In this Must Know…
- Registrations are now open for our 2026 Advocacy Day on June 2!
- CAMEO Network’s 2026 California Policy Priorities
- Federal update on tariffs
- Join our virtual AI roundtable on March 11, 2026 at 12:00pm PT / 3:00pm ET
- Join our spring session of Microlending Essentials on March 23-27, 2026!
- This week’s Goodie Highlight is the 2026 California CDFI Summit, taking place April 16, 2026 in Sacramento, CA.
Register for Advocacy Day 2026
| Registrations are now open for our 2026 Advocacy Day on June 2! Join us in Sacramento as we champion the policies California’s small businesses need now. From access to capital and responsible lending to community investment and new entrepreneurial opportunities, Advocacy Day is your chance to meet with legislators and elevate your clients’ priorities. Together, we’ll push for equitable funding and innovative solutions that strengthen our state’s small business ecosystem. |
Our 2026 CA Policy Priorities
The legislation that you can support on Advocacy Day includes two bills that CAMEO Network is co-sponsoring this year:
- AB 2116 (Schiavo) will register or license companies issuing non-loan financial products and their brokers.
- AB 2135 (Arambula) authorizes the MEHKO program statewide, ensuring all Californian home cooks have equal access to entrepreneurial opportunity.
Federal Policy Update: Tariffs
Last week, the Supreme Court struck down the President’s use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose sweeping global tariffs. CAMEO Network welcomed this news as small businesses have continued to navigate rising costs and supply chain uncertainty. However, new plans to pursue across-the-board tariffs under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 could once again disrupt markets, leaving small businesses facing renewed instability and higher expenses.
Virtual Roundtable on AI
AI is reshaping the small business landscape. Are you seeing it firsthand? CAMEO Network and Small Business Majority are hosting an informal virtual roundtable on March 11, 2026 at 12:00pm PT / 3:00pm ET to discuss how AI is transforming day-to-day operations, evolving responsibilities around oversight and trust, and emerging concerns for practitioners. Join fellow small business support organizations for a candid conversation, with future deep dives planned based on interest.
The Goodies
For Your Clients
- Work with manufacturers? Send them the SBA’s onshoring resource.
- Small Business Majority’s first Voice of Main Street survey of the year, which looks at how small businesses are impacted by rising costs, tariffs, competition, and artificial intelligence, is now open!
Free Webinars
- Join OFN’s monthly Public Policy webinar on March 10, 2026 at 12:00pm PT / 3:00pm ET.
- The next “Future of CDFIs” event, on March 11, 2026 at 11:00am PT / 2:00pm ET, will discuss consolidation in the industry, its risks and its rewards.
Events and Conferences
- The Nonprofit Fundraising Summit: the Great Connection, takes place virtually on March 4-5, 2026.
- Join the California Coalition for Community Investment on April 16, 2026 in Sacramento, CA for the 2026 California CDFI Summit.
Other Goodies
- New Resource: Read the transcript of Tuesday’s State of the Union address (small business wasn’t mentioned).
- Jobs: Working Solutions and The Center at Lendistry announced new jobs recently. See who else is hiring!