from TVs, home appliances, air solutions, monitors, automotive components and solutions, and its premium LG SIGNATURE and intelligent LG ThinQ brands are familiar names world over. Visit www.LG.com/global/newsroom/ for the latest news.

About LG Electronics USA
Eleven-time ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year LG Electronics USA Inc., based in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., is the North American subsidiary of LG Electronics Inc., a smart life solutions company with annual global revenues of more than $60 billion. In the United States, LG sells a wide range of innovative home appliances, home entertainment products, commercial displays, air conditioning systems and vehicle components. www.LG.com. 

Media Contact:

LG Electronics North America
John I. Taylor
john.taylor@lge.com
+1 202 719 3490
www.LG.com

DENTON, Texas, May 7, 2026 /3BL/ – Tetra Pak announced the groundbreaking of a brand-new facility at its U.S. and Canada headquarters in Denton, Texas, marking a significant expansion of its Product Development Center (PDC). This new investment will enhance Tetra Pak’s ability to support food and beverage brands as they ideate, formulate, launch and scale innovative products with greater speed and efficiency.

With a focus on collaboration and knowledge sharing, the PDC supports customer efforts to create new, profitable products and evaluate the equipment needed to produce them. The expanded PDC, scheduled to open in Q1 2027, will encompass 12,000 square feet with an additional 3,000 square feet for a Customer Innovation Center (CIC). Often offered alongside a PDC, the CIC provides an immersive experience to apply experimental methodologies for co-creation. Together, these spaces will feature flexible meeting and co-creation areas designed to support deep collaboration with customers.

“Innovation is key to our customers’ success and today’s groundbreaking represents our continued commitment to helping brands move faster from concept to consumer,” said Seth Teply, President and CEO of Tetra Pak U.S. and Canada. “This investment expands our ability to support customers as they navigate complex product development challenges to avoid costly pitfalls, gain efficiencies and accelerate their path to market, all within a single expert-driven ecosystem.”

The expanded PDC and CIC will offer end-to-end support leveraging Tetra Pak’s global network of experts, technologies and testing capabilities. With a one-stop-shop model that integrates processing, packaging, formulation, testing and scaling expertise, customers will be able to streamline development timelines and confidently commercialize new products. The new space will double the current production capacity and is engineered to support rapid prototyping, optimization and hands-on co‑creation, helping brands respond quickly to consumer trends.

^{Seth Teply, President and CEO of Tetra Pak U.S. and Canada & Julia Luscher, Vice President, Marketing, Tetra Pak}

“What we are building here is not just infrastructure,” said Julia Luscher, Vice President, Marketing, Tetra Pak. “We are building capacity. We are building partnership. And we are building the future of how innovation happens in our industry.” 

Further, this expansion represents a meaningful growth investment in the local community. Once open, the facility is expected to bring eight new jobs to Tetra Pak’s Denton campus and attract increased customer engagement and business activity to the area. Denton will host a state-of-the-art innovation environment that strengthens the city’s reputation as a hub for advanced food technology, sustainable manufacturing and economic development.

The expanded Product Development Center reinforces Tetra Pak’s commitment to delivering sustainable solutions that help customers bring high‑quality products to market faster. By combining cutting-edge equipment, expert guidance and a collaborative environment, the new facility underscores Tetra Pak’s comprehensive capabilities, resources and global network that sets it apart from the competition.

About the Facility 

• 12,000 sq. ft. of Product Development Center space, one of 12 in the Tetra Pak global network
• Full processing and packaging equipment lines for small batch production
• 3,000 sq. ft. of Customer Innovation Center space, one of six in the Tetra Pak global network
• Features flexible meeting rooms and co‑creation spaces designed for customer collaboration
• Planned opening: Q1 2027

For more information on Tetra Pak Product Development Centers, go here, and to learn more about Tetra Pak processing and packaging solutions, visit www.tetrapakusa.com.

