In this Must Know…
- Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by supporting Latino and immigrant entrepreneurs!
- Upcoming Trainings
- Join CAMEO Network on September 24, 2026 at 11:30am PT / 2:30pm ET for an informational session on Zult Impact’s new CDFI Gateway pilot.
- Important reminders for our 2026 Conference: Collective Power in Action
- ICYMI: Read our statement in response to the Treasury Department’s announcement about the CDFI Fund, and read Next City‘s coverage of the announcement and our lawsuit.
- This week’s Goodie Highlight is the Federal Reserve’s Small Business Credit Survey. Please encourage your clients to complete it!
Celebrate Entrepreneurs on Hispanic Heritage Month
During Hispanic Heritage Month, we celebrate the tremendous contributions of Latino- and immigrant-owned businesses to the U.S. economy. Latino-owned businesses continue to drive growth nationwide, growing faster than white-owned businesses between 2017 and 2023 and accounting for more than 55% of all net new firms in several states during that period. Nearly half of Latino-owned businesses also operate internationally, demonstrating their expanding impact in the global economy.
These entrepreneurs drive innovation, create jobs, and strengthen communities across the country. At the same time, many face growing challenges, including inflation, tariffs, economic uncertainty, and policy changes that can limit access to capital and opportunities. Supporting Latino entrepreneurs is essential to fostering a stronger, more inclusive economy for all. Read their stories on the CAMEO Network Blog.
Upcoming CAMEO Network Trainings
Strengthen your impact and build new skills with our upcoming training opportunities:
- September 22 and 29 – CCER Session 3: Building Small Business Resilience with Outsmart Disaster
- September 24 – Building and Retaining Teams: Mission-Driven People Practices (Course 2)
- October 5-9 – Microlending Essentials
Info Session: An Inside Look at the CDFI Gateway Pilot
CAMEO Network invites CDFIs, small business lenders, and microlenders around the country to please join us on September 24, 2026 at 11:30am PT / 2:30pm ET for an informational session with Zult Impact, a new pilot program designed to help increase liquidity and expand access to lending capital. Learn how this opportunity can support your deployment goals and strengthen your lending capacity. For questions, please contact Emily Gasner.
Save, Celebrate, and Connect: 2026 Conference Reminders
One Month Left to Book a Hotel Room!
Only one more month to book your room at the Hayes Mansion!
Reserve your room by October 17, 2026. You can book your room here.
$100 Off Conference Registration — Ends Today!
Today, September 17, is the last day to save $100 with our End of Summer Sale! Select the End of Summer Special ticket at checkout.
CAMEO members can also receive an additional discount. Email Sandra Flores for the member discount code.
Last Chance: Ecosystem Awards Nominations
Tomorrow, September 18, is the last day to nominate an organization for the 2026 CAMEO Network Ecosystem Awards, presented at this year’s conference.
Help us celebrate organizations strengthening small business ecosystems and expanding opportunities for underserved entrepreneurs across the 5 C’s: Coaching, Capital, Connections, Culture, and Climate.
Nominate an organization—including your own—today!
The Goodies
For Your Clients
- Encourage your clients to complete the Small Business Credit Survey to help the Federal Reserve better understand their needs.
- Public Private Strategies is hosting a briefing on What Small Businesses Should Know About the Expanded 45S Paid Leave Tax Credit with Sen. Deb Fischer on September 24, 2026 at 8:00am PT / 11:00am ET.
Free Webinars
- Join NCRC for Stop the CRA Rollback: What’s at Stake and How to Fight Back TOMORROW, September 18, 2026 at 11:00am PT / 2:00pm ET.
- Connecting Communities is hosting Building Community Capacity to Harness Opportunity Zones 2.0 Investments on October 8, 2026 at 12:00pm PT / 3:00pm ET.
New Research
- The Brookings’ Center for Community Uplift’ Black Business Parity Dashboard analyzes changes in Black-owned employer businesses in metro areas across the country.
- Read Credit Builders Alliance’s new report, “How Rent Reporting Affects Credit Outcomes for Low-Income Renters.”
Other Goodies
- Take Action: Sign NCRC’s letters opposing the OCC and FDIC’s proposed changes to the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) before October 7, 2026.
- Jobs: the Central California SBDC, Inclusive Action for the City, and the NorCal SBDC announced new jobs recently. See who else is hiring!