In this Must Know…
- Announcing CAMEO Network’s 2026 Board of Directors
- Join our 2026 CDFI Essentials cohort starting in February!
- 2026 Appropriations Update: CDFI Fund and SBA
- Join our National Member Meeting on January 30, 2026 at 10:00am PT / 1:00pm ET
- Save The Date for our 2026 CAMEO Network Conference on November 16-18!
- This week’s Goodie Highlight is Elmy Bermejo’s appointment as the new Director of the California Office of the Small Business Advocate. We look forward to working with her through SSBCI/SCALE.
2026 CAMEO Network Board of Directors
We are excited to announce the new Executive Committee for CAMEO Network’s Board of Directors in 2026:
Chair
Hilda Kennedy, AmPac Business Capital
Vice Chair
Randi Zeller, Glass Glimmer Advisors LLC
Treasurer
Brett Melone, California FarmLink
Secretary
Naima McQueen, RUNWAY
We are also thrilled to welcome three new members to our Board of Directors:
- Juan Carlos Hernandez – President and CEO, California Southern Small Business Development Corporation (San Diego Area)
- Rudy Espinoza – CEO and President, Inclusive Action for the City (Los Angeles Basin Area)
- Toni Symonds – Founder and Principal, Policy Works California (Sacramento Area)
Join us in giving them all a warm welcome!
2026 CDFI Essentials
After a challenging 2025, many organizations are entering 2026 focused on portfolio health, stronger systems, and staff capacity. To support this work, CAMEO Network is launching our 2026 CDFI Essentials program starting in February. This 11-month, cohort-based training for small business lenders and TA providers nationwide equips organizations with practical lending, risk management, and operational tools to strengthen impact in under-resourced communities.
2026 Appropriations Update
The Senate Appropriations Committee released their FY26 Financial Services and General Government bill, providing $324 million for the CDFI Fund—level with FY25 and well above the House proposal and budget request. While this reflects strong bipartisan support, the bill does not address OMB’s hesitance to release FY25 funds, which remain largely unobligated and expire on September 30, 2026.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives is expected to vote on proposed funding for the Small Business Administration (SBA) this week, including the following entrepreneurial development programs:
- Small Business Development Centers: $150 million
- Women’s Business Centers: $27 million
- SCORE: $17 million
- Veterans Outreach & the Boots to Business Program: $21.4 million
- National Women’s Business Council: $1.5 million
- Office of Native American Affairs: $5.3 million
- TA for the Program for Investors in Microentrepreneurs: $7 million
The Goodies
For Your Clients
- Freelancers Union is accepting applications for its free quarterly Legal Clinic for artists and creatives taking place on January 30, 2026. The deadline to apply is January 23.
- Open Enrollment for marketplace healthcare plans ends January 31, 2026 in California. See the deadlines for all the states here.
Industry News
- The California Office of the Small Business Advocate welcomes Elmy Bermejo as its new Director!
- Amazon’s new AI-powered “Buy for Me” feature raises concerns about its future impact on shopping patterns and the small businesses that sell online. Let us know if your clients are affected.
New Research
- Read Nonprofit PRO’s Snapshot of the Nonprofit Sector in 2025.
- The California Budget & Policy Center published a First Look Report to understand California Governor Newsom’s Proposed 2026-27 California Budget.
Other Goodies
- Professional Opportunity: Join the informational webinar for NALCAB’s 2026 LEAD Fellowship on January 20, 2026 at 12:00pm PT / 3:00pm ET.
- Jobs: Pacific Community Ventures announced new jobs recently. See who else is hiring!