In this Must Know…
- Black History Month: Black Entrepreneur Success Stories
- Join Microlending Essentials (MILES) on March 23-27, 2026!
- For Your Clients: New California Workplace Law
- Take Action: Sign on to our letter of support for the California Investment and Innovation Program by February 20!
- This week’s Goodie Highlight is the new survey by Freelancers Union which found that 82% of freelancers say healthcare access influences how they vote.
Black History Month: Black Entrepreneur Success Stories
Black History Month is a time to honor the profound contributions Black leaders have made to our nation’s history, including the entrepreneurs building thriving businesses today. In celebration, we’re proud to spotlight the resilience, creativity, and leadership of Black entrepreneurs who participated in our Small Business Spotlight Road Tour for SCALE. We also reaffirm our commitment to advancing economic opportunity and helping Black-owned small businesses thrive.
Photographer AmaYah Harrison had a bold vision to create a professional, light-filled studio where Sacramento’s creative community could thrive. When traditional banks couldn’t meet her financing needs, AmaYah turned to community-based support. Through mentorship from the Alliance for Community Development and a $15,000 microloan from Working Solutions CDFI, she transformed a warehouse into Sage & Silver Studios, a vibrant hub for photographers, podcasters, and artists.
When Fresno entrepreneur Antony Ayodele saw a struggling frozen yogurt shop in the Tower District, he saw a space for community connection. What began as a Saturday morning reading program for local children evolved into Tower Blendz, a healthy neighborhood café built on purpose and perseverance. After pandemic-related setbacks, support from Access Plus Capital helped Antony secure a microloan, strengthen his business strategy, and retain his eight-person team.
After coming home from Afghanistan, U.S. Army veteran Maxwell Setsoafia launched VoltaMed Community Clinic to bring trusted, accessible care directly to underserved residents in the Inland Empire—first through a mobile unit and later through a brick-and-mortar clinic in Jurupa Valley. With business guidance and a $25,000 loan from First Community Capital, VoltaMed has expanded its nine-person team and continued serving its community.
The SCALE Small Business Spotlight Road Tour continues tomorrow with the grand reopening of Watts Up Mini Market, a community market in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Watts.
Join us in celebrating these community pillars!
Microlending Essentials March 2026
Join CAMEO Network on March 23-27, 2026 for Microlending Essentials (MILES), a four-day, practitioner-led virtual training for CDFI and nonprofit business-coaching staff. Participants build core underwriting skills, including global cash flow, credit history, debt-to-income, and bank statement analysis, and practice underwriting real microloan applications. Optional Friday office hours offer applied case support. CAMEO Network member price: $650.
For Your Clients: New California Workplace Law
By February 1, 2026, California employers must provide a mandatory workplace rights notice under SB 294, the Workplace Know Your Rights Act. The notice must outline immigration-related protections, employee rights (including organizing without retaliation), workers’ compensation coverage, and key information on enforcement agencies and new workplace protections.
Download CHIRLA’s resources for employers to comply with SB 294.
The Goodies
New Research
- Epiq Bankruptcy Analytics found that bankruptcy filings increased by 11% in 2025.
- A new survey by Freelancers Union found that 82% of freelancers say healthcare access influences how they vote.
New Resources
| NonProfit PRO‘s recent article discusses “5 Ways Nonprofits Can Strengthen Their Marketing Impact Without Burning Out.”Main Street America compiled “Eight Trends for Small Businesses in 2026.” |
Events & Webinars
- Join Consumer Federation of California’s webinar “Consumer Harm: The Connection Between Market Consolidation and the Affordability Crisis” on February 13, 2026 at 12:00pm PT.
- Join the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco for “Investing in Rural California Infrastructure” on February 18, 2026 in Modesto, CA.
Other Goodies
Industry News: One year ago this week, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) faced its first round of firings. Use this toolkit to show your support for the CFPB on social media!- Jobs: California FarmLink, Community Vision, InclusiFi, and HIAS announced new jobs recently. See who else is hiring!