Download pdf

^{Product Development Center Team}

Media contacts

Tetra Pak PR Contact:
Stephanie Ward
Communications Manager, Tetra Pak U.S. & Canada
Stephanie.Ward@tetrapak.com
(940)380-4635

Brazil’s container port sector is entering a defining moment. In a recent article published by Container Management – “Brazil’s Port Investment Boom: From Santos to Suape and Beyond”, a wave of more than R$9 billion in investment is unfolding across the country, reshaping not only capacity, but the structure of Brazil’s logistics landscape.

Investment surge reflects a deeper transformation driven by sustained trade growth and increasing pressure on existing infrastructure, accelerating investment across key port terminals, including:

• Santos
• Suape in northeastern Brazil
• Porto Itapoá and Portonave in southern Brazil

At the same time, supply chains are becoming more distributed. The rise of alternative corridors is reducing reliance on a single dominant port and introducing greater flexibility across regions.

As Fabio Siccherino, CEO of DP World in Brazil, explains: “DP World sees the recent acceleration in Brazil’s container volumes as part of a sustained long-term growth trend, underpinned by the strength and diversification of the country’s export base, continued expansion in sectors such as agribusiness and cellulose, and deeper integration into global value chains.”

From Port Infrastructure to Integrated Supply Chains

As investment accelerates in Brazil, the focus is expanding beyond terminal capacity to end-to-end logistics. At Santos, DP World’s R$1.6 billion expansion is strengthening both capacity and connectivity through:

• Quay extensions
• Yard expansion
• Enhanced gate and landside infrastructure

More broadly, ports are evolving into integrated logistics hubs by connecting:

• Inland transport networks
• Warehousing capabilities
• Freight forwarding solutions

Why It Matters: Competitiveness, Resilience and Sustainability

The implications extend beyond capacity. Greater geographic diversification is strengthening resilience and reducing dependency on a single gateway.

At the same time, increased competition is driving, higher efficiency and improved service standards.

Yet Santos remains central to this equation—and under increasing pressure. Throughput has reached record levels, with the port surpassing 5.5 million TEU and operating close to its limits, as existing terminals run above optimal utilisation levels.

Planned expansions could add roughly 2 million TEU of additional capacity, while the proposed STS10 project could contribute a further 3.25 million TEU. However, the timing, structure, and delivery of this new capacity remain under debate, raising questions about whether supply can keep pace with sustained demand growth.

Electrification is also emerging as a defining theme, positioning Brazil at the forefront of lower-emission port operations.

However, infrastructure by itself will not determine success. As Siccherino notes, “port capacity alone will not be sufficient to support this growth. Efficient road, rail and inland logistics networks are essential to ensure seamless cargo flows.”

Explore the Full Analysis

As Brazil’s container sector continues to expand, the role of integrated logistics in enabling efficient, resilient, and scalable trade will only become more critical.

For a deeper look at how this investment cycle is reshaping the country’s competitive landscape, explore the full Container Management feature: “Brazil’s Port Investment Boom: From Santos to Suape and Beyond.”

As Houston marked a historic Texas-first by hosting Fleet Week, Comcast was proud to recognize the service and sacrifice of veterans through a special ship tour experience aboard the USS Kearsarge.

On April 20, Comcast welcomed 20 military veterans from across the Brazos Valley for a day centered on gratitude, connection, and shared experience. The visit took place during Fleet Week Houston 2026 and as part of the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration. It brought together veterans, active-duty service members, community leaders, and Comcast employees to honor a shared commitment to service.

A Day Focused on Recognition and Community

The day began with an honor flight-style sendoff at Veterans Memorial Park in College Station, where veterans were recognized by local leaders and members of Comcast’s Military & Veteran Affairs and Government & Community Affairs teams. The veterans, all members of American Legion Post 159 in Bryan, were honored with two certificates: a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition from Congressman Michael McCaul, and a joint Certificate of Recognition from State Senator Charles Schwertner, State Representative Trey Wharton and State Representative Paul Dyson. Each veteran was also gifted a flag that was flown over the Texas State Capitol and a challenge coin.

From there, the group traveled by bus to The Honor Café in Conroe for lunch on Comcast. The café, a veteran-owned business, provides a welcoming space for conversation and reflection, highlighting the importance of supporting veteran-led organizations in local communities.

