- Ms CAMEO Heads South
- Speaking of the DIY Economy…
- The Goodies – This week’s highlight includes the Small Business Majority and CAMEO’s Op-Ed on the importance of the small business voice in policy.
- Fifth Annual CAMEO Faces of Entrepreneurship Award nominations are due on April 24, 2015.
- Register for our Annual Member Meeting in Sacramento on June 9, 2015.
Ms CAMEO Heads South
Claudia’s first stop is San Diego at the end of this week. On Friday, she’ll be hosting a member luncheon at Accion San Diego to listen to what is happening on the ground as well as give updates on CAMEO’s newest programs. Then she is off to the Social Venture Network (SVN) conference to get those creative juices flowing. SVN’s mission is to support and empower diverse, innovative leaders who leverage business to serve the greater good. It’s an arena where Claudia meets potential collaborators and learns of cutting edge social change efforts that often turn into new programs.
The following Tuesday, Claudia brings our DIY message to the CALED conference in Riverside with a panel entitled The DIY Economy & Building Etsy Businesses. Claudia will explore the growing trend of microbusiness and self-employment and the tools that economic developers can use to foster a healthy DIY, entrepreneurial ecosystem. Carla Sancho, owner of WeddingCollectibles.com, will talk about how Etsy benefits her business and can help others. Barbara Mason, Economic Development Coordinator for the County of Santa Cruz, will share the details and outcomes of her county’s Etsy Craft Entrepreneurship Program. Through this panel, CAMEO is bringing our message to new audiences.
Speaking of the DIY Economy…
Our Annual Member Meeting (in Sacramento on June 9, 2015) will feature Michael Shuman. He will present several key ideas in his new book – The Local Economy Solution: How Innovative, Self-Financing Pollinator Enterprises Can Grow Jobs and Prosperity. Learn how a pollinator contributes to local economic development. Learn why you are a pollinator and why that’s important to your funders. Discuss how pollinators can fill the economic development roles more efficiently and cheaper than traditional economic development models and how we can foster the environment for locally-grown microbusinesses.
Also, Small Business Majority recently issued a paper that examines the impact of freelancers on the economy, how emerging technologies are paving the way for more people to work for themselves, and how the U.S. can update broadband policies to address the needs of this new workforce.
The Goodies
New opportunities for training, conference information, funding, scholarships, and other information that have crossed our desks since the last Must Know. I have posted a running tab of current Industry Goodies on the CAMEO website that lists items that were in past emails. Check it out to make sure you’re not missing anything, like grants whose deadlines are still alive!
CAMEO in the News: Small Business Majority and CAMEO’s Op-Ed on the importance of the small business voice in policy.
Issue Brief: The SBA has a new issue brief on equity crowdfunding.
Take Action: Support SB 197 (Block): This bill will allow CAMEO’s microlenders to pay referral fees to consultants, non-profits (e.g. TA providers), and others who refer successful loans. It will give your clients more information about affordable lending products and enable microlenders to more easily compete with online alternative lenders. Download the SB 197 Support Letter Template and put it on your letterhead. Edit appropriately, then email to: Senator.Block@senate.ca.gov, and cc Eileen.Newhall@sen.ca.gov and me. Please do this by April 21, 2015. For more information check out the Must Know from February 19, 2015. We are excited to co-sponsor the bill with Opportunity Fund!
Take Action: The San Francisco Business Portal has been nominated for a Webby award (think Oscar for the Internet) for “best city & urban innovation.” They need your vote to win over London and New York by April 24, 2015.
Business Conference: NAWBO California ‘Propel Your Business’ Conference takes place on April 27-28, 2015 at the Sheraton Grand Sacramento Hotel. The theme is Think Bigger- Grow Strategically-Network Statewide.
Conference Scholarship: Credit Builders Alliance hosts the 2015 CBA Credit Building Symposium on Wednesday, July 8, 2015 – Thursday, July 9, 2015 in Washington, DC. They have 10 scholarships ($250 per organization) for interested groups on a first-come, first-served basis to help defray some of the costs related to the registration fee, travel, and lodging. Email them ASAP if you are interested in the scholarship.