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New Orleans, New Players and Savings

  • AEO In Nawlins
  • Funding Circle Webinar
  • Matched Savings for Entrepreneurs
  • The Goodies – This week’s highlight includes a four-part Media Training Series (March 12, 20, 26, and April 2) hosted by ASBC. Scroll down for topics and special offers for CAMEO members.

AEO In Nawlins

Registration is open for AEO’s Big Easy Takeover. Connect with hundreds of industry professionals who are committed to giving Main Street microbusinesses the resources they need! Help America’s 25.5 million microbusinesses unleash their power.

The conference is May 5-7, 2014, immediately after the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival [link]. The Astor Crowne Plaza will extend the discounted room rate if you come early…let’s show AEO that CAMEO members know how to party! CAMEO members are eligible for a $50 discount off the AEO nonmember rate and can access it by entering the code SMA2014 at registration. You can register now for AEO.

Check out the conference agenda and track descriptions.

And don’t forget to ask us about our professional development member benefit.

Funding Circle Webinar

Register for Funding Circle: Filling the Gap between Micro-loans and the SBA, a webinar on March 19, 2014 at 11:00am PT.

Funding Circle, based in San Francisco and New York, was founded by two small business owners – Sam Hodges and Alex Tonelli – who, while launching a chain of fitness centers, could not find funding after being turned down by 90 different lenders.

Funding Circle offers flexible loans up to $500,000, that carry rates as low as 9.99%, with terms of 3 to 5 years. The loans have monthly principal and interest payments, no hidden fees (only a 2.99% Origination Fee), and no prepayment penalties. Funding Circle takes pride in being honest and transparent. Finally, its application process is easy, intuitive, and technology-driven so that decisions can be made quickly and small business owners can focus on doing what they do best – operating.

In this webinar, the Funding Circle team will provide a general introduction to their product, process, and vision. They will also specifically address how to become a Referral Partner, what their Referral Partner Program entails, and other partnership opportunities.

Matched Savings for Entrepreneurs

Register for Matched Savings for Entrepreneurs, a webinar on March 27, 2014 at 11:00am PT // 1:00pm CT.

Entrepreneurs benefit from maximizing the equity they can invest in their businesses, but low-income individuals may not have that much to start with. That’s where matched savings accounts like Individual Development Accounts (IDAs) can be helpful. Matched savings accounts – similar to 401(k)s – allow entrepreneurs to build capital for their small business. Monthly deposits from participants are multiplied by the matching funds offered, up to $4,000. In addition to accumulating capital, participants establish a history of regular savings that demonstrates creditworthiness that can strengthen their potential for other financing options, such as microloan programs.

CAMEO hosts the AFI Resource Center for this webinar to learn how matched savings programs work and benefit low-income entrepreneurs and microenterprise development organizations. This webinar will also showcase the work of a current AFI grantee, the Community Action Partnership (CAP) of Sonoma County who will share insights on managing an IDA program and supporting low-income entrepreneurs.

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!

Small Business California Survey: Small business owners are more optimistic than in the past about the small business environment in California. The results of the survey will be sent to every Assembly person, State Senator, and Representative in the state, the Governor, and our two Senators.

Media Training: The American Sustainable Business Council (ASBC) is hosting a four-part Media Training Series (March 12, 20, 26, and April 2). Topics to be covered: training for business policy, broadcast meeting, writing op-eds, and social media. ASBC has two offers for CAMEO members: 1) a 50% discounted pricing of $75 for the entire series and 2) three free spots to the the first three people who email me and want the spots (by doing so, you’re committed to attending). Click the link above for more info on the series. And email me for the discount codes.

Healthcare Webinars: The Small Business Administration and Small Business Majority are committed to helping businesses navigate the changes and opportunities in health care through the webinar series What the Healthcare Law Means for your California Small Business. The next one is on March 12, 2014 at 10:00am PT. Lo Que Significa La Ley de Salud para su Pequeña Empresa in Spanish is on March 19, 2014 at 10:00am PT. Note the Small Business Health Option Program’s online enrollment function is on hold and will be back online in the fall. Businesses can still purchase insurance through the traditional paper process, working with your Certified agent or the SHOP Service Center.

For Your Clients: CAMEO is co-s ponsoring a Certification Course for Veterans and Service Disabled Veterans. It’s a two week class offered by CAMEO member Joe Molina. Participants who follow the daily action items in this course will be able to complete the initial submission of information required for receiving a VBE or DVBE Certification. It starts on the first Monday of each month. The next one starts on April 7, 2014. Your clients can use the CAMEO discount code “CAMEO12014” to receive a $120 discount off the $199 tuition fee (so it costs $79.)

MicroFinance Conference: The 6th Annual San Diego Microfinance Summit – Expanding Horizons of Microfinance is on April 8, 2014 from 9:00am-5:00pm at the University of San Diego – Joan B. Kroc Institute of Peace and Justice. Register for the 2014 San Diego Microfinance Summit.

Industry Conference: What do you get when you mix 500 savvy social enterprisers, 3.5 days of top notch programming, the building momentum of a national movement, and the nation’s “it” city? Find out at Social Enterprise Alliance’s Summit 14 in Nashville on April 13-16, 2014. Build the social enterprise field, connect and strengthen skills. CAMEO’s network receives a 33% off discount with discount code CAMEO33. For more information click on the link above.

For Your Clients: Tax prep season is in full swing. The IRS has a number of instructional YouTube videos to help prepare your taxes.