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WEST GROVE (PA), MAY 13, 2026 — Simpson, a group of communities in Pennsylvania introduces a new spring/summer Joyous dining program for residents of Jenner’s Pond. The Joyous program by Sodexo recognizes the joy that many residents get from dining out, whether it’s to socialize with neighbors or try a new dish. It combines warm service, thoughtful experience, and a variety of vibrant, sustainable meals. Jenner’s Pond played a key role in shaping the vision for the new Sodexo Dining Program, which is now being rolled out across the country. Photo caption: Jenner’s Pond launches its Joyous spring/summer menu in all four dining rooms. The menu features seasonal dishes such as grilled chicken Milanese and arugula. Drew Conant, executive chef, said, “We know that independent living residents want more than just food. They want ease, a feeling of belonging, and meaningful variation.” He has been creating menus for Jenner’s Pond since ten years. He is a chef with a passion for food and community. Chef Conant brings the residents’ joy in living and eating healthy to life through Joyous’ wide range of trendy, health-forward options that cater to individual preferences while delivering an elevated dining experience. Joyous is focused on providing residents with connection, freedom, comfort and inspiration. Residents have been embracing Joyous’ spring/summer menus under Conant, which feature dishes made with fresh seasonal ingredients. Chef Conant has a personal favorite dish, grilled Milanese chicken with arugula. Residents’ feedback in the first two weeks after the Joyous menu launch was extremely positive. They gave Aplus scores of 100 for high-quality nutrition and hospitality excellence, and 96 for customization. Residents note that Chef Conant makes sure the menus are exciting, while accommodating diverse dietary needs and prioritizing engagement with residents to get feedback. Inge & Gustavo Santos, residents of a retirement community, note that it can be a difficult task to meet diverse dietary requirements while maintaining menus that are exciting. Chef Drew makes this look easy. The quality and presentation of the food is consistently excellent, from scratch-made soups to elegant season entrees. “We have so many memories and emotions tied to our favorite recipes and home-cooked food,” said Dr. Carol McKinley. “Joyous” is more than a new menu. The menus are designed to highlight the special moments in life, such as sharing a meal with friends, celebrating with family or enjoying a favorite dish. Jenner’s Pond offers four dining rooms with different menus, including the Multi Format Cafe & Bistro, the upscale Brandywine Room, the Delaware Dining Room with buffet-style eating, and the Cattail Cafe with multiple dining stations. The dishes are a mix of comfort food and trendier fare, with a variety of recipes from over 3,400. The Jenner’s Pond team also creates memorable events through pop-ups and themed events, as well as multi-course meals paired with mocktails, cocktails, and themed decor. McKinley said, “We like to think that Jenner’s Pond is the best restaurant in town.” Ask the Santos who say “We are incredibly fortunate to have talent of such caliber in our locality!” ABOUT SIMPSON Since 1865 Simpson has been meeting the changing needs and wants of Pennsylvania area seniors of diverse backgrounds. The family of services includes two Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs): Simpson Meadows, and Jenner’s Pond, three affordable senior living community: Simpson Gardens I and Simpson Gardens II, as well Simpson HomeCare, and Simpson Rehabilitation. The organization’s mission is to provide elders of diverse backgrounds with better amenities, better care, and improved services in beautiful, dignified and spiritual settings. For more information, visit: https://www.simpsonsenior.org/ Press Page:

https://www.simpsonsenior.org/about/press/ MUILTIMEDIA Photo link for media: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/26-0513-s2p-jenrspond-300dpi.webp Photo Caption: Jenner’s Pond debuts its Joyous spring and summer menu across all four dining rooms, featuring seasonal dishes like grilled chicken Milanese with arugula salad. News Source: SimpsonTo view the original post, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/simpson-elevates-senior-living-dining-experience-with-joyous-program/. This press release has been issued by Send2Press(r), Newswire, on behalf of the news sources. They are solely responsible for its accuracy. www.send2press.com.

