In this Must Know…
- 2024 CAMEO Network Annual Report
- Join us April 29, 2025 at 2:00pm PT for “Racial Equity Legal Guidance.”
- Our 2025 Legislative Priorities
- CAMEO Network celebrates the 9th Circuit’s decision to uphold the DFPI’s truth-in-small-business-lending rules.
- Join our National CDFI Academy on April 22, 2025 for an Overview of Lending Functional Alignment.
- Register for the 2025 CAMEO Network Summit. Early Bird pricing ends April 28!
- We’re hiring
- This week’s Goodie Highlight is a kudos to members ChicoSTART and MCS Economic Development Corporation on receiving a California’s Employment Training Panel’s SEED Initiative grant!
2024 Annual Report
Our organization marked its 30th anniversary in 2024. It was also the year we officially became known as CAMEO Network, a name that celebrates the engine behind our work and our success – our members.
We are excited to release our 2024 Annual Report, which provides a snapshot of the work we did over the last year to build an entrepreneurial ecosystem where every small business has the same opportunities to grow and thrive.
Thank you to our staff, partners, funders, and -most of all- our members, for being part of our network. We are powerful because we work together.
Racial Equity Legal Guidance
Join us on April 29, 2025 at 2:00pm PT for a timely conversation with Stephen Menendian, Director of Research at UC Berkeley’s Othering & Belonging Institute, on navigating DEI efforts amid growing federal scrutiny. As organizations face changing regulations, funding challenges, and tough questions, Stephen will offer legal insights and historical context, and answer your most pressing questions. Submit yours in advance and be part of the discussion!
2025 Legislative Priorities
One of the ways CAMEO Network builds power is by advocating for small business policies in Sacramento, and this year state advocacy takes on new importance in light of policy changes and challenges at the federal level.
Check out the CAMEO Blog for an overview of our legislative priorities for this year, including our co-sponsored bills SB 362 and SB 728. Both bills will be heard in Senate Judiciary next Tuesday, April 22 so please sign our letters of support!
Truth in Lending Prevails in Court
This week’s ruling by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the DFPI’s truth-in-small-business-lending rules, ensuring the more than 4 million small business owners in California receive clear loan disclosures, including APR and terms. CAMEO Network celebrates this decision, which promotes transparency, protects against predatory lending, and supports informed financing decisions.
The Goodies
Member News
- Congratulations to ChicoSTART and MCS Economic Development Corporation on receiving a California’s Employment Training Panel’s SEED Initiative grant!
- Accessity announced the appointment of Mar Diteos as their new Chief Executive Officer.
Research & Resources
- A new research article puts a spotlight on the abusive practices that have emerged in small business lending.
- Independent Sector launched three new trackers to help nonprofits make sense of the latest policy developments.
For Your Clients
- The USDA’s Community Connect Grant Program offers financial assistance to eligible applicants who will provide broadband services to rural communities. The application deadline is April 21, 2025.
- The Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights of San Francisco is hosting the webinar “Business Transition Planning for Immigrant Businesses” on April 23, 2025 at 4:30pm PT.
Other Goodies
- Free Webinar: Join NCRC’s workshop on April 24, 2025 at 11:00am PT to learn how to support vulnerable communities in a shifting system with clear info, scam prevention, and resource connections.
- Jobs: CIELO, the California Office of the Small Business Advocate, and California FarmLink announced new jobs recently. See who else is hiring!