In this Must Know…
- California Policy Win: Governor Newsom Signs SB 362
- SCALE Small Business Story: AmaYah Harrison
- CAMEO Network staff will be at the 2025 OFN Conference in Washington, DC, October 20–23
- CAMEO in the News: Carolina Martinez was interviewed for an AZ Central story on Latino entrepreneurship
- Join Series 2 of our 9-course series on CDFI Microlending Origination and Portfolio Management, November 6 – December 4, 2025!
- Encourage your clients to complete the Federal Reserve’s 2025 Small Business Credit Survey
- This week’s Goodie Highlight is the newly released working paper, “The Future of Consolidation in the CDFI Sector,” co-authored by Working Solutions CEO Sara Razavi.
California Policy Win: Governor Newsom Signs SB 362
On Tuesday, Governor Newsom signed Senate Bill 362 into law — a bipartisan victory co-sponsored by CAMEO Network, Small Business Majority, and the Responsible Business Lending Coalition (RBLC).
SB 362 strengthens small business protections by requiring transparent APR disclosure throughout the financing process, prohibiting misleading pricing, and improving enforcement by the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI).
With unanimous support in the Legislature, this bill ensures fairer, more transparent lending practices for California’s small business owners.
We’re proud to have helped lead this effort — and grateful to the bill’s author, Senator Tim Grayson, for his stewardship in making it law.
SCALE Small Business Story: AmaYah Harrison
Photographer AmaYah Harrison turned her vision of a creative hub into reality with the launch of Sage & Silver Studios in Sacramento. At her ribbon-cutting ceremony (part of the SCALE Small Business Spotlight Road Tour), she talked of the mentorship and financing she received from SCALE Network partners The Alliance for Community Development and Working Solutions CDFI. Watch the full story of her inspiring journey.
CAMEO Network at OFN41
Carolina Martinez, Baldev Birk, Emily Gasner, Douglas Craven, Adriana Williams, and Caleb Ostrander will represent CAMEO Network at the 2025 OFN Conference in Washington, DC, on October 20–23.
At a time when CDFIs are driving bold solutions for job creation and community investment, the team looks forward to exploring opportunities with peers shaping the industry’s future. Will you be attending? Stop by to say hello – or reach out to set up a meeting!
The Goodies
For Your Clients
- Freelancers Union published their 2026 Guide to Freelance Health Insurance.
- The Center for Rural Affairs’ recent blog post explores how the USDA’s Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) program can help small agricultural businesses.
Other Goodies
- New Research: The newly released working paper, “The Future of Consolidation in the CDFI Sector,” is co-authored by Working Solutions CEO Sara Razavi.
- Jobs: The DFPI, Accion Opportunity Fund, and TMC Community Capital announced new jobs recently. See who else is hiring!