Uniti Hicks knew her show-stopping recipe for buttery toffee popcorn was destined to be her gateway to success. After all, she says her popcorn is blended like no other. The one thing still missing, though, was the legal knowledge necessary for her Sistas’ Pop Gourmet Butter Toffee Popcorn to become a profitable, thriving business.
That legal moxie was waiting nearby in the form of Marlene Elliot, who became managing attorney in 2023. She joined the Legal Services of Eastern Missouri (LSEM), Community Economic Development (CED) Microenterprise Program in 2019.
“It makes me feel good that I can reach out to them for their assistance,” Hicks said, praising the program and Elliot.
Innovative service provided at no charge by Legal Services of Eastern Missouri helps aspiring, low-income entrepreneurs gain the knowledge and resources they need to succeed.
CED Microenterprise helps clients to better understand core legal needs and how to expand their business. The COVID-19 pandemic forced more people to work from home, and many are still doing that today. LSEM has seen interest from people wanting to start their own businesses, and the CED Microenterprise Program provides the necessary services for them to chase their dreams.
LSEM’s Community Economic Development (CED) Microenterprise Program was created in 2011 to provide legal services and education to aspiring entrepreneurs with limited capital to invest and to nonprofits that serve the low-income community. The goal is removing legal barriers while helping these businesses avoid the pitfalls that can hinder growth.
The CED Microenterprise Program works with a network of pro bono attorneys across the St. Louis region who specialize in corporate and intellectual property law. The program offers a wide range of legal services from entity formation to drafting contracts to assisting with trademark and copyright applications. The attorneys ensure that the entrepreneurs know their rights and legal options to better position themselves to choose the best paths for their businesses.
“That’s our goal; we want to see the entrepreneurs succeed … direct their own lives,” said Elliot.
That formula works for Hicks, who said she prides herself in using 100% butter, freeze-dried fruit and protein like strawberries and bacon for her popcorn recipes. The STL Mix is cheddar, 100% butter, and toffee. The Banana Split popcorn is filled with freeze-dried strawberries, bananas, pineapples, and 100% buttered popcorn.
Getting the help she needed was just a phone call away. “To get the services I needed was very accessible,” Hicks said. “They helped me with reading over contracts and making sure my LLC was in order. I especially like that this all was free.”
The Microenterprise program offers commuting education divided into three to six virtual legal clinics a month. Elliot has helped formulate ideas, read over corporation documents, and draft contracts for the entrepreneurs.
“I like being here as a resource,” Elliot said.
In a previous interview, Elliot said she joined the program in 2022. She describes the work she does to help others as “really great.” The attorney wears multiple hats, assisting with community outreach, fundraising for the microenterprise program, and lastly, she’s a connector. “Even if we can’t help people with what they need. We try to get them the proper services they need,” said Elliot.
In that interview, she said many low-income entrepreneurs start with a small pot of money, making it difficult for them to pay rent, utilities and other expenses. “It’s not easy to get access to a business loan or assistance to help start up a business,” she said.
Some entrepreneurs joined the program because they needed legal advice to get their products patented, while others needed to find an avenue to get connected to the right people.
“We try to level the playing field,” Elliot said. “Information can be free, and I’m getting that information to the people who don’t have access to it.”
For more information, visit www.lsem.org
Ashley Winters is a Report for America reporter for the St. Louis American.
This was very informative.I’m very happy for SISTA POP The POPCORN is amazing all the flavors. Two of my favorites R Spicy bacon,Boom Berry.. try putting those two together..OMG sweet and spicy.