In this Must Know…
- Take Action: Sign on to our letters to Congress to support the CDFI Fund and Rural Development Programs
- Join our Advocacy Day Prep Webinar in preparation for the 2025 CAMEO Network Summit.
- Upcoming CAMEO Network Trainings
- For Your Clients: Grants of up to $25,000 are available from the LA Area Chamber Foundation for small businesses impacted by the 2025 Los Angeles County Eaton and Palisades wildfires.
- This week’s Goodie Highlight is CMTC’s webinar for small manufacturers, “Building a High-Performance Supply Chain,” on May 21, 2025 at 11:00am PT.
Take Action: Support the CDFI Fund and Rural Development Programs
In its FY26 Budget Request, the Trump Administration proposed several concerning cuts to economic development programs, including a $291 million cut to the CDFI Fund and a $721 million cut to rural development programs under USDA.
As organizations working in this sector, we know how critical these programs are for helping under-resourced communities thrive.
CAMEO Network will send a letter to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees and the relevant Subcommittees, expressing our strong support for continued and robust Congressional funding for these programs. Take Action! Sign on to these letters by Thursday, May 22, 2025 at COB.
Advocacy Day Prep Webinar
At Advocacy Day on May 29 (part of the 2025 CAMEO Network Summit), attendees will meet with their state representatives and advocate for the issues that matter most to their small business clients.
Join our Advocacy Day Prep Webinar on May 20, 2025 at 2:00pm PT for a rundown of Advocacy Day logistics and a quick training on how to conduct legislative meetings. Even if you’re not joining Advocacy Day, this knowledge is vital at this time of much needed advocacy!
Upcoming CAMEO Network Trainings
- May 15-29, 2025 – Technology Training Series for CDFIs
- June 3, 2025 at 10:00am PT – Lending Functional Alignment
- June 5, 2025 at 10:00am PT – CDFI History and Impact
- June 11 – July 23, 2025 – AI Essentials: Train-the-Trainer
- June 18, 2025 at 10:00am PT – Understanding the CDFI Certification – Seven Tests
- June 24, 2025 at 10:00am PT – Intake, Application, and Loan Packaging/Pre-Loan TA
The Goodies
Free Webinars
- Join Pacific Community Ventures on May 21, 2025 at 10:00am PT to learn how they designed the Climate Resilience Mobilization Fund and are deploying this capital through their Restorative Lending program.
- Join Connecting Communities’ “Highlights from the 2024 Survey of Household Economics and Decisionmaking” on June 5, 2025 at 12:00pm PT.
Industry News
- Learn about the SBA’s recent changes to its lending rules under its new Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) effective June 1, 2025.
- Main Street America announced the 1,171 programs across the country that achieved designation as Main Street America programs in recognition of their commitment to preservation-based economic development and community revitalization.
Member Kudos
- Three Public Counsel legal teams have been named 2025 California Lawyer Attorneys of the Year (CLAY) by the Daily Journal.
- Lendistry was named one of the 29 Best Places to Work in Fintech 2025 by American Banker.
Other Goodies
- For Your Clients: CMTC is hosting the webinar, “Building a High-Performance Supply Chain,” on May 21, 2025 at 11:00am PT.
- Jobs: Working Solutions, CIELO, CalOSBA, and California FarmLink announced new jobs recently. See who else is hiring!