- SoCal Business Planning Tool Program Launches
- Celebrating Women’s History Month
- Save June 9, 2015 for our Annual Member Meeting in Sacramento
- The Goodies – This week’s highlight includes the third Inland Prosperity Conference on Saturday, March 28, 2015 in San Bernardino.
SoCal Business Planning Tool Program Launches
Claudia went to Los Angeles earlier this week to launch the SoCal Business Plan Tool (BPT) Program in partnership with Centro Community Partners. The mobile-based BPT directs the user through 25 teaching activities that will result in a basic business plan. Arturo Noriega from Centro will be helping each trainer to integrate the BPT into their business training and lending programs.
The five organizations that will participate represent a diverse group that will implement and use the program in a variety of ways.
- Pacific Coast Regional SBDC
- Orange County SBDC
- VEDC
- West Angeles CDC
- Bethel LA CDC
For example, VEDC will use the BPT app in their microloan program as well as their WBC and Business Resource Center. Bethel LA CDC will use the app to help their young adults getting out of gangs to start their own businesses. The SBDCs hope to decrease their TA hours spent by 25-33%. Pain points that the program will address include motivating clients to complete their business plans and helping clients to analyze their assumptions and gain control over the financials of their business. The project will also measure how many businesses were started and map which business owners are receiving loans.
CAMEO is excited to bring this innovative program to Southern California with Centro. Our end goal is to decrease TA costs by up to 80%!
Celebrating Women’s History Month
We celebrate with a success story, new logo to mark women-owned businesses and two great blog posts about women business owners.
This week’s success story comes from AnewAmerica. Xochitl has developed the confidence to launch her businesses as an artist – Taller Xochicura. She spent a lot of time in the planning phase, where many people get stuck because they are so afraid to get out of their comfort zone. She is a good example of where people start with AnewAmerica- they have a lot of talent and a vision but a lack of business development skills. AnewAmerica is in the process of helping her develop her online presence and grow her business.
For your reading pleasure:
- Erin Andrews, director of the SBA’s Office of Women’s Business Ownership, writes about why the SBA started InnovateHER project with Microsoft. “Women have made great strides in education, the workforce, and their role in the economy, BUT there still are not enough women in leadership positions.”
- Claudia wrote about scaling up business assistance services to women-owned microbusiness – “Boosting Women-Owned Businesses Will Boost the Economy.”
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!
Take Action: We are co-sponsoring SB 197 with Opportunity Fund. The 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! For more information check out the Must Know from February 19, 2015.
Member Event: The Inland Empire and Coachella Valley Women’s Business Centers are pleased to announce the third Inland Prosperity Conference. The event mission is to bring regional focus to the opportunities available in every economy – visible to those in the right mindset. Registration for the day-long event on Saturday, March 28, 2015 is $77. The event takes place at CSUSB, Santos Manuel Student Union, 5500 University Parkway, San Bernardino, CA 92407.
Free Webinar: The SBA is sponsoring How Women Entrepreneurs Can Get the Funding They Need to Grow on Tuesday, March 31 at 12:00pm PT // 3:00pm ET.
For Your Clients: The SBA’s InnovateHER project will provide an opportunity for entrepreneurs to showcase products or services that have a measurable impact on the lives of women and families (30%), have the potential for commercialization (40%), and fill a need in the marketplace (30%). Your clients need to apply by March 31, 2015.
For Your Clients: The U.S. Small Business Administration Los Angeles District Office has launched the registration for its 2015 Emerging Leaders executive-level training series for Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. Nationally, the Emerging Leaders Program has trained more than 2,400 promising small business owners in underserved communities, and its impact continues to expand in helping small businesses to grow and create jobs. Participant recruitment begins in February through SBA’s local district offices and classes typically begin in April. Learn more.
Impact Data: Do you need credible data on your organization’s micro and small business outcomes to support fundraising and program management? Aspen’s FIELD is signing up programs now to join the EntrepreneurTracker client outcomes survey process in 2015. Check out the one-page summary to get a visual idea of what EntrepreneurTracker is all about. Sign up ends April 3, 2015. To learn more about EntrepreneurTracker and how your organization can participate in 2015, please contact Tamra Thetford, tamra.thetford@aspeninst.org.
Economic Outlook: Forecast LA is an annual event that combines an economic forecast for the U.S., California, and Los Angeles, with original survey research to produce a comprehensive look at what lies ahead for Los Angeles County and its nearly 10 million residents. CAMEO members receive a $25 discount off the $175 ticket (use link). The event takes place on April 7, 2015, 8:00-12noon at Gersten Pavilion, 1 LMU Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90045.
Free Webinar: Our colleagues at ASBC are hosting a media training webinar on April 8, 2015 from 10:00-11:00am PT / 1:00-2:00pm ET You will:
- Learn tricks for effectively getting your messages across
- Make business policy arguments that even conservatives will find persuasive
- Turn difficult questions to your advantage
- Secure tips to enhance your credibility and confidence
- Pick up interview do’s and don’t’s
Member Event: The seventh annual San Diego Microfinance Summit is on April 15, 4:30 – 9:00 pm. Presented by the San Diego Microfinance Alliance, the event will take place at University of San Diego’s Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice.
Member Event: Tickets are on sale for Opportunity Fund’s Taste of Microfinance on April 16, 2015 at Minna Gallery in San Francisco. Celebrate entrepreneurship and microfinance in the local food scene.
Funding Opportunity: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Community Services (OCS) today announced the next funding round for CED and CED-HFFI grants. These are extremely competitive grants that supports social enterprises that create jobs for low-income individuals and require a considerable amount of pre-planning. Friedman Associates will partner with a limited number of CDCs and CDFIs to write successful proposals. The grant deadlines are 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.