The C.A.S.H. (Creating Assets, Savings, and Hope) campaign is an effort to help working individuals and families increase their assets and wealth through taking advantage of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). This federal tax credit provides a maximum refund of $5,657 for a family of three or more qualifying children, who earn $48,279 (married filing jointly). While the EITC has been shown as one of the most effective tools for reducing poverty, a significant number of individuals and families do not apply for the tax credit. IRS statistics report that up to 25 percent of those who are eligible do not apply.

The C.A.S.H. campaign works to promote this important tax credit as well as free tax filing services during tax season through a broad outreach effort across eastern Idaho. Activities of the campaign include distribution of brochures, flyers, posters, envelope stuffers and other printed material. In addition, a comprehensive media campaign is used each year during tax season to educate the community through television advertisements, billboard messages, radio and newspaper. Since establishing the C.A.S.H. campaign in 2005, millions of additional dollars have been brought into the regional economy through the efforts of the campaign.

CASH Website
Video Ad Campaign
EITC Policy Brief
EITC Employer Guide

The Unbanked Initiative- Bank on East Idaho is a program undertaken by Partners for Prosperity and other regional stakeholders to help people who are in poverty gain access to mainstream banking services. A disproportionate number of individuals and families living in poverty do not hold a checking or savings account in a bank or credit union, resulting in the use of check-cashing or other “fringe” banking services that typically have higher costs and interest rates than a bank or credit union. The goal of this effort is to simply help those who are unbanked in gaining access to low-to no-cost checking or savings accounts through mainstream banks or credit unions, while increasing their understanding of managing their personal finances. P4P has established a partnership with the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco as well as local banks, credit unions, and other service organizations to establish this program across eastern Idaho.

A “mini bank” program exists on the Fort Hall Reservation to help tribal youth in developing valuable financial skills. This program teaches young people about saving money, acquiring assets and investing for the future. In addition, students learn about careers in the financial industry by forming a board of directors, writing bylaws and operating the bank. Students open actual interest bearing savings accounts for the school year. This program currently operates in three schools.

The Adult Education & Workforce Development effort brings regional partners together to identify barriers and gaps in education services. The focus of the Working Group is to increase and enhance adult education services for low-income adults through education and job readiness skills that lead to job attainment paying better than minimum wage. Partners for Prosperity has worked with our partners to establish a number of community-based trainings that focus on a career lattice concept. This allows people who are living in poverty to access immediate short-term training and begin a career while simultaneously seeking additional training and education.

The Math, Science & Technology Initiative promotes more effective K-12 education in order to help our young people pursue careers in the science/tech fields—typically careers that pay more than a living wage while at the same time providing a skilled regional workforce. Partners for Prosperity partners with the National Energy Foundation, Idaho Tech Prep and other programs to ensure that the initiative does not become an “unfunded mandate” for local school districts.

RWIT was created as a regional partnership to increase the prosperity of the eastern Idaho through education, industry involvement, and economic and workforce development. RWIT serves as a facilitator for the networking of regional stakeholders, assisting in the alignment of available resources, supporting the individual missions of its members, and serving as a catalyst for the innovative opportunities which can shape our future. RWIT has developed a strategic plan or “blueprint” to guide our efforts in promoting the growth of businesses, individuals, and the community while helping eastern Idaho become more competitive regionally, nationally, and globally.

RWIT WEBSITE

ESTEC is an innovative partnership with Partners for Prosperity, Idaho National Laboratory and Idaho State University: College of Technology, to deliver Energy Technician Training that meets a workforce shortage and provides opportunities for high paying jobs. Currently, ESTEC provides the only training in the nation related to instrumentation and automation in the energy sector. Partners for Prosperity and its partners have worked to bring this program to low-income and minority populations who are traditionally under-represented in this field. With millions of dollars leveraged, the ESTEC program is poised for long-term success.

The Latino Community Economic Development effort focuses on assisting low-income Latino community members in entrepreneurial training and technical support. Through the support of Partners for Prosperity, a grass roots group of Latino community members have formally established the Latino Economic and Development Center (LEAD) to assist Latino community members in small business training and technical assistance. In addition, Partners for Prosperity and LEAD have partnered with Southeast Idaho Council of Governments to administer a micro-loan program for Latino business owners. The micro-loan fund provides access to capital for many current and aspiring Latino entrepreneurs.

LEAD WEBSITE
LEAD Information Packet