This webinar discussed CAPLAW’s case study on CT Food 4 Thought, a hydroponic greenhouse farm operated by New Opportunities, Inc., a CAA in northwest Connecticut. The webinar featured New Opportunities’ Executive Director Bill Rybczyk, who shared the story of how his team pivoted strategically to grow its business from an idea to a successful farm producing 8,000-11,000 heads of lettuce per week. CAPLAW highlighted some of the legal choices Bill faced along the way, such as how to structure the social enterprise and manage unrelated business income tax. Other topics included employment arrangements and conflicts of interest, which CAAs should consider when launching a social enterprise.
Community Economic Development for CAAs
As part of their mission to lift people with low incomes from poverty to self-sufficiency, Community Action Agencies (CAAs) often seek to spur growth and build wealth in their communities through job creation and business development. These efforts can generally be...