In this Must Know…
- Sign on to our letters of support for AB 2116 and AB 2315.
- Join us for The Cost of Doing Business: Why It’s Rising and What You Can Do About It on April 7 at 1:00pm.
- Read about new data showcasing how women are shaping the business economy and Governor Newsom’s new statewide effort to help women business owners.
- Member Kudos: Congrats to HIAS Economic Advantage Fund for becoming an official CDFI.
- Join us in-person on April 22 for our Sacramento Regional Meeting.
- This week’s Goodie Highlight is Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center’s call for volunteer business advisors for their virtual Pop-Up Advisors event on April 8, 2026.
Take Action: AB 2116 and AB 2315
CAMEO Network is a proud sponsor of AB 2116 and AB 2315, and we are seeking sign-ons for our letters of support.
AB 2116 (Schiavo) would require certain financing companies and brokers to register with the DFPI, helping small businesses make informed decisions and report bad actors.
AB 2315 (Arambula) would expand the MEHKO program statewide, ensuring all Californians have access to home-based food business opportunities while preserving food safety and local oversight.
Take Action! Sign on to support AB 2116 and AB 2315, and help small businesses thrive.
The Cost of Doing Business: Why It’s Rising and What You Can Do About It
California small businesses are under pressure as rising costs and market challenges make it harder to stay afloat.
Join CAMEO Network, Small Business Majority, and Economic Security CA on April 7 for The Cost of Doing Business: Why It’s Rising and What You Can Do About It, a Zoom discussion on the challenges California small businesses face and how to drive real solutions.
Women-Owned Businesses Are the Backbone of the U.S. Economy
| Women-owned businesses are driving the U.S. economy and shaping the business landscape. The 2025 Wells Fargo impact data shows women own 15.7 million businesses—40.6% of all U.S. businesses—employing 12.6 million people and generating $2.8 trillion in revenue. To support that trend, Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed an executive order to launch a statewide effort to expand women’s access to capital, financial education, and wealth-building opportunities across California. |
Member Kudos: HIAS Economic Advancement Fund
Congratulations to HIAS Economic Advancement Fund! HIAS has officially been certified as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) by the CDFI Fund. We celebrate this exciting milestone!
If your organization has something to celebrate, please email Daniela Fernandez-Ulen at dfernandezulen@cameonetwork.org.
The Goodies
Professional and Funding Opportunities
- Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center is seeking volunteer business advisors for their virtual Pop-Up Advisors event on April 8, 2026.
- The Sorenson Impact Institute has an RFP out for its Collaboration Fund, which supports strategic collaboration and consolidation among nonprofit field-building organizations. Submissions are due June 11, 2026.
For Your Clients
- Bet Tzedek is hosting “Intellectual Property Basics for Small Business Owners” on April 15, 2026 at 10:00am PT as part of its Compliance and Legal Foundation Series.
- Eligible households can now access low-cost, high-speed internet through programs supported by the California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF). The fastest way to get connected is to call and enroll with assistance.
New Resources
- Project Equity recently launched the Ownership Opportunity Map, an interactive tool designed to visualize the untapped potential of employee ownership across the U.S.
- Nonprofit Resiliency Network has released a guide for preparing nonprofits for immigration enforcement. Public Counsel has released an FAQ on Nonprofit and Small Business Rights with Respect to Law Enforcement.
Other Goodies
- Industry News: The CDFI Fund has extended the deadline for applicants to update their FY 2025 Financial Assistance (FA) applications to April 10, 2026.
- Jobs: Protect Borrowers, California FarmLink, Ventures, and Public Counsel announced new jobs recently. See who else is hiring!