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CHICAGO, Ill. & DENVER, Colo. (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE), May 13, 2026 — The Kiosk Manufacturer Association and The Industry Group will serve as a technology hub for self service, AI, payments and accessibility at the National Restaurant Association Show 2026 in Chicago, from May 16-19. Booth #5829, located in the North Building of McCormick Place, is open to restaurant operators and technology leaders. This booth will showcase practical solutions to increase throughput, improve customer experience, and strengthen compliance for all restaurant formats. Image caption: Kiosk Association Anchors the Tech Hub at NRA 2026 Show. Attendees will be able to see a range of deployed and deployable technology at Booth #5829. Pyramid Computer will showcase its POLYTOUCH platform, which offers operators a variety of hardware options for ordering and wayfinding. TPGi will showcase accessibility best practices including JAWS and Screen Reader compliance to help restaurant brands comply with ADA and EAA regulations. URway Holdings offers voice ordering and conversational AI that reduces friction, allowing more guests to successfully complete their orders. Sitekiosk is demonstrating secure kiosk software, device lockdown and remote management to protect unattended terminals against tampering or misuse. Innovative Technology will showcase biometric and identification validation capabilities, subjected to final confirmation. KMA and TIG will also offer an “NRA2026 Tech Walking Route”, which starts and ends at Booth #5829, and guides visitors along a curated circuit of self-service exhibitors, POS, payment, AI, hardware and robotics in the North Hall. The walking tour was designed to reduce backtracking and group vendors according to theme. It also helps attendees gain actionable insights from each stop. Online, visitors will be able to download a route map and receive instructions for the walking tour. This allows them to plan their time with technology before they arrive. TIG also announced new company profiles that include first-level AI and SEO analysis to help vendors increase visibility beyond a simple website. A self-survey can be used by organizations to determine if they need a formal profile. Profiles are available for $79 and can be purchased online. There are also additional Consensus Research reports, such as voice in AI self service, cash acceptance versus a credit calculator, and a Retrofit Decision Kit with ROI calculator. Supporters receive all data reports for free. For a complete preview of exhibitors at Booth #5829, solution overviews, and walking-tour details, visit the KMA/TIG NRA Show page at https://kioskindustry.org/nra-national-restaurant-show. Media and attendees with questions can contact Craig Keefner at craig@kioskindustry.org or 720-324-1837. IMAGE LINKS for media: [1] https://kioskindustry.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/nra-booth-0417-three-demos.jpg.webp [2] https://kioskindustry.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/NRA-walking-look.png.webp News Source: The Industry GroupTo view the original post, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/kiosk-association-anchors-tech-hub-at-2026-nra-show-highlights-self-service-ai-payments-and-accessibility/. This press release has been issued by Send2Press (r) Newswire, on behalf of the news provider. The source is solely responsible. www.send2press.com.

ST. LOUIS, Mo., May 12, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — OptiFunder®, the mortgage industry pioneer in warehouse management automation, has partnered with Vesta, the AI-native loan origination system and agent platform, to connect loan origination and warehouse funding workflows. The integration links origination, funding, and sale to the capital markets, eliminating fragmented systems and manual handoffs that have historically slowed execution and increased risk.

Image caption: Vesta Partners with OptiFunder to bring loan origination and warehouse funding together.

That fragmentation ends with Genesis by OptiFunder, a Warehouse Management System for mortgage originators, embedded directly inside Vesta’s LOS. Mortgage bankers can now manage warehouse funding strategy, optimize line utilization, and automate post-closing workflows without switching systems or rekeying data. The integration combines real-time origination data with intelligent decisioning across OptiFunder’s network of 60+ warehouse lenders, cutting financing costs and improving funding accuracy across origination, reconciliation, and paydown — all from a single system of record.

“Warehouse management has traditionally operated outside the LOS, creating unnecessary friction and risk,” said Brian Abbott, Chief Operating Officer of OptiFunder. “By connecting the LOS and Genesis, we’re aligning origination and warehouse workflows into a single, intelligent process. Originators gain a seamless, end-to-end funding experience, Vesta extends its operational reach, and warehouse lenders benefit from standardized, system-driven connectivity that scales across multiple originators and environments.”

