Tag Archive for: Finance

SaveSmallWinBig
SaveSmallWinBig

SaveYourRefund – Win Prizes

Doorways to Dreams Fund tSaveYourRefund Englishhrough the SaveYourRefund campaign is giving you the opportunity to win $100 in weekly prizes and a grand prize of $25,000. It’s simple, just have your tax preparer use Form 8888 when he or she prepares your taxes electronically so that your refund is split into two parts, one for spending, one for savings.  Try it out for yourself and share it with others. Begin saving for your vision, this is a great opportunity. Check out www.saveyourrefund.com  for details and to register.

 

 

Free Tax Help Button
Free Tax Help Button

Free Tax Return Preparation

Free Tax Help ButtonCommunity Teamwork’s VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program is accepting appointments immediately for the 2013 tax filing season. This free service is available to anyone who qualifies for the Earned Income Tax Credit or who earns less than $51,000 and files a basic return.

Click here for more information about this free tax return preparation service including a schedule of dates, times and locations and contact information: http://VITA Flyer 2013 Tax Season.

Facing Foreclosure? Contact the HomeCorps Program.

Community Teamwork along with the Massachusetts Association for Community Action and sponsored by the Attorney General’s Office announce the HomeCorps Borrower Initiative program.

HomeCorps’ goal is to help distressed borrowers in Massachusetts who are facing foreclosure.

Services include:

  • Free legal consultation if you are facing foreclosure
  • Free advocacy to help you access affordable housing, maximize your income and offer financial counseling
  • Some funding is available for rental assistance.

How do you qualify?

There are no income quaifications, however you must be facing foreclsoure or have gone through the foreclosure process and need help accessing housing.

To contact the HomeCorps program, first call the Attorney General’s Office and then go online to fill out the referral applications:

Hotline: 617-573-5333    TTY;  617-727-4765

www.eform.ago.state.ma.us/ago_eforms/forms/hc_ecomplaint.action

Community Teamwork’s HomeCorps Coordinator can help you with the referral application: call Gail Fortes Veloz at 978-654-5676.

 

 

 

FFS program
FFS program

Financial Literacy Academy, A program of the Financial Education Center

FFS

Community Teamwork’s Financial Education Center is a Division of Energy & Community Resources

Financial Education

Asset Development

 Secure Jobs

We are getting ready for VITA which will also be completely virtual this year. Information for scheduling appointments will be available by the end of January 2021.

Give us a call to learn more about our free programs!

Listen to Chris Santos-Gordon, Director Financial Education Center, disucss the Top 6 things to do to manage finances during the pandemic – WCAP Radio 8/4/2020: 1.Rework your budget   2. What can you live without?   3. Divert those “things I can live without” into savings   4. Take Care of Your Credit   5. Increase Income             6. Schedule a financial coaching appointment with us! 978.654.5673;  FEC Facebook Page 

All programs are being offered virtually.This September AND October we’ll be holding our Financial Literacy Academy via ZOOM. All who complete the FLA will receive a gift card for participating in the 6 week, once per week program! Give us a call to learn more 978-654-5673

 

Listen to Chris Santos-Gordon, Director of the Financial Education Center discuss how the Center is responding to the needs of the community re: employment services, skills training, VITA, financial education and more – WCAP Radio 6/2/2020

Community Teamwork’s Coordinated Family and Community Engagement, funded by the MA Dept of Early Education and Care bring you: Teaching Your  Preschooler about Money

The Financial Education Center has enrolled in a four part webinar series focusing on building your money confidence. Below is the link to Part 2- Managing Debt. We hope you find it helpful. You can click on the link and register to view the WEBINAR: https://register.gotowebinar.com/recording/8620924734155818243
If after you view the webinar, you have further questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to me and I’ll be happy to help
WEBINAR – CONTROLLING SPENDING ~The Financial Education Center has enrolled in a four part webinar series focusing on personal finance management. Below is the link to part 1- Controlling Spending. We hope you find it helpful. You can click on the link and register to view the webinar.

FINANCIAL LITERACY ACADEMY VIDEO PRESENTATION ON BUDGETING BY CHRIS SANTOS-GORDON, DIRECTOR OF THE FINANCIAL EDUCATION CENTER 

 

Programing at CTI’s Financial Education Center

165 Merrimack Street – Lowell, MA  01852

WHY FINANCIAL LITERACY MATTERS IN AN ECONOMIC CRISIS
Billy J. Hensley, Ph.D, President and CEO of National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE)
•A new survey from the National Endowment for Financial Education finds that nearly 9 in 10 (88%) Americans say the COVID-19 crisis is causing stress on their personal finances.
•Financial literacy cannot predict or remedy a crisis, but financial education will play a pivotal role in the economic recovery of our country.

