The DC Bar Pro Bono Program's Community Economic Development Project has been named Small Business Initiative of the Year by the Washington, DC Economic Partnership for its efforts to improve the District's entrepreneurial climate.
The CED Project provides pro bono legal services to economically disadvantaged small businesses through its walk-in, small-business legal clinics and business law training sessions, and by matching small businesses with pro bono counsel.
The award honors an organization or government agency for developing a program aimed at providing support to local small businesses, either through a service or product.
"The CED Project is extremely honored to be named the Small Business Initiative of the Year," said Darryl Maxwell, a DC Bar staff attorney who works with the project. "This award speaks to the great need for free legal services in the small business community, the diligence of our staff, and the altruism of our volunteers."
The Washington, DC Economic Partnership is a public-private partnership that works to facilitate economic development in the District through business attraction and business retention programs and activities.