On Small Business Saturday we’re all encouraged to “shop small,” which is great for the millions of small companies in California and elsewhere. But how many people think about helping small businesses beyond that one day? We should, because we can do more to assist small firms than just buying holiday gifts from them—we can also help them invest in energy efficiency.
CAMEO is California’s statewide micro-business network made up of over 300 organizations, agencies, and individuals dedicated to furthering Micro-Business development in California with small and micro-business financing such as loans and credit, technical assistance and business management training. Annually, CAMEO members serve about 84,000 very small businesses with training, business and credit assistance and loans.
Pacific Community Ventures is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community investor that envisions a world of thriving communities where everyone has a fair shake. Our mission is to invest in addressing racial and gender wealth gaps, and build community wealth by investing in small businesses, help them create good jobs for working people, and make markets work for the common good. We achieve our mission through a “Good Jobs, Good Business” model that combines affordable loans with pro-bono advising, small grants, and tools and incentives to create dignified good jobs.
Small Business Majority writes in support of the California Assembly's version of the GO-Biz budget, which would provide an additional $3 million to small business technical assistance providers, including the Minority Business Development Centers, the Women’s Business Centers, the Procurement Technical Assistance Centers and the Veterans Business Outreach Centers. These funds will be used to expand their capacity to provide vital one-on-one counseling and training to businesses and entrepreneurs.
Small Business Majority submitted a letter of support for California's Truth in Lending Act (SB 1235) under consideration by the California Senate. This bill would require standard disclosure methods for the terms of a loan offered to a business, allowing a small business owner to make a better informed decision about loan offers.
Mark Herbert, California Director for Small Business Majority, testified in front of California's State Senate in support of SB 910, which would clarify that short-term limited duration health insurance cannot be sold in California and bolster health insurance markets. The legislation is meant to protect the robustness of the individual marketplace, which is vitally important for owners and employees of small businesses without group coverage, especially the roughly three million solo-entrepreneurs in California.
California Director Mark Herbert testified before the Assembly Committee on Health to voice support for proactive solutions to ensure all of California’s small businesses and self-employed entrepreneurs have access to quality, affordable healthcare. AB 2459 would significantly improve affordability for thousands of middle-income individuals and families, including many entrepreneurs and small business employees.
On April 18, Small Business Majority CEO John Arensmeyer testified before the California Senate Committee on Banking and Financial Institutions in support of SB 1235, which would create regulations for new sources of alternative lending in California. The testimony explained that such regulation is widely supported by small business owners, as it would protect them from predatory lending practices.
Small Business Majority has written in support of AB 2459, which would extend tax credits to individuals struggling to access affordable healthcare. Providing tax credits to help individuals unable to afford monthly healthcare premiums would help many of California’s small businesses, their employees and self-employed entrepreneurs.
Small Business Majority writes in support of AB 3148, which would provide additional cost sharing assistance to help those eligible for assistance to better afford their copays and deductibles, which would directly benefit many of California’s small businesses, their employees and self-employed entrepreneurs. AB 3148 would significantly improve affordability for thousands of low- and moderate-income individuals and families, including many entrepreneurs and small business employees, by ensuring that no one is unable to use the insurance they have.
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