Southwest Iowa Making Connections
Promoting Family Economic Success
1-877-256-0801
EARN IT, KEEP IT, GROW IT
Southwest Iowa Making Connections began in 2002 by offering Free Tax Services to low and moderate income families encouraging them to take advantage of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). The following year Financial Education became a part of the program and more recently Individual Development Accounts (IDA's) for first time home buyers were added. In 2006-2007 Community Dialogues will build awareness of the challenges faced by the working poor. Find information about each of these programs below.
Free Tax Services
Free tax services are offered throughout SW Iowa to families and individuals at or below 200% of poverty. Basic taxes are prepared and e-filed by IRS trained volunteers through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program.
Volunteers are currently be sought for the upcoming tax season.
* Free Tax Preparation Services Flyer
* Beware! Don't Pay to Borrow Your Own Money
* Tax Volunteer Recruitment Flyer
* Tax Volunteer Responsibilities
* Tax Volunteer Application
* IRS Volunteer Link and Learn Self Study
* 2006 Success Story
Financial Education 
Smart Spending and Saving Workshops will be held throughout Southwest Iowa to help families.... Get Organized - Make a Spending Plan - Take Steps for a Secure Financial Future
* November 21, 2006 - Shelby
* December 6, 2006 - Villisca
* 2005 Success Story
Individual Development Accounts
Save a dollar, get a dollar. First time homebuyer's can save for a house downpayment and receive match money up to $1000 per person.
* Flyer - Individual Development Account (IDA)
* How it works
Community Dialogues 
Making Ends Meet- Is There a Way to Help Working Americans? will be discussed at three community dialogues in SW Iowa during the winter of 2006-2007. The sessions will be conducted by trained facilitators with National Issues Forums.
Participants in the dialogues will discuss three perspectives on what can be done in communities to ease the financial problems that affect the working poor and many middle-class families. Watch for details of the dialogues to be posted soon or contact Frank Spillers, vision@metc.com
* Sunday, December 10, 2006 - Shenandoah
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Children do well when families do well. Families do better when they live in supportive communities.
Financial support provided by the Annie E. Casey Foundation through the Iowans for Social and Economic Development.
Contact: SW Iowa Making Connections Coordinator: Mary Beth Kaufman, mbkaufma@iatate.edu
MBK
10/31/2006