The Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA) is partnering with the Northern Virginia Pro Bono Law Center and Start Small Think Big on the Covid-19 Pro Bono Collaborative, an initiative to provide free legal assistance to small businesses in Northern Virginia during the Covid-19 pandemic, including help with federal assistance, grant and loan programs, leases and employment issues.

Consisting of a network of trusted top-tier law firms, corporations and other legal service providers, the Covid-19 Pro Bono Collaborative provides a highly coordinated, emergency response to help small businesses and nonprofit organizations survive the economic impact of Covid-19. This collaborative is providing remote legal and financial clinics and one-on-one sessions on the Covid-19 stimulus package and similar programs as well as Covid-19 related legal issues.

Any small business owner can complete this form to request a Covid-19 consultation with a volunteer attorney or financial professional. These consultations will be conducted via phone or video. Initial consultations will last one to two hours, depending on a business owner’s specific needs, with the option for follow-up consultations as necessary.

The initiative dovetails with programs that Fairfax County has instituted, such as the Small Business Microloan Fund and the Fairfax RISE small business and nonprofit relief grant fund, to help small businesses bridge the economic crisis caused by the pandemic.

Headquartered in New York City, Start Small Think Big is a small business nonprofit that has focused on helping entrepreneurs from disadvantaged communities since its establishment in 2010. Prior to the pandemic it operated mainly in New York and California, but pivoted to helping all small businesses in other locations when the pandemic hit.

The Northern Virginia Pro Bono Law Center’s mission is to provide free legal assistance to those most in need in the region, with the goal of providing broad-based access to justice. Through the Law Center, lawyers donate their time and expertise to assist with a wide variety of legal issues. Funding for the Law Center is provided through the Fairfax Law Foundation.

While both organizations focused on helping low income individuals start and sustain businesses prior to the pandemic, the Covid-19 Pro Bono Collaborative program is available to all small business owners.

The Fairfax County Economic Development Authority promotes Fairfax County as a business and technology center. The FCEDA offers site location and business development assistance, and connections with county and state government agencies, to help companies locate and expand in Fairfax County. In addition to its headquarters in Tysons, Fairfax County’s largest commercial district, the FCEDA maintains business investment offices in six important global business centers: Bangalore/Mumbai, Berlin, London, Los Angeles, Seoul and Tel Aviv.

Source:  Fairfax County Economic Development Authority