CAMEO Network

During the 2024 California legislative session, CAMEO Network sponsored three bills and tracked 20 others related to small business, debt, labor, and other topics. Thirteen of these bills were signed into law, including two of our sponsored bills! Check out the CAMEO Blog for a roundup of our sponsored and tracked legislation. https://lnkd.in/gXiQKuGy

Last month, Los Angeles County joined 15 counties around the state in offering permits to home cooks, enabling them to legally sell prepared foods to the public. These permits – available through the state’s Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operation (MEHKO) law – have been a boon to the economy, creating opportunity for home cooks and their families. In Southern California, Riverside and San Diego counties have also opted to offer home cooking permits. Unfortunately, neighboring San Bernardino County has not, missing out on a golden opportunity to empower residents and boost the local economy. I joined Roya Bagheri from the COOK Alliance in authoring an op-ed published in four of Southern California News Group's Inland Empire papers about the urgent need for San Bernardino County to legalize home cooking businesses. In the op-ed, we explain why the benefits of home kitchens are clear. They lower barriers to starting a food business, offer flexibility for caregivers, and can serve as incubators for larger food businesses, allowing entrepreneurs to test out menus and concepts. The longer San Bernardino County waits to legalize home kitchens, the further it will fall behind its neighbors. It’s time for the county to legalize home kitchens and unlock a new wave of entrepreneurship that nurtures entrepreneurial talent, celebrates the diverse culinary traditions of the community, creates new economic opportunities, and fosters a more inclusive local economy. Read our full piece here: https://lnkd.in/gWhe2Pnh #SmallBusiness #Entrepreneurship #MEHKO

Join the 2025 MEHKO Advocacy Cohort! CAMEO Network and COOK Alliance are seeking five community-based organizations to advocate for the establishment of a Micro Enterprise Home Kitchen Operation (MEHKO) program in counties where MEHKOs are not currently legal. As part of the cohort, you will collaborate to develop MEHKO advocacy initiatives, including engagement with legislators, training new advocates, and building support for the program. Cohort members will receive $5,000 to facilitate their participation. The deadline to submit proposals is January 24, 2025. Submit your proposal here: https://lnkd.in/gZC-7vi5

Microbusinesses, employing one to five people including the owner, represent 63% of all small businesses and provide livelihoods for over 34 million Americans. They also represent a shot at the American dream – a path to economic self-determination and prosperity for business owners, their families, their employees, and their communities. Unfortunately, these small businesses face significant barriers to success both in California and nationally. In my latest piece for Forbes, I explain the various ways that business leaders can step up to ensure that microbusinesses have the support and resources they need to thrive – including supporting community development financial institutions (CDFIs) and small business assistance groups, advocating for transparency in small business lending, and considering microbusinesses for contracting, partnership opportunities, and investments. Read the full article:  https://lnkd.in/dhHYFKTF #Microbusiness #SmallBusiness #Equity

Last week, the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund) awarded the largest number and amount of Technical Assistance Awards in the history of the program, which included 21 CAMEO Network members - 4 from California and 7 across the United States for a total of $15.66 million. Congratulations to these amazing organizations!

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau not only regulates financial products - it also advocates against predatory practices which impact millions of Americans. 'Tis the season to be thankful, and we are thankful for the #CFPB.

Thank you to all who attended our 30th Anniversary Celebration, "Equity in Action: Innovating the Small Business Ecosystem." Read our recap of the event:

At the CAMEO Network's 30th Anniversary Celebration, ACC's Donna Gambrell delivered a powerful keynote that underscored the vital role of CDFIs in driving equitable economic growth. Donna shared insights on supporting rural small businesses and highlighted the transformative potential of Appalachian Community Capital’s new climate initiative, a Green Bank for Rural America, funded by the EPA's Clean Communities Investment Accelerator. The day also featured an engaging session on redefining access to capital through the new 4Cs of credit, offering practical tools for breaking down barriers in traditional underwriting practices. It was an event filled with innovation, collaboration, and actionable strategies to empower underserved communities nationwide. #ACC #DonnaGambrell #CAMEONetwork #CDFI

Thank you Rhett Buttle for a wonderful conversation about the importance of microbusinesses, CAMEO Network’s growth, and how we can build a more equitable economy for entrepreneurs. As I mentioned in the interview, if we want to create a brighter future for this country, small businesses have to be at the center of it. We are grateful to have partners like Public Private Strategies at our side as we continue to advocate for the nation’s smallest small businesses! https://lnkd.in/g7F7AUfR

We are more fired up than ever to help our local San Francisco Bay Area and California #microbusiness community survive and thrive! The San Francisco Community Business Law Center's last two #probono preventive #businesslaw Office Hours of the year are open for registration to help this population finish strong in 2024 and prepare for 2025: Evening Office Hours - November 25 at 6:00 p.m. First Friday Morning Office Hours - December 6 at 9:30 a.m. SPACE IS LIMITED AND ADVANCE REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED: https://lnkd.in/g54bhmni FOR THESE YEAR END SESSIONS: * We'll begin with our TOP 10 LIST for your legal risk management transition from 2024 to 2025 (end of year checklist, new 2025 laws) * Then we'll open to group discussion based on your brief business law questions - first participants to sign in get to ask the first questions. All of our programs are free of charge and available to any #California #community #microbusiness #owner, #artisan, #maker, #freelancer with no access to experienced business lawyers. We have no affiliation with any for-profit law firm, and absolutely NO MARKETING OR REFERRAL to paid legal services is allowed to create a safe space for objective learning. While all of our group educational programs are led by experienced business attorneys, attending events in our virtual classrooms does not constitute legal advice. See you there? San Francisco Office of Small Business San Francisco Economic Development Alliance San Francisco Chamber of Commerce California Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA) San Francisco Small Business Development Center San Mateo County SBDC Pacific Community Ventures (PCV) Working Solutions CDFI SFMade Mission Economic Development Agency East Bay Economic Development Alliance CAMEO Network