Beyond originators, the integration delivers meaningful value across the broader warehouse ecosystem. Together, Vesta and OptiFunder extend the origination workflow into warehouse finance—one of the most capital-intensive and operationally complex stages of mortgage lending—without requiring custom, one-off integrations for each warehouse lender. For warehouse lenders, Genesis provides a single, bi-directional integration that supports dozens of originators, improving consistency, visibility, and operational efficiency.

The API-based integration also enhances reliability and security throughout the funding lifecycle. System-to-system connectivity reduces reliance on spreadsheets, emails, and manual portal activity, minimizing data errors and operational risk. Secure data transmission, role-based access controls, and complete audit trails improve transparency and support compliance requirements, while automated workflows ensure funding, collateral, reconciliation, and paydowns are executed consistently and predictably.

“We’re proud to partner with the OptiFunder team to bring Genesis closer to the loan origination workflow,” said Monica Raciti, Head of Operations and Partnerships at Vesta. “Warehouse finance is one of the most operationally complex parts of mortgage lending, and tighter integration between origination and funding makes life easier for the lenders we both serve.”

For more information about Genesis by OptiFunder, visit: https://www.optifunder.com/

To learn more about Vesta, visit: https://www.vesta.com/

About OptiFunder

Founded by mortgage lenders to modernize post-closing and secondary market operations, OptiFunder is a mortgage technology company delivering transparent, efficient warehouse management solutions for mortgage originators and warehouse lenders. Its Genesis and Greyhound platforms seamlessly connect funding, post-closing, and loan repayment, creating a unified lifecycle that reduces friction, improves visibility, and supports scalable operations. OptiFunder has been recognized for its innovation and growth, earning honors including Inc. 5000’s Fastest Growing Private Companies, HousingWire’s Tech100 Mortgage award, and Progress in Lending’s Innovation Award.

About Vesta

Vesta is the AI-native loan origination system and agent platform for mortgage, powering banks, independent mortgage banks, and fintech lenders. Built on a modern, cloud-native system of record, Vesta gives lenders a single source of truth—every loan, borrower, property, and document is versioned, auditable, and accessible via API—so teams and agents operate from the same trusted context. Vesta blends deterministic rules and configurable workflows with autonomous agents that can interpret documents, call domain tools (e.g., income and asset calculators, conditions, disclosures, pricing and fee workflows), and orchestrate work across teams and third parties with traceable outcomes and human oversight. The result is faster cycle times, lower cost per loan, and a scalable “agent factory” operating model. Founded in 2020, Vesta is backed by Andreessen Horowitz, Bain Capital Ventures, Conversion Capital, Index Ventures, and Zigg Capital. Learn more at https://www.vesta.com/.

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Image caption: Vesta Partners with OptiFunder to bring loan origination and warehouse funding together.

News Source: OptiFunder

To view the original post, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/vesta-partners-with-optifunder-to-bring-loan-origination-and-warehouse-funding-together/.

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Source: https://www.send2press.com/wire/vesta-partners-with-optifunder-to-bring-loan-origination-and-warehouse-funding-together/

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., April 12, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Industrial SalesLeads released its April 2026 planned capital project spending report and saw a surge in new industrial manufacturing capital projects, with our research team tracking 149 newly identified planned industrial projects ranging from plant expansions and new construction to renovations and equipment upgrades. Leading the month is Tesla’s planned $20 billion semiconductor manufacturing facility in TX, part of a broader wave of industrial capital investment concentrated in Indiana, Texas, Ohio, Alabama, and Michigan. Across all 149 new industrial manufacturing projects, decision-makers are actively procuring equipment.

Image caption: $20 Billion Tesla Semiconductor Plant Headlines 149 New Industrial Capital Projects.

The following are selected highlights on new Industrial Manufacturing industry construction news.

