CAMEO Network

05/22/2026

Every storefront has a story behind it.

Antony Ayodele shares what it took to open Tower Blendz—and the support he needed along the way. Access Plus Capital and the SCALE Network helped make it possible.

🎥 Watch his story—and if you’re ready to SCALE your business, visit
SCALENetworkCalifornia.org.

05/21/2026

In honor of National Small Business Week, House Committee on Small Business Ranking Member Nydia Velázquez (D-NY-07) and Congresswoman Lateefah Simon (D-CA-12) have introduced a congressional resolution affirming that small business owners seeking financing have fundamental rights to protect them from unfair lending practices.

This resolution is grounded in the Small Business Borrowers' Bill of Rights, a framework developed by the Responsible Business Lending Coalition (of which CAMEO Network is a member) to ensure small business owners are treated fairly when accessing capital.

This is a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to champion responsible lending and elevate borrower protections at the highest levels of government. We're proud to see this work gaining traction on Capitol Hill, and we look forward to continuing to push for meaningful change for small business owners nationwide.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – During National Small Business Week, Congresswoman Lateefah Simon (D-CA-12) and House Committee on Small Business Ranking Member Nydia Velázquez (D-NY-07) introduced the Small Business Borrowers’ Bill of Rights, a resolution affirming that small business owners seeking financ...

05/20/2026

We're proud to share that our CEO, Carolina Martinez, was recently featured in Minority Business Entrepreneur Magazine (MBE)! 🙌

The article digs into the very real challenges facing small business owners right now, from tightening lending restrictions to tariff pressures to the rise of predatory lenders targeting vulnerable entrepreneurs. Carolina spoke candidly about what's happening on the ground for Black, Latino, and immigrant-owned businesses, and shared practical strategies for navigating these headwinds.

Read the article:

As National Small Business Week wraps up, immigrant entrepreneurs continue to face unprecedented lending restrictions while tariffs and predatory lenders circle struggling Main Street businesses. …

05/19/2026

America's small businesses are being hit with a $131 billion annual "hidden tax."

Public Private Strategies Institute released a national survey of 500+ small business owners examining the scale and impact of fraud, scams, and ransomware on small businesses.

The survey found that:

🚨Fraud cost small businesses an estimated $131 billion in losses last year.

🚨72% of small business owners experienced fraud, scams, or ransomware in the past year, but fewer than one-third feel fully prepared to respond.

🚨Payment fraud and email phishing are the most frequently reported attacks. For businesses hit, losses average ~$60,000 for payment fraud and >$90,000 for email compromise.

This report uncovers the financial losses and constraints on growth, as well as the operational disruptions caused by fraud, scams and ransomware.

🔗 Read the full report here: https://www.ppsi.org/insights/fraud-scams-ransomware-survey

05/18/2026

May is AAPI Heritage Month! Support Asian American and Pacific Islander owned businesses in your community.

05/16/2026

⏰ Time is running out to register for the 2026 California Advocacy Day — June 1–2 in Sacramento!

Register by May 22 to have CAMEO Network arrange your legislative meetings. After that deadline, you can join an already-scheduled meeting or arrange your own.

Join advocates from across California to champion:
✅ Small business technical assistance
✅ Responsible lending
✅ Childcare businesses
✅ Small grocers
✅ Landscaper protections
✅ And more

Even if you've been to Sacramento recently, remember: advocacy is not a one-and-done. We must keep showing up, keep knocking on the door, and keep making sure our issues stay front and center in our elected representatives' minds.

This is also a critical moment to double down on our ecosystem budget asks to be incorporated into the CA FY 26–27 budget, which will be finalized on June 15.

📅 Free Advocacy Day Prep Webinar
May 27 at 2:00 PM PT — issues, talking points & tips for effective legislative advocacy

Secure your spot today and make your voice heard. 🗣️

2026 CA Advocacy Day unites lenders, business advocates, and small business leaders to spotlight key issues shaping California’s future.

05/16/2026

🍳 What happens when home cooks are given a legal pathway to start a food business?

The Home Kitchen Pathway is the first statewide evaluation of California’s MEHKO program. COOK Alliance and CAMEO Network partnered with independent researchers to examine the program’s first five years using permitting data, public records from environmental health and code enforcement agencies, surveys and focus groups.

The data confirms what we’ve long seen in practice, that the program is safe, successful, and helping families across California launch new businesses and make ends meet.

👓Read the full report: cookalliance.org/researchreport

05/15/2026

Behind every successful small business is the right support.

Hear from President and CEO, Tate Hill, as he shares how Access Plus Capital helped small business owner Antony Ayodele grow and succeed.

🎥 Watch—and if you’re an entrepreneur ready to SCALE, visit SCALENetworkCalifornia.org.

05/13/2026

Attention Bay Area members!

Join CAMEO Network and Office of the Small Business Advocate TOMORROW for our Bay Area Member Meeting and be part of an inspiring in‑person gathering!

This gathering is an opportunity to come together, strengthen relationships, and support one another as we continue to elevate your work and the voices of your clients in these unpredictable times.

Carolina Martinez, CEO of CAMEO Network, and her team, along with CalOSBA staff, will be in attendance to hear how local, state and national challenges are impacting Bay Area communities and small businesses.

Register here:

Join CAMEO Network and CalOSBA in person for our Bay Area Regional Meeting!

05/13/2026

California's small businesses need champions at the Capitol. Will you be one of them?

We're bringing together lenders, business support organizations, and small business leaders from across the state for the 2026 California Advocacy Day on June 1-2 in Sacramento.

California entrepreneurs are facing real headwinds right now: rising costs, limited capital access, immigration enforcement pressures, shifting federal policies, and unequal opportunities. Their voices need to be heard at the state level.

🥂 On June 1, we're co-hosting an evening reception with the Latino Community Foundation. Join us for an evening of networking, legislative updates, and remarks from community and policy leaders.

🏛️ Then on June 2, we'll hear from several speakers including Senator Tim Grayson and Assemblymember Pilar Schiavo. Then we'll head to the Capitol to advocate for:
Greater investment in small business technical assistance and capital access
Responsible and transparent small business lending
Equitable opportunities for childcare businesses and small grocers
Community reinvestment across California
Protections for landscapers
And more

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2026-california-advocacy-day-tickets-1983913714325