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We Have A Bill + Photo Contest Winner

In this week’s Must Know

  • AB 152 – Yamada
  • Facebook Cover Photo Contest Winner
  • The Goodies: This week’s highlights include: The Union Bank Foundation RFP with a how-to teleconference tomorrow.

AB 152 – Yamada

On Friday, January 18, Assemblywoman Mariko Yamada (D-Davis) introduced AB 152 Unemployment: Self-Employment Assistance Program, the one your favorite State MicroEnterprise Association has been working on!

So what’s next? In 30 days, the bill will be assigned to a committee that will then hold a hearing about the the bill and the committee will vote whether or not the bill will move forward. That is the first step in a long process to pass the bill. Over the next week or two, we will draft a letter and ask you to send it in before the first hearing (which is anytime between now and after President’s day in February). And just to prepare you, know that we will need lots of letters of support at all stages of the game. The end goal is that Governor Brown signs the bill before June 30.

As long as we’re talking self-employed, we have partnered with TheSelfEmployed.com by Steve Strauss. The site offers insight and articles for entrepreneurs. Claudia was on Steve’s podcast talking about Micro last fall.

Facebook Cover Photo Contest Winner

The new CAMEO’s Facebook cover girl is Nicole Pelayo of Nikkibana. Thanks to Accion San Diego for submitting such a beautiful photo! Stay tuned for the next photo contest in which your client can be the face of micro.

The Goodies

New opportunities for trainings, 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 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!

For Your Clients: The Treasury issued new home office deductions rules.

For Your Clients: The Small Business Majority has compiled the federal tax deductions and other clean energy incentives for small businesses.

Grant opportunity: The Union Bank Foundation announced two special funding initiatives for nonprofit providers of small business technical assistance and homeownership counseling. Requests for proposals on these initiatives with details on the application process can be found on the Union Bank website. The final deadline is February 28th. A Q&A conference call for interested applicants will take place on January 25th as follows:

  • Small Business Technical Assistance (Dial in #866-504-7651; Conference Code: 2378198286) at 10 am PT.
  • Home Ownership Counseling (Dial in #866-504-7651; Conference Code: 2378198286) at 2 pm PT.

Renaissance Online Business Prep Class: Attention service-starved areas, the webinar-based classes are scheduled from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. PST one evening a week for 12 consecutive weeks, with two optional 30-minute individual telephone consultations. Clients are expected to participate in every webinar and complete about 3 hours of homework weekly. The next one starts on January 26, 2013. Learn more and register for the Renaissance Online Business Prep Class.

Free Webinar: Friedman Associates hosts Green Business Practices for Low-Income and Minority Entrepreneurs on Tuesday, January 29th at 11:00am Pacific // 2:00 pm Eastern. What does “green” business mean? How do we inspire aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners to embrace sustainable business practices on a limited budget? This webinar serves as a tool both for small business counselors and their clients seeking to build their understanding of the Green Economy.

Free Webinar: CFED releases the 2013 Assets & Opportunity Scorecard to find out how your state fares in helping its residents achieve financial security on Wednesday, January 30, 9:00 am PST // 1:00 pm EST. Register.

Conference Call: Small Business Majority and the Small Business Administration are hosting a series of FREE Business Leader Briefing calls. The remaining one is: Capital Access on January 31 at 10:00 am PT.

Community Capital Webinar: BALLE hosts The Farmer Reserve Fund Model: The Farmer Reserve Fund Model: Microloans that Leverage Credit Union and Community Partner Capacity on Tuesday, February 5, 2013 : 10:00am PT. Note there is a charge.This innovative program has multiplied access to capital for farmers in need while providing them with technical assistance and banking relationships that improve their credit history and future access to more traditional capital.

Award Application: The National Development Council will recognize the country’s most dedicated and innovative community development professionals and their work through their peer-selected NDC Academy 2013 Awards. Submit your project for the chance to exhibit your work at the Academy and on Capitol Hill. The projects that receive the most votes will win an NDC Academy 2013 Award (plus free tuition to an NDC course of your choice)! Projects may be submitted in four categories: Creative Financing, Job Creation, Housing Development, Community Development. Carefully review the Project Submission Instructions, Selection Criteria and Display Guidelines to prepare your project for submission by March 18, 2013, 2:00pm PT // 5:00pm ET. Register for one of two webinars to learn more: Feb. 5 and Feb. 27, 2013, 10:00-11:00am PT / 1:00-2:00pm ET.

Agricultural Risk Management Workshop: AgriLogic Consulting, in coordination with the USDA Risk Management Agency, will be hosting educational workshops throughout the state of California (attention: Central Coast and Central Valley) targeting local Hispanic, women, and new agricultural producers. Check the workshop schedule and find out more information. They are also looking for speakers.

For Your Clients: CNBC is currently accepting submissions for an upcoming reality series titled The Big Fix in which self-made millionaire and CEO of Camping World Marcus Lemonis will invest up to $2 million of his fortune by giving small businesses extreme makeovers. To apply, business owners should send an e-mail describing their background and current situation by February 22, 2013.

CDFI Conference: The 2013 CDFI Institute will be held on February 28 – March 1 at the Capital Hilton in Washington,DC. The agenda includes the 2014 federal budget, expansion to rural areas, and private sector sources of capital.

Grant Opportunity: The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund) released Notices of Funds Availability (NOFA) for the fiscal year (FY) 2013 funding rounds of the Community Development Financial Institutions Program (CDFI Program) and Native American CDFI Assistance Program (NACA Program). The CDFI Fund expects to provide up to $165 million in Financial Assistance and Technical Assistance awards for FY 2013 (funding is subject to Congressional appropriations). Learn more and apply (search for CDFI) by February 28, 2013.

AEO Conference: AEO’s national conference, Tilt Forward, will be May 5-8, 2013 in St. Louis, Missouri. If you’re not an AEO member, CAMEO members receive a $75 discount with the code SMA2013. If you’re an AEO member, registration fees are 50% of the full conference price – another reason to join.

AEO and FIELD Membership Discount: You save $100 on AEO membership and $100 on a one-year MicroTracker Premium Plan subscription – that’s a total value of $500 for only $300! Learn more about the AEO/FIELD Membership Bundle. This is a must-buy, if you are not already an AEO member!

AEO Member Benefit: AEO has partnered with AmSher to provide AEO members a solution for debt collection. Learn more about this debt-recovery solution.