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State
Funding for California Microenterprise Development
California does not provide funding for microenterprise
development from its general fund. However there are a number of
state government agencies that can be tapped for funding microenterprise
development for special populations. CAMEO is building on the momentum
of the California Microenterprise Legislation passed in 2004 by
raising public awareness of these funding sources, facilitating
relationship building with the agencies and readying MED nonprofits
to work effectively with these agencies.
Employment Training Panel
The Employment Training Panel has program funding for MED programs
who train small business owners with at least one fulltime employee
(beyond the owner) and less than ten employees. This funding is
available under the Small Business Management Skills Program. If
you want to see if you qualify to receive this reimbursement for
microenterprise training, check out their website at www.etp.ca.gov
or contact Robert Meyer at rmeyer@etp.ca.gov.
Department of Rehabilitation
The Department of Rehabilitation has a number of programs that support
entrepreneurs with disabilities. Vocational counselors who work
with this population are looking for microenterprise programs to
help these entrepreneurs create feasible business plans and successful
businesses. There is funding to pay for this work. The Abilities
Fund has information about this service delivery and can provide
guidance regarding accessibility issues. You may also contact Elizabeth
Cavazos, Business Consultant at the Department of Rehabilitation's
Workforce Development Section: ecavazos@dor.ca.gov.
Click
here for a list of disability resources > [PDF]
Housing and Community Development
The Housing And Community Development Agency operates the Enterprise
Fund, which provides Community Development Block Grant Funds (CDBG)
for microenterprise development in rural areas. For information
on how to access this funding see your local jurisdiction (county
or small city) to ask about working as a subcontractor to provide
microenterprise development. Check out the HCD website for application
deadlines http://www.hcd.ca.gov/fa/cdbg/Enterprise.html
October
2005—California Microenterprise Development Month
Introduced to the California State Legislature by Assembly Member Leland Yee of San Francisco, this measure recognizes October 2005 as California Microenterprise Development Month and acknowledges the contributions of microentrepreneurs and the value of microenterprise development to the California economy. This resolution provides an opportunity
to build greater public awareness of the community benefits of California
Microenterprise Development.
Read the resolution language here >
Governor
Signs Microenterprise Bill!
CAMEO would like to offer our sincere gratitude to everyone who
contacted their legislators and the Governor, encouraging them to
support microenterprise and SB 1156. The bill successfully and easily
passed both houses and was signed into law by the Governor on July
1, 2004.
CAMEO encourages microenterprise practitioners to capitalize on
this success and utilize this victory to enhance the public's awareness
of microenterprise. We have included a link to our press release
on the passing of SB 1156 below and you are welcome to publicize
this locally and add your slant on what this means to your community.
CAMEO’s Advocacy & Education
Resources put compelling information at your fingertips to help
the media and others understand the value of microenterprise development.
CAMEO's press
release on the passing of SB 1156. [PDF]
Read the text
of the bill. [PDF]
Use this fact
sheet on the bill in your advocacy work. [PDF]
You can also right-click any of these links and choose Save
Target As to download them to your computer.
Thank you for joining us in helping every California voter and
policy maker understand the tremendous potential of microenterprise
development!
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