Industrial Equipment Categories in Demand

In the month of April, identified industrial manufacturing project managers are procuring the following equipment:

• 90% – 99% compressed air, lighting, HVAC, heat exchangers, material handling / storage equipment, mechanical construction, fire protection, networking / security and lift trucks.
• 80% – 89% air emissions control, manufacturing, control systems & instrumentation, conveyors, loading dock and cranes & hoists.
• 70% – 79% packaging equipment
• 50% – 59% floor coatings
• 40% – 49% building construction
• 20% – 29% building renovations
• 10% – 19% equipment relocation

Industrial Manufacturing – By Project Location (Top 10 States)

Indiana – 12

Texas – 11

Ohio – 9

Alabama – 8

California – 8

Michigan – 8

Pennsylvania – 8

Illinois – 7

Iowa – 7

New York – 7

Georgia – 6

Industrial Manufacturing – By Project Type

Manufacturing/Production Facilities – 139 New Projects

Distribution and Industrial Warehouse – 76 New Projects

Industrial Manufacturing – By Project Scope/Activity

New Construction – 52 New Projects

Expansion – 35 New Projects

Renovations/Equipment Upgrades – 68 New Projects

Plant Closings – 14 New Projects

Top 10 Tracked Industrial Manufacturing Projects

ALABAMA:

Automotive mfr. is planning to invest $4 billion for the expansion of their manufacturing facility in VANCE, AL. They are currently seeking approval for the project.

VIRGINIA:

Defense contractor is planning to invest $1.3 billion for the expansion and equipment upgrades on their manufacturing facility in CULPEPER, VA. They are currently seeking approval for the project.

ALABAMA:

Electronic component mfr. is planning to invest $500 million for the construction of a 540,000 sf manufacturing, research, and office facility in GUNTERSVILLE, AL. They are currently seeking approval for the project.

SOUTH CAROLINA:

Solar panel mfr. is planning to invest $350 million for the renovation and equipment upgrades on a 620,000 sf manufacturing facility at 1200 Commerce Blvd. in LAURENS, SC. They are currently seeking approval for the project. Completion is slated for Spring 2027.

IOWA:

Kitchen appliance mfr. is planning to invest $196 million for the expansion of their manufacturing facility in CEDAR RAPIDS, IA by 230,000 sf. They have recently received approval for the project.

ILLINOIS:

Bathroom products mfr. is planning for the construction of a 600,000 sf manufacturing, distribution, and office facility in LIBERTYVILLE, IL. They are currently seeking approval for the project and will consolidate their operations upon completion.

MICHIGAN:

Automotive component mfr. is planning to invest $87 million for the construction of a manufacturing facility in AUBURN HILLS, MI. They are currently seeking approval for the project.

WEST VIRGINIA:

Medical device mfr. is planning to invest $81 million for a 65,000 sf expansion and equipment upgrades on their manufacturing facility in LESAGE, WV. They are currently seeking approval for the project.

OHIO:

Home appliance mfr. is planning to invest $60 million for the renovation and equipment upgrades on a 253,000 sf manufacturing facility at 1775 Progress Drive in PERRYSBURG, OH. They are currently seeking approval for the project.

NEBRASKA:

Construction and farming equipment mfr. is expanding and planning to invest $50 million for the renovation and equipment upgrades on their manufacturing facility in GRAND ISLAND, NE. They are currently seeking approval for the project.

Largest Planned Project

During the month of April, our research team identified 13 new Industrial Manufacturing facility construction projects with an estimated value of $100 million or more.

The largest project is owned by Tesla, Inc., who is planning to invest $20 billion for the construction of a semiconductor manufacturing facility in AUSTIN, TX. They are currently seeking approval for the project. Completion is slated for 2028.

About Industrial SalesLeads, Inc.