Later that afternoon, the veterans arrived at Bayport Terminal in Seabrook to board the USS Kearsarge. Led by U.S. Navy personnel, the guided tour gave participants an up-close look at the ship’s mission and daily operations, while offering moments to connect with active-duty Sailors and Marines.

“This is a really great opportunity to see the advancements in the military and to see those following behind us and carrying on the tradition,” said retired Chief Master Sergeant Shawn Jarnagin, a member of American Legion Post 159 and 30-year veteran of the U.S. Air Force.

A Lasting Commitment to Military Communities

Comcast’s participation in Fleet Week Houston reflects a longstanding commitment to military service members, veterans, and their families. Founded by a veteran, Comcast continues to support military communities through workforce initiatives, connectivity programs, and community partnerships nationwide.

The USS Kearsarge ship tour is one example of how Comcast works with local partners to create experiences that honor service and strengthen community connections.

“Experiences like this matter because they reconnect veterans to something that never really leaves them, the sense of camaraderie and pride in service,” said Mona Dexter, Vice President of Military & Veteran Affairs at Comcast. “Many of us at Comcast have lived that experience, and it shapes how we show up and serve military communities.”

Making History and Meaningful Moments During Fleet Week Houston

Fleet Week Houston marked the first time a Texas city hosted the week-long celebration, honoring more than 1,000 Sailors, Marines, and members of the U.S. Coast Guard. Throughout the week, the public connected with service members through ship tours, demonstrations, educational visits, and community service projects, creating a historic milestone for Houston and the state of Texas.

Comcast was proud to support Fleet Week Houston and help create meaningful moments for the veteran community. Experiences like touring the USS Kearsarge offer more than a look inside a Navy ship; they provide opportunities for reflection, connection and appreciation, reinforcing the enduring bonds of service.

WASHINGTON, D.C. and CHARLOTTE, N.C., May 7, 2026 /3BL/ – The U.S. Soccer Foundation and Discovery Education today announced a new multi-year strategic partnership, with support from Lenovo Foundation, to bring high-quality, soccer-based learning experiences to students nationwide through Soccer for Success: Goals for Life.

The partnership combines the U.S. Soccer Foundation’s proven youth development and school-based programming with Discovery Education’s expertise in standards-aligned digital instruction, supported by Lenovo Foundation’s role as official technology partner to expand access to the latest technology and innovation.

Discovery Education’s teaching and learning solutions are trusted to support educators and power student progress in more than 45% of U.S. schools. The partnership builds on the U.S. Soccer Foundation’s longstanding work in schools through its Soccer for Success in School program, which provides curriculum, training, and equipment to educators and has reached more than 2.2 million students and 5,700 educators.

Together, the organizations will foster durable skills in youth, deepen student engagement, strengthen STEM learning, and equip teachers with ready‑to‑use resources designed to fit directly into existing middle school instruction.

Partnership Launches with Landmark Virtual Field Trip with Lenovo Foundation

The partnership kicks off with the premiere of “Beyond the Goal: A Virtual Field Trip to Soccer City USA,” available to educators beginning May 12, 2026, at 7:00 a.m. ET. Designed for students in grades 6–8, the 20-minute virtual experience was filmed on location at Providence Park, home of the Portland Timbers (MLS) and Portland Thorns (NWSL), and at Parkrose Middle School in Portland, Oregon.

The Virtual Field Trip takes students behind the scenes of professional soccer and into their own communities, exploring themes of communication, leadership, resilience, decision-making, and engineering in action. Students will hear directly from U.S. Soccer Foundation and Portland Timbers staff, players, and experts in nutrition, sports analytics, and coaching, connecting real-world sports environments to academic concepts, future careers, and personal development.

The Virtual Field Trip will be made available through the Discovery Education Experience solution and a free microsite, ensuring every teacher can access and engage with this standards-aligned content. Educators can sign up now to access the Virtual Field Trip and accompanying classroom resources, including an Educator Guide and ready-to-use materials to support middle school instruction of Health, 3D Science, and ELA standards.

