LegalZoom, a leading online platform for legal and compliance services, is teaming with the NBA for a new multiyear partnership, which will tip-off with the creation of “Fast Break for Small Business,” a community initiative that will award $6 million in grants and LegalZoom services to support thousands of small businesses throughout the country. The new program will have Detroit Pistons icon Grant Hill as its ambassador.
This first-of-its-kind program provides capital and other critical resources small businesses need to operate and grow, changing the game by removing barriers minorities, women, immigrants and members of the LGBTQ+ community often face.
Currently, in America there are more than 32.5 million small businesses, employing 47% of the private workforce. In the third quarter of 2020, the number doubled as opposed to the number of the prior year.
According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, more than two-thirds of small business owners agree that minority-owned small businesses face more challenges than non-minority-owned businesses. Black and Hispanic-owned businesses are twice as likely to be considered “at risk” by banks, while women receive only 4% of small business loans. “Fast Break for Small Business” was created to address these disparities and give people in these communities a fairer shot at turning their dreams into reality.
“Our mission at LegalZoom is to democratize law in ways that help all small business owners thrive,” said Dan Wernikoff, CEO of LegalZoom. “Our commitment to promoting social equality and economic inclusion aligns perfectly with the values of the NBA, WNBA, and NBA G League. The ‘Fast Break for Small Business’ program accelerates our ability to support both new and existing small businesses while reducing the endemic inequalities in the financial and legal systems.”
“Our partnership with LegalZoom is a significant extension of our commitment to increasing economic opportunities for historically marginalized communities,” said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. “Together we will bring meaningful resources to entrepreneurs and directly address many of the challenges facing minority-owned small businesses.”
“Small businesses across the country are really the heart and soul of who we are as Americans. They’re the life blood of our country and right now they’ve been through some tough times,” said Basketball Hall of Famer and “Fast Break for Small Business” Ambassador Grant Hill. “I know first-hand the challenges and difficulties that exist with being a small business owner. But I also am impressed with the resiliency, the toughness and the commitment necessary to be successful. To be able to support and provide services and to be there for them, that’s a great feeling and something we all should be proud of.”
Applications for the first round of “Fast Break for Small Business” grants are open today through November 23, 2021, at www.legalzoom.com/fastbreakforsmallbusiness. Grants and services will be awarded twice a year for the next three years. The first round of grantees will be announced in early 2022.