Since 1959, Industrial SalesLeads, based in Jacksonville, FL is a leader in delivering industrial capital project intelligence and prospecting services for sales and marketing teams to ensure a predictable and scalable pipeline. Our Industrial Market Intelligence, IMI identifies timely insights on companies planning significant capital investments such as new construction, expansion, relocation, equipment modernization and plant closings in industrial facilities. The Outsourced Prospecting Services, an extension to your sales team, is designed to drive growth with qualified meetings and appointments for your internal sales team. Visit us at https://salesleadsinc.com/.

Each month, our team provides hundreds of industrial reports within a variety of industries.

Learn more:

• https://www.salesleadsinc.com/data-solutions/industrial-project-reports/
• https://www.salesleadsinc.com/blog/

News Source: Industrial SalesLeads Inc

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PLANO, Texas (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE), May 12, 2026 — Optimal Blue released today its April 2026 Market Advantage Mortgage Data Report, which revealed that mortgage lock activity slowed down after a strong quarter. Total rate-lock volumes declined 9% from month to month (MoM), but were 11% higher compared to the previous year (YoY). Purchase lock volume decreased just under 2% in March, but increased by more than 9% since April 2025. Production continued to be led by purchase lock volume as refinance activity cooled. Rate-and-term volume fell by nearly 38% MoM, but was still 22% higher YoY. Cash-out volume declined by 12% MoM, but was up 11% on a YoY basis. Refinance volume fell to 23%, down from March levels but still above the year-ago level. Image caption: Image caption Optimal Blue’s April 2026 Market advantage mortgage data report. Mortgage rates were elevated all month long, but ended the month slightly lower. The benchmark for CME Group’s Mortgage Rate Futures, the Optimal Blue Market Indices (OBMMI), 30-year conforming rate, ended the month at 6.31%. This is a 4 basis point (bps) decrease MoM. The 10-year Treasury yield ended April at 4.40%. This is up 10 bps MoM. Meanwhile, the spread between the 10-year Treasury rate and the 30-year Mortgage Rate narrowed to 191 basis points as mortgages outperformed. Mike Vough is senior vice president for corporate strategy at Optimal Blue. He said that April looks more like a cooling off from a strong quarter than a real weakness in borrower demand. “Purchase volume held up well, despite recent rate changes. Refinance volume responded more quickly.” This split shows how rate-sensitive consumers remain, even though the spring purchase market is still resilient. The sale of agency MBS increased, while bulk loan sales decreased. Mortgage servicing rights (MSRs) values also rose as higher interest rates reduced the expected refinance activity. Investor participation increased after remaining stable for three consecutive month. Vough said that lenders are paying attention to where the execution value is shown in a higher rate environment. The refi activity has cooled: Rate and term refinance volumes fell by nearly 38% MoM, but were still 22% higher YoY. Cash-out refinance volumes declined by 12% MoM, but rose 11% YoY. Refinance volume fell to 23%. Purchase activity remains steady: Purchase lock volumes declined by just under 2% MoM, but increased by more than 9% YoY. They continue to lead the overall production. Conforming share falls below 50%: For the first time, since Optimal Blue began tracking these metrics, conforming share dropped below 50% in April. FHA’s share increased to 19%. VA’s share increased to 13%. Non-conforming mortgages declined to 17%. USDA remained at 1%. Non-QM shares remain elevated: Nonqualified mortgages accounted in April for 9% of the total lock volume, up 30 basis points MoM and 233 basis points YoY. Investor and bank statement products led expanded-guideline activity. ARM levels are still high: Adjustable rate mortgages made up 10% of the total production in April, down 182 basis points MoM but roughly in line with previous year’s levels and well above norms before 2022. Property mix shifts. Single-family homes accounted for 64% of production. Planned unit developments, which are a proxy measure of new construction activity, fell to 28%. This is a 42 bps MoM decline and 328 bps YoY decline. Condo share fell to 6%. Rates and pricing Mortgage rate outperform Treasuries. The OBMMI 30-year fixed rate ended at 6.31%, down by 4 bps MoM. Jumbo rates finished at 6.43%. VA rates were 5.90%, and FHA rates