A Timely Collaboration for a Historic Moment in Soccer

The partnership launches at a pivotal cultural moment, as excitement builds with the largest global soccer tournament coming to North America this summer. Soccer has grown in popularity as a global unifier, and this partnership ensures that students and educators can tap into this momentum by using the sport to develop foundational life skills in young people, strengthen communities, and expand access to enrichment opportunities during an exciting moment in American sports history.

“At Discovery Education, we help educators bring students’ excitement about the world around them into instruction that matters, and soccer’s biggest moment in North America gives us a powerful opportunity to do exactly that,” said Catherine Dunlop, Senior Vice President of Corporate Partnerships, Discovery Education. “The U.S. Soccer Foundation shares our commitment to powering progress for young people, and together we’re delivering high-quality, no-cost learning experiences that engage students with remarkable access behind the scenes of professional soccer.”

The U.S. Soccer Foundation is leading national efforts to ensure that the 2026 tournament benefits youth and families across the nation for generations to come. Together with its partners, the Foundation has installed more than 850 mini-pitches nationwide, with the goal of 1,000 by the end of 2026. Last year, the U.S. Soccer Foundation engaged 1.2 million youth in its programs proven to improve the health and well-being of participants.

“The U.S. Soccer Foundation has always believed that soccer is more than a game. It is a vehicle for youth development, community building, and expanding opportunity for young people,” said Ed Foster-Simeon, President & CEO, U.S. Soccer Foundation. “This partnership with Discovery Education gives us a powerful new avenue to deliver on that mission, expand our reach in schools and provide students in classrooms across the country with content that is as inspiring as it is educational. At a time when the world’s eyes are turning toward soccer in North America, we want every young person to have access to the learning and life skills that will help them thrive on and off the field.”

As part of its mission to provide access to technology and STEM education for those who need it most, Lenovo Foundation is proud to support the enablement of sport and STEM education through the mission of the U.S. Soccer Foundation and unique scale and K-12 instructional strategy of Discovery Education. This partnership also builds on Lenovo’s role as the Official FIFA Technology Partner of FIFA World Cup 2026^TM and FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 ^TM.

“We view sports as a catalyst for inclusion and education,” shares Calvin J. Crosslin, Lenovo Foundation President and Chief Inclusion Officer of Lenovo. “We are thrilled with the opportunity to support the Virtual Field Trip and its free access to educators on the Discovery Education platform. Sport is a proven global democratizer and will enable greater engagement and skilling for students – in STEM areas and in life.”

About Discovery Education

Discovery Education is a global education technology leader whose innovative solutions empower educators and progress student learning. Discovery Education’s solutions have served more than 100 million students globally, supporting effective teaching and learning in 45% of U.S. K–12 schools and in 100+ countries and territories. The company’s portfolio includes award-winning core and supplemental curriculum, high-quality standards-aligned content, and AI-enabled teaching and learning tools. Solutions span math, science, literacy, social studies, and career-connected learning, including instructionally-aligned content developed through one-of-a-kind partnerships with industry leaders to bring real-world relevance into every lesson. Learn more at www.DiscoveryEducation.com.

About the U.S. Soccer Foundation

As the national leader for sports-based youth development in under-resourced areas, the U.S. Soccer Foundation is on a mission to let soccer do what it does: change absolutely everything. Founded as a legacy of the 1994 FIFA World Cup, the Foundation provides underserved communities access to innovative play spaces and evidence-based soccer programs that instill hope, foster well-being, and help youth achieve their fullest potential. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the U.S. Soccer Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization. For more information visit www.ussoccerfoundation.org or follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram.

About Lenovo Foundation

Lenovo Foundation is the charitable and philanthropic arm of Lenovo, a global technology powerhouse serving millions of customers every day in 180 markets. With a mission to provide access to technology and STEM education for those who need it most, Lenovo Foundation shares Lenovo’s strengths of inclusion and innovation with communities around the world through strategic giving, employee engagement and humanitarian response. Learn more at www.LenovoFoundation.com.

Media Contacts

For Discovery Education:
Ali Koper
Akoper@discoveryed.com

For U.S. Soccer Foundation:
Kelly Clemens
kclemens@ussoccerfoundation.org

For Lenovo Foundation:
Mhauser@lenovo.com
 

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