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Independent Workers

Vote for Claudia for the Small Business Influencer Award – and vote everyday!

  • Independent Workers
  • Voice for Micro
  • The Goodies – This week’s highlight includes an AEO Policy Briefing on Tuesday, July 30, 2013 at 11:00am Pacific // 2:00pm Eastern. This presentation will provide a timely update on the re-introduction of AEO’s Microbusiness bill, as well as an overview of the FY2014 Appropriations process. Register for the briefing.

Independent Workers

Carolyn Ockels and Steve King (see pic left) presented their research on self-employment, the State of Independence Report, at our annual meeting. They cited a “conscious structural shift and recognition of a new model of work and engagement” and that is self-employment. The number of independent workers grew from 16 million in 2011 to 16.9 million in 2012 and it is expected to grow by 35% over the next five years. Self-employment is definitely a significant labor market trend. Members then discussed the implications for their programs. We video-taped their presentation and the discussion to enable as many people as possible to benefit from this valuable information about our field.

While you’re on the cameomicrobiz YouTube channel, check out other CAMEO speaking engagements, success stories and your organization’s videos. If you have videos to submit, let Andrew Cole know.

Voice for Micro

CAMEO has been hard at work to push out the messages of our field. In the last couple of weeks, we’ve had some great pieces published. Please feel free to use the language as you need it.

The Goodies

New opportunities for trainings, 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 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!

Policy Briefing: Please join Martin Feeney, AEO’s Policy Team Director, for an AEO Policy Briefing on Tuesday, July 30, 2013 at 11:00am Pacific // 2:00pm Eastern. This presentation will provide a timely update on legislative initiatives on Capitol Hill, including the re-introduction of AEO’s Microbusiness bill, as well as an overview of the FY2014 Appropriations process. It is also an opportunity for you to ask questions and share comments with AEO’s Policy Team. Register for the briefing.

Grant Opportunity: PG&E is piloting an Economic Vitality Grant Program to invest up to $200,000 in programs designed to enhance local economic vitality -ranging from business incubation and growth to workforce development. Deadline is July 31, 2013.

For Your Clients: Walmart has kicked off a new installment of Get on the Shelf, a social, crowdsourcing competition developed by @WalmartLabs that gives entrepreneurs a chance to get noticed and sell their products on Walmart.com and potentially in select Walmart stores. Entrepreneurs, business owners and inventors can enter now through July 31 by submitting a video featuring their product.

Healthcare Info: The Small Business Administration and Small Business Majority are launching the Affordable Care Act 101 weekly webinar series. Small business owners can learn the basics of the Affordable Care Act and what it means for their company and employees, including insurance reforms, the small business health care tax credit, the new health insurance marketplaces, and employer shared responsibility provisions. Each week, SBA representatives will walk through the key pieces of the law so that small business owners can understand the facts and make the best, informed decisions they can about providing health insurance for their employees. The Affordable Care Act 101 will take place every Thursday from now (next one is August 1) through the opening of the marketplaces in October. Go to their website to register for The Affordable Care Act 101.

For Your Clients: Our friends at CFED are working to help small businesses reduce vulnerability and position themselves for growth by studying their needs. Please send the following message to your clients (Business owners who take the survey will be entered in a drawing to win a $100 MasterCard rewards card, which can be used for online purchases wherever MasterCard is accepted.):

Please take this 5-minute survey to learn more about your business’s financial strengths and vulnerabilities. When you complete the survey, you’ll be entered in a drawing to win a prize in the form of a reward card, issued by MasterCard, with a value of $100. The reward card can be used for any purchase and transactions wherever MasterCard is accepted. If you have any questions about this survey or the study, you can contact: Kasey Wiedrich or
Lauren Williams.

For Your Clients: On Wednesday, August 14, 2013 Whole Foods Market will be hosting its second Local Vendor Summit at the Fort Mason Conference Center in San Francisco from 8:00am- 5:00pm.