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Local News
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Saturday, January 19, 2008, 3:00 AM
Free legal services offered By Andy Britt | Daily Times Staff Writer A new source of legal aid will soon be made available to qualifying small business owners in Wilson County. The North Carolina Lawyers for Entrepreneurs Assistance Program, a project of the North Carolina Bar Association, provides free legal services to income-eligible, low-wealth business owners. In its eight months of existence, the N.C. LEAP program has served a nine-county region surrounding the Triad. Now plans are under way to expand the benefits to those in Wilson and 20 other eastern and northeastern counties, with a commitment to reach all 100 N.C. counties over the next six months. "Small business is the backbone of our economy here in Wilson County, so we're always delighted when there are programs and initiatives that will help the business person with their responsibilities," said Bruce Beasley, president of the Wilson Chamber of Commerce. "This program should bring a new dimension and provide new services that our small business can utilize." Clients must apply for services and must meet the income and asset guidelines. While the legal services will be delivered free of charge, clients will need to pay the cost of any filing fees or administrative costs associated with their legal issue. Individuals must make no more than 80 percent of the state median income for a family of their size and must generally have less than $8,000 in savings. "Neglecting the legal health of a business can threaten its operation and limit its future," N.C. L.E.A.P. director Milan Pham said. "Low-wealth business owners often are unable to afford legal health which they need." The official announcement of the program's expansion will occur during a ceremony on Monday, Jan. 28, at 10:30 a.m. The event will be held at the Edgecombe County Business Industrial Incubator located at 111 Fountain Park Drive in Battleboro. Rocky Mount Mayor David Combs will speak and following the ceremony, attendees will be invited to tour the industrial incubator. "The small business community is a primary driver of our state's sound economy," Pham said. "Rural and economically depressed areas depend on the growth of small businesses as does our state. We, the business attorneys of North Carolina, are looking forward to helping." abritt@wilsontimes.com | 265-7819
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