The Community Enterprise Law project shares legal tools to help build resilient communities.  Our Community Enterprise Law Library takes a broad look at the laws on forming and financing community-based entities, as well as legal issues concerning employment, land, and housing. Our Enterprise Blog provides analysis of evolving laws and policies, as well as community enterprise case studies and nuggets of legal wisdom. If you are a policymaker, take a look at our City Policies page under the “Learn More” links. 

This website has legal information to help start and grow your organization, but is not a substitute for legal advice. To talk to an attorney, go to one of our weekly legal clinics in the San Francisco Bay Area. 

Why Community Enterprise?

Traditional economic development models focus on attracting business and real estate investments from outside of a community. The unfortunate result is that wealth leaves the community, rather than remaining available for the community’s benefit. In a more sustainable economy, entrepreneurs would be able to raise capital from local community members’ equity investments, micro-investments, crowdfunding, community-supported business models, and other creative means. Community members would have a vast array of choices for investing their money locally, rather than choosing to invest primarily in Wall Street companies. Through education and advocacy, SELC is working to develop pathways that overcome securities law barriers to local investing.