Category: BizGrow

Mainvest Collapse Impacts Businesses →

With the abrupt closure of Mainvest, a national crowdfunding platform for small businesses, Lawyers for Civil Rights (LCR) is calling on the federal government to protect affected small business owners and investors. An estimated $2.4 million in capital is now frozen, with no clear plan for its release. Since 2018,...

Introducing: BizGrow Central →

Lawyers for Civil Rights (LCR) is excited to announce the creation of BizGrow Central, a collaborative space where new and established small business owners will be able to learn together, access vital resources, and develop the skills and resilience they need to thrive. Centrally located in downtown Boston and set to open...

Black-Owned Businesses Sue Treasury, FinCEN →

Lawsuit Filed Challenging “Corporate Transparency Act” – An Overreaching New Federal Law Threatening Small Businesses with Fines, Imprisonment  Lawyers for Civil Rights Joins Black-Owned Businesses and Small Business Development Organizations to Protect Minority Business Owners In a federal lawsuit filed today, Lawyers for Civil Rights, minority-owned businesses, and their allies took aim...

Navigating the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) →

The Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) is a new law in effect starting in 2024 that requires most small businesses to fill out additional forms. Not complying can have serious monetary and criminal consequences. Check out our easy to use guide to learn what and how your business can comply with this important new law.  We...

BizGrow Expands Technical Assistance Services →

BizGrow Expands Technical Assistance Services Lawyers for Civil Rights (LCR) announced the expansion of BizGrow’s technical assistance services. LCR’s small business project, BizGrow, provides free legal assistance, business support, and technical assistance to minority, immigrant, and women business owners ensuring that they encounter fewer obstacles and more opportunities.  BizGrow’s latest initiative, Elevate,...

Making Room for Locally-Owned Businesses at Faneuil Hall →

Lawyers for Civil Rights has sent an open letter to the new owners of Faneuil Hall outlining concrete strategies for revitalizing the marketplace by intentionally and deliberately focusing on the expansion of locally-owned, minority-owned, immigrant-owned, and women-owned businesses. We also crafted creative suggestions to help activate and elevate the marketplace. In the coming...

Cambridge Must Dismantle Racial Disparities in Public Contracts →

Alarming Statistics Show “Old Boys Network” Freezing out Minority- and Women-Owned Businesses in City’s Contracting Process In an open letter, Lawyers for Civil Rights called upon the City of Cambridge to take significant and aggressive steps to ensure greater participation of Minority- and Women- Business Enterprises (M/WBEs) in its public...

Business Diversity Principles Need Federal Implementation and Oversight →

Federal Government’s Business Diversity Principles Need Robust Implementation Guidance and Oversight Lawyers for Civil Rights (LCR) filed a comment with the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) on its proposed Business Diversity Principles. In the current climate, as DEIA efforts are threatened, it is critical to expand the federal government’s efforts to eradicate inequity in the workplace....

BizGrow Holiday Gift Guide →

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BizGrow Holiday Catering Guide →

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BizGrow Holiday Corporate Gifting Guide →

Check out this list of nine exciting and uplifting minority-owned, women-owned, and immigrant-owned small businesses that can ship gift packs nationwide. This holiday season, let’s support small businesses. Access the full clickable version of the gift guide here.  

Rhode Island Excludes Minority-Owned Businesses From State Contracting →

Civil Rights Groups Charge That Rhode Island Is Violating Federal Law By Excluding Minority-Owned Businesses From State Contracting In a demand letter, Lawyers for Civil Rights (LCR) and Rhode Island Black Business Association (RIBBA) have outlined how Rhode Island is violating federal anti-discrimination law by systematically excluding minority-owned businesses from State contracting.  The demand letter calls...

BizGrow Arts and Culture Series →

This 4-week course will provide aspiring and current small business owners and entrepreneurs in the arts and cultural economy with the legal foundation to successfully run their business. Brought to you by a partnership between LCR's BizGrow Project, Arts & Business Council of Greater Boston, and Northeastern University School of...

Guide for Small Businesses: Navigating 303 Creative →

Lawyers for Civil Rights is releasing a guide for small businesses and consumers to help demystify the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in the 303 Creative case.

BizGrow Toolkit Series →

As part of our mission to bring minority-owned, immigrant-owned, and women-owned small business owners the legal knowledge they need to thrive, we are launching an innovative series of toolkits and fact-sheets aimed at entrepreneurial success. Check-out our first two fact-sheets:  After Forming Your Entity, What's Next?  Commercial Leases, Best Practices for...

BizGrow Holiday Gift Guide →

Check out these twenty amazing minority, immigrant, and women-owned small businesses! Access the full clickable version of the gift guide here.  

Federal Investigation Into Discriminatory Business Practices At Logan Airport →

Civil Rights Advocates Demand Federal Investigation Into Discriminatory Business Practices At Boston’s Logan Airport Massport and JCDecaux Depriving Minority-Owned Businesses of Equal Contracting Opportunity Lawyers for Civil Rights (LCR) asked the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to launch an investigation into discriminatory business practices at Logan Airport.  The federal complaint outlines Massachusetts Port...

LCR’s Civil Rights Summit →

LCR’s Civil Rights Summit November 4, 2022 Lawyers for Civil Rights held a Civil Rights Summit on November 4, 2022, convening powerful attorneys and community partners for strategic and catalytic thought partnership to advance civil rights in the current legal landscape, including changes in the composition of the Supreme Court....