In this Must Know…
- New Report: MEHKOs Are Safe, Effective, and Expand Opportunity
- Join our National Member Meeting TOMORROW, January 30, 2026 at 10:00am PT / 1:00pm ET
- Join our Strategic Management Framework Series February 12 – March 19, 2026. Take advantage of our BOGO offer!
- This week’s Goodie Highlight is the news that, after being held in suspense in Assembly Appropriations, AB 685 (the Small Business Resiliency and Innovation Act) was passed by the Assembly with unanimous support and will be heard in the Senate next.
New Report: MEHKOs Are Safe, Effective, and Expand Opportunity
| CAMEO Network and COOK Alliance are excited to release The Home-Kitchen Pathway: A Data-Driven Review of California’s MEHKO Program, the first comprehensive statewide analysis of California’s Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations (MEHKOs) since the law passed in 2019. The findings are clear: MEHKOs operate safely, integrate smoothly into neighborhoods, and create meaningful economic opportunities across the state. |
| The report also highlights MEHKOs’ role in expanding access to entrepreneurship:70% of operators are women and 79% are people of color;73% report that their business provides meaningful financial support to their households;76% said it allowed them to meet family or caregiving responsibilities while earning income; and32% report that the MEHKO permit helped them grow toward a larger food business. While MEHKOs remain an opt-in program for local jurisdictions, 18 have adopted the policy to date, including Los Angeles County—the most populous county in the country. Roughly 60% of Californians now live in areas with a legal home kitchen. Read the full report to explore the findings and what they mean for the future of home-based food entrepreneurship in California. |
National Member Meeting
Join us TOMORROW, January 30, 2026 at 10:00am PT / 1:00pm ET for our National Member Meeting! As CAMEO Network expands beyond California, we are committed to convening and connecting with our national members and learning how best to support you and the small businesses in your state. We’ll discuss the impact of federal funding cuts on state budgets, receive CAMEO Network updates, and connect with fellow members to share best practices and ideas.
Strategic Management Framework Training
CAMEO Network’s National CDFI Academy is offering the Strategic Management Framework Series, a four-part online training for microlending and small business lending CDFIs, running February 12–March 19, 2026. Led by industry experts Leslie Hoffman and Barbara Eckblad, the series covers strategic management, goal setting, financial projections, and operating plans. Register one staff member and get a second registration free! Ideal for management-level staff.
The Goodies
Free Webinars
- Join “Leading the Work Without Losing Yourself: A Conversation for Nonprofit Practitioners” on January 31, 2026 at 8:30am PT / 11:30am ET.
- Join Blue Avocado’s “Understanding Nonprofit Law – Practical Guidance for Nonprofit Leaders” on February 5, 2026 at 11:00am PT / 2:00pm ET.
Professional Opportunities
- The Greenlining Institute is accepting applications for its 2026-2027 Fellowship. Deadline to apply is February 15, 2026.
- Credit Builders Alliance is launching a cohort for housing providers to set up or grow positive-only rent reporting programs. Applications are due February 19, 2026.
Events & Conferences
- The San Francisco Federal Reserve’s “Investing in Rural California Infrastructure” convening in Bakersfield, CA takes place February 11, 2026.
- Pacific Community Fund is hosting “Raising Capital: What Small Businesses Need to Know to Grow in 2026” in Riverside, CA on February 11, 2026 with California State Treasurer Fiona Ma as the keynote speaker.
Other Goodies
- Policy News: AB 685, the Small Business Resiliency and Innovation Act, which will support business technical assistance providers, has made it through the California Assembly and will be heard in the Senate next.
- Jobs: Americans for Financial Reform Education Fund, HIAS, City First Enterprises, and the Center for Rural Affairs announced new jobs recently. See who else is hiring!