Florida
Community
Development
Legal Services
FCDL provides free legal services to eligible Florida small businesses and nonprofit corporations through our unique community lawyering approach –utilizing collaborative and community-based methods to deploy legal services, providing multifaceted approaches to problem solving, and empowering small businesses and nonprofit corporations through training, education, and involvement in the legal process.
NOTICE REGARDING CORPORATE TRANSPARENCY ACT (CTA): Effective 3/26/25, the Treasury Department issued an Interim Final Rule requiring only "foreign reporting companies" to file beneficial ownership reports. The Treasury Department is accepting comments on the Interim Final Rule until May 25, 2025 and will issue a Final Rule later based on the comments. In the interim, if you are a low-moderate income business owner with specific questions regarding the CTA, you may apply for our services using the link above.
Statewide platform for local partners and technical assistance providers
Connect with small businesses and nonprofit organizations to provide essential services such as business counseling, planning, small business financing, accounting, and other services instrumental to thriving small businesses and nonprofit corporations.
Support for a dynamic ecosystem of small businesses and nonprofits
With the help of our many local partners, FCDL’s holistic statewide approach to small business and nonprofit development and training creates a vibrant ecosystem of support for small businesses and nonprofit corporations across the state of Florida.
Legal expertise to overcome business challenges
Initially funded by the Funding Florida Legal Aid (formerly known as the Florida Bar Foundation) and JPMorgan Chase, and now supported by the participating Florida legal aid organizations, the Florida Community Development Project (FCDL) Project is helping small businesses and nonprofits overcome challenges and achieve their goals. The FCDL project attorneys have extensive knowledge in the legal issues affecting small businesses, nonprofits and affordable housing development. Our free legal aid services include assistance with contracts, negotiations and disputes as well as advising nonprofits and guiding community development initiatives.
Partners
Testimonials
Sassy Sauce the Garlic Boss
With support from FCDL’s free small business legal services, Janice Johnson was able to launch a new business, Sassy Sauce the Garlic Boss, LLC, in 2019 in Immokalee. She also received assistance in negotiating agreements with retailers to sell her sauce in six different locations throughout the state. Referring to the help she received, Johnson said, “It was a gift from God.”
Neighborhood Housing Services of South Florida
Legal Services of Greater Miami represented NHSSF and its real estate development subsidiary in closing a $1 Million line of credit facility. The credit facility will provide both entities with additional resources to acquire property to build and rehabilitate affordable single family housing in South Florida. "With Legal Services as our trusted ally, we have the peace of mind needed to serve boldly and realize our mission." - Kamalah Fletcher, Executive Director
Funders
The Florida Community Development Legal Project is a collaboration among Florida nonprofit legal aid providers supporting community economic development activities: Bay Area Legal Services, Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida, Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, Legal Aid Service of Broward County, Legal Services of Greater Miami, and Legal Services of North Florida.
*Disclaimer: Florida Community Development Legal is not a law firm. Florida Community Development Legal is a project among several legal aid providers: Bay Area Legal Services, Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida, Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, Legal Aid Service of Broward County, Legal Services of Greater Miami, and Legal Services of North Florida. If your small business or nonprofit corporation is eligible to become a client, you or your organization would become a client of one of the foregoing legal aid providers.
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