In this Must Know…
- National Small Business Week! Let’s celebrate the successes and recognize the challenges facing small businesses this year.
- Trump’s Budget and Advocacy Opportunities
- Join our AI Essentials: Train-the-Trainer Series starting June 11, 2025 to level up your AI knowledge and better support your clients.
- Join the 2025 CAMEO Network Summit on May 28-29 in Sacramento.
- We have many upcoming trainings for CDFIs, from our Tech Series (starting next week) to CDFI History. Check out our Events Calendar so you don’t miss out!
- This week’s Goodie Highlight is the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee – Minority’s report on the impact of tariffs and tariff uncertainty on small businesses.
National Small Business Week: Celebrating the Successes and Recognizing the Challenges
May 4-10 is National Small Business Week. We mark the occasion by celebrating the resilience, creativity, and impact of small businesses in our communities. Their successes are a testament not only to their hard work, but also to the dedicated support of organizations like yours—microlenders, technical assistance providers, and community champions who help entrepreneurs start, grow, and thrive.
At the same time, we recognize that small businesses across the country are navigating new challenges, from rising costs due to tariffs to the loss of federal contracts and small business support programs.
This week is not only a time to celebrate, but also a call to action to advocate for policies that support the success and sustainability of small businesses nationwide.
Trump’s Budget and Advocacy Opportunities
Last week, the Trump Administration released its 2026 Budget Request. The request proposes $163 billion in non-discretionary budget authority for FY26; a 22.6% reduction of current year spending.
Read our latest CAMEO Blog for a summary of the most relevant cuts and increases that will impact the small business ecosystem, including a $287 million cut to the SBA, a $291 million cut to the CDFI Fund, and the total elimination of the MBDA’s budget.
You can take action to prevent small business programs from losing funding:
- Send a letter to your members of Congress urging support for FY26 funding for the Women’s Business Centers and overdue modernization of the program.
- Reps. Don Bacon and Derek Tran are leading a bipartisan letter urging level funding of $324 million for the CDFI Fund in FY26. CAMEO Network will be sending out a sign-on letter next week, so be on the lookout.
Train-the-Trainer: AI Series
Starting June 11, 2025 the AI Essentials: Train-the-Trainer series offers six interactive sessions to help business support organizations confidently teach small businesses how to leverage AI. Each session covers practical tools—from customer service to content creation—and includes demos, hands-on practice, and Q&A. With small business interest in AI growing, this series is a timely way to boost your skills and become a trusted advisor. You can attend the full series or choose the topics most relevant to you.
The Goodies
New Research
- The latest Economic Pulse Survey from Small Business for America’s Future reveals 79% of small business owners fear a recession within 12 months.
- The U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee – Minority released a report on the impact of tariffs and tariff uncertainty on small businesses.
CDFI News
- Complete the Federal Reserve CDFI Survey by May 30, 2025 to provide industry stakeholders with data that informs research and policymaking. You can take the survey in English or Spanish.
- The first reapplication submission window (Window 1) for the CDFI Fund’s CDFI Certification closes on May 31, 2025.
For Your Clients
- Eligible small business owners who have been impacted by a natural disaster since January 2024 can apply for a $10,000 Backing Small Businesses grant. Applications are open through May 21, 2025.
- CMTC’s new Supply Chain 101 eBook offers a starting point for small manufacturers to begin making supply chain improvements.
Other Goodies
- Member News: Crowdfund Better CEO, Kathleen Minogue, was interviewed by the Main Street Journal on how crowdfunding succeeds through community connections.
- Jobs: Working Solutions, CIELO, CalOSBA, and California FarmLink announced new jobs recently. See who else is hiring!