were 6.06%. The 10-year Treasury rose 10 bps to 4.40 %, while the mortgage to Treasury spread shrank to 191 basis points. MSR values rise: MSRs increased 5 bps to 1.29 %, which represents a 5.16-fold increase, in line with rising rates and lower expectations for refinancing. Conventional spreads widen: Best-efforts-to-mandatory spreads increased 4 bps for conventional 30- and 15-year products, while government 30-year spreads decreased 3 bps. Lower-tier sales are increasing: Loans sold at the fourth or lower price level increased by 89 basis points to 5%. Third-tier shares increased by 21 basis points. Share of Agency MBS increases in channel and execution: Hedged loans sold to agency MBS increased 354 bps to 44 %, indicating a shift towards securitization. Bulk executions decrease: Bulk loan sales declined 257 bps, to 25%. Investor participation increases: Investor participation rose to 15 in April, after remaining at 14 over the previous three months. Product mix and borrower profile First-time buyers continue to be a significant part of the purchase market. The share of first-time homebuyers remained almost flat in April, but they continued to represent an important share of the purchase activity. They accounted for 47% conforming purchase locks; 70% FHA purchase lock; and 45% VA purchase lock. DTI ratios are stable: Purchase debt to income ratios have improved YoY. Conforming is at 36.2%; FHA is at 43.5%; and VA is at 42.7%. Credit quality remains stable: The average credit score for purchase is 735, unchanged since March. Conforming borrowers averaged 753, FHA-borrowers averaged 676, and VA-borrowers averaged 716. Pull-through rates are improving: Purchase pull-through increased to just over 80%, up 208 basis points MoM but down by 58 basis points YoY. Refinance pull through increased to just below 79%, an increase of 356 bps MoM but 1,381 bps YOY. Loan amounts are declining: The average loan was $394,046, compared to $401,100 in march and $404,586 last February. The average loan-to value ratio (LTV), was 81.64%. Loan amounts ranged between $888,871 and $302,493 for greater San Francisco, while regional LTVs ranged between 71.23% and 89.05% for San Antonio. To view the full April 2026 Market Advantage report, complete the free subscription form: https://engage.optimalblue.com/market-advantage. Subscribers will receive a PDF report each month with the most recent data. Press members are entitled to special access each month. To be added to our media list, please contact Alexandra Kreuter. Market Advantage Report Optimal Blue releases the Market Advantage mortgage reports each month to give insight into U.S. lending trends and drivers. The data is sourced from Optimal’s PPE, used to price and lock in more than one third of all mortgages across the country, and Optimal’s hedging system and loan trading system. These systems support approximately 40% of the loans that are hedged and sold on the secondary market. Optimal Blue, as the leader in mortgage technology, has a direct understanding of both secondary market activity and origination. Unlike self reported survey data, Optimal Blue’s direct-source data accurately reflects the in-process loan in lenders’ pipelines as well as secondary market executions. Subscribe to the monthly report by visiting Optimal Blue’s website. Optimal Blue does not provide any financial, legal, trading or hedging advice. Optimal Blue is a leading provider of profitability in the mortgage capital market ecosystem. Our technology, data, and integrations, as the only end-toend capital markets platform in the industry, bridge the primary and the secondary markets, helping lenders of all sizes to maximize performance, from pricing accuracy to protection of margins and everything in between. Our modern, cloud-native, technology is backed by 20 years of proven expertise. It provides real-time automation, actionable information, and seamless connectivity that lenders need to navigate volatility in the market and scale growth. Visit OptimalBlue.com to learn more about Optimal Blue’s measurable ROI. MULTIMEDIA Image link for media: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/26-0512-s2p-opblue0526-300dpi.webp Image caption: Optimal Blue’s April 2026 Market Advantage mortgage data report News Source: Optimal BlueTo view the original post, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/optimal-blue-report-purchase-demand-holds-firm-as-april-lock-activity-cools/. This press release has been issued by Send2Press (r) Newswire for the news source. The news source is solely responsible and accountable for its accuracy. www.send2press.com.