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.
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 diverse 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, especially minority and woman owned ventures, and nonprofit corporations across the state of Florida.
Legal expertise to overcome business challenges
Supported by participating Florida legal aid organizations and The Florida Bar Foundation, 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.”
Naples Pride
Naples Pride has a new home in the Southwest Florida community. In October, president Cori Craciun cut a rainbow ribbon for the grand opening of the Naples Pride Center as a place of solace for people learning about themselves and their identities. Former FCDL attorney and Naples Pride board member Callhan Soldavini played a key role in securing a location for the nonprofit’s facility.
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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