Abstract
The Community Economic Development Clinic (CED Clinic) is a law school class that represents microentrepreneurs (those with 5 or fewer employees) and community nonprofit organizations. Senior law students provide a full range of small business and nonprofit legal services. We represent clients in all parts of Nebraska and western Iowa.
The CED Clinic collaborates with regional and local economic development organizations that provide business education, mentoring, and financing to microentrepreneurs. The Clinic steps in to represent entrepreneurs who want to create a business entity like a limited liability company or who need contracts or other legal services. Microenterprise accounts for about 15% of all jobs in Nebraska and Iowa and at least 25% of new jobs from 2004 to 2007. It is a powerful tool for rural communities dealing with decades of outmigration and for urban Latino and African American communities as well. Nonprofit organizations pull communities together to address issues such as neighborhood blight or to offer opportunities in the arts and education.