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Take Action for Federal Approps; Celebrate Indie Workers for July4

  • Act On Federal Appropriations
  • Happy Independence Day! Viva the Independent Worker
  • The Goodies – This week’s highlight is Dan Beam’s report – 2016 CAMEO Member Meeting Report. CAMEO is ready for a whole new stage of evolution. Ushering in a new economic era carries both challenges and opportunity for CAMEO and its member organizations. Find out what’s shifting in the world today, and how CAMEO – and you!- can engage with the changes.

Act On Federal Appropriations

Last week, we told you about the Federal Appropriations thus far. When the House returns from the July 4th break, they will most likely debate the FY2017 approps bill that covers Treasury and the SBA. It’s letter writing time! You know we’ve made it easy for you with templates.

If you serve one of the following areas, download this template.

  • Ken Calvert – Riverside County
  • David Valadao – Kings County and Western Fresno

If you serve one of the following areas, download this template.

  • Lucille Royball-Allard – LA County
  • Sam Farr – Monterey and Santa Cruz
  • Barbara Lee – Oakland
  • Michael Honda – North Santa Clara

Everyone can write Senator Diane Feinstein.

Put on your letterhead, edit as indicated, save as a pdf and email them to me before next Wednesday, July 6.

Happy Independence Day! Viva the Independent Worker

Celebrate the Independent Worker for Independence Day!

Nearly 40 million strong, the nation’s independents report they choose greater control and flexibility – and, in many instances, higher income.

Our friends at Emergent Research have released their 2016 State of Independence Report (number 6!) Some key findings courtesy of Emergent:

The Goodies

New opportunities for training, 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 Industry 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!

Dan Beam’s Report: The 2016 CAMEO Member Meeting Report by Dan Beam is a Must Read. CAMEO is ready for a whole new stage of evolution. Ushering in a new economic era carries both challenges and opportunity for CAMEO and its member organizations. Find out what’s shifting in the world today, and how CAMEO – and you!- can engage with the changes. We’d love your feedback from the Annual Meeting, the roles for CAMEO, and this report.

New DIY Guide: BALLE has a new field guide, The Future of Health is Local that gives health care providers actionable tools and examples on how to align the non-clinical assets of their organizations – such as procurement, employment, and investment – with local economic development strategies to improve human health and revitalize local communities.

New Report: “The State of Small Business in America” was issued by Babson College this month.

For Your Clients: Small Business Majority is hosting Access to Capital 101: Funding Options to Start and Grow Your Business every Wednesday, the next one is July 6. They present an overview of alternative lending options including community development financial institutions, SBA’s loan guarantee program and reputable online options, key questions to consider when seeking funding, the Small Business Borrowers’ Bill of Rights and helpful tools and resources.

Free Rural Webinar: ASBC hosts a webinar on the Young Farmer Success Act (H.R. 2590) on Wednesday, July 6, 2016 11:00am-12:00pm PDT. Under this bill, a farmer would see the balance of his or her student loans forgiven after making 10 years of income-based loan payments, making it easier for new farmers to enter the business. The bill’s co-sponsors and a representative from a leading advocacy group will make the case for why the Young Farmer Success Act is the solution to strengthening our agricultural system.

Free Webinar: Join small business experts from across the Federal Reserve System as they discuss the results of the 2015 Small Business Credit Survey (SBCS) on July 7, 2016 at 12noon PT. Responses to the SBCS provide insight into the dynamics behind aggregate lending trends and shed light on noteworthy segments of the small business credit market (as reported by firms). The SBCS captures the perspectives of businesses with fewer than 500 employees.

Free Webinar: Our colleagues at ASBC host The On-Demand Economy: Insights on an Independent Workforce with our own Claudia Viek and friend Steve King from Emergent Research. The webinar will be on July 12, 2016 at 10:00am PT / 1:00pm ET By 2020 it is estimated that 40% of our workforce will be “free agents” aka self-employed, independent contractors or gig workers. Two thirds of currently self-employed identify as entrepreneurs and three quarters report being satisfied or happy with their status. This session will provide data on this emerging sector and discuss policy implications for supporting sustainability and increased income.

Professional Development Opportunity: You’re invited to join the CFED Assets & Opportunity Network and Center for Financial Security for a new four-part virtual Listening & Learning Series on Financial Coaching & Counseling. They are on the following Wednesdays from 12:-1:30pm PDT: July 13, August 10, and September 14. The A&O Network has also released Financial Coaching Census.

Nonprofit Taxes Webinar: The California Board of Equalization is offering free nonprofit seminars and workshops discuss tax laws, exemptions, and reporting requirements as they apply to non-profit and exempt organizations during the month of August in Perris, Oakland, Apple Valley, Fullerton, and Chula Vista.

PayDay Lending Rules: The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has proposed a rule aimed at reshaping the market for payday loans and other short-term credit. The proposal would require lenders to ensure that the consumer has the ability to repay the loan, provide notice that the lender is withdrawing funds from the consumer’s account and cease automatic withdraws if the consumer’s account is overdrawn. Comments on this proposal are due September 14, 2016.

New Report: Opportunity Fund released a very important research report, Unaffordable and Unsustainable: The New Business Lending on Main Street.” Until now, we have been relying on stories to explain what’s happening with online lending. Now we’ve got some data on the loans and cash advances being offered to small businesses by short-term, high-cost alternative lenders. Cliff notes on findings: 94% interest rates; average payment is 1.78x income -YIKES.

For Your Client: OFN has a new small business borrower education platform – Venturize.

FIELD’s EntrepreneurTracker: FIELD worked with 19 microenterprise organizations in 2015 to collect data on the outcomes of 1,086 clients they had served in 2014. Each dollar spent on program costs generated between $8.96 and $9.45 in benefits. Learn more about EntrepreneurTracker.

Take Action: If there’s ever a time in politics that really needs a woman’s voice, that time is now. CAMEO has joined Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP) for their campaign – WE Decide 2016 – to engage women in business in the 2016 election. This week’s poll is on capital access. Women receive only 4% of loans, yet represent 30% of all small businesses! Check out the video.