We encourage you to call or take advantage of Social Security Administration’s secure and convenient online services to:

•Apply for Retirement, Disability, and Medicare benefits,
•Check the status of an application or appeal,
•Request a replacement Social Security card (in most areas),
•Print a benefit verification letter, and
•Much more.

Most business with SSA can be done online but we know that many people still rely on phone or in-person help. That’s why we want people to know they can still count on SSA by phone.

Lastly, we know that getting medical and other documentation can be difficult due to the pandemic. SSA continues to extend deadlines wherever possible.

 

 

 

Financial Literacy Academy – FLA

The Financial Education Center at Community Teamwork will be holding its’ Financial Literacy Academy (FLA) starting in February. The FLA delivers a powerful introduction to personal finance management. Our hands-on approach offers an interesting and fun learning environment.
The FLA is free, offered once per week in the evening for six weeks. We provide dinner and *some childcare at no cost! Attendees will also receive a Certificate of Attendance.

Please call to register–Contact Gladys – call 978-654-5673 or email gsantiago@commteam.org

Financial Literacy Academy
Tuesday evenings—
Time: 6:00-8:00 PM

Location: Community Teamwork’s Financial Education Center
165 Merrimack Street-Lowell, MA 01852

*call for more information on childcare
…Helping families achieve financial goals

The FLA offers a powerful introduction to personal Finance management. It is offered for 6 weeks, once per week for 2 hours.

We provide dinner and SOME childcare on a limited basis – (please call to learn more about childcare).

Attendees also receive a certificate of attendance.

Things to Know about the FLA

  • It is FREE
  • It is offered on Tuesday nights from 6pm-8pm
  • It is taught by CTI staff who are certified in Financial Social Work, Credit Repair and / or Tax Preparation
  • It is a fun way to learn about a sometimes, boring subject!

For more info contact: Gladys Santiago gsantiago@commteam.org or call 978.654.5673 to register

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance

Why pay to have someone do your taxes when CTI will do them for free? VITA is offered to low-income individuals, and families who qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit. Appointments are scheduled on Wednesday nights and Saturday mornings during tax season. Please call to learn more: 978.654.5676

One-on-One Financial Coaching

Do you have a financial goal you’d like to reach, need help repairing your credit, want some one-on-one assistance in creating a budget or with ways to decrease debt? Financial coaching is a smart way to get you started! Please call our office to schedule an appointment: 978.654.5725 / 978.654.5673

Certified financial coaches will work with you on ways to: Increase your monthly income; Eliminate and manage debt; Repair and improve credit; Understand and take advantage of tax credits; Create a savings plan

LEARN MORE

CTI’s Financial Education Center…Helping Families Achieve Financial Goals

Learn more about solutions for Finances

Learn more about our NEW Center for Financial Self-Sufficiency which opened January 2017!

 Listen to Chris-Santos Gordon, Director of the Center for Financial Self-Sufficiency, on WCAP Radio, discussing the new Center and the wonderful opportunities it provides.

Listen to Chris Santos-Gordon, Director of the Financial Education Center, discuss on WCAP980 radio the opportunities available at the Financial Education Center at Community Teamwork 2/6/18

 

Ismeal Rosado Signing Loan
Ismeal Rosado Signing Loan

Bookkeeping Services

Ismeal Rosado Signing Loan scaledCommunity Teamwork’s Merrimack Valley Small Business Center recently expanded its scope of business development services to include bookkeeping to assist small business owners in the Merrimack Valley. This expansion was made possible by a capacity grant provided by the Greater Lowell Community Foundation.

MVSBC now provides a fee-for-service expertise to help local businesses keep track of income and expenses. For many years now the MVSBC has heard from small business owners that keeping their own books is a time consuming process that keeps them from engaging in activities to run their business and generate profits.

Meet with our Bookkeeper and have a FREE assessment TODAY!
Charles Nagbe, MVSBC Bookkeeper
cnagbe@comteam.org or call 978-606-8171

We are here to help UPGRADE the management of your business finances.

Learn more about solutions for Finances & Business or go to the Merrimack Valley Small Business Center website.

sba
sba

Get a Business Loan

Signing loan Agreement scaledWhen lenders say no, we say YES.

The Merrimack Valley Small Business Center offers low-interest loans up to $25,000 to entrepreneurs in the Merrimack Valley who lack access to conventional credit. Capacity to repay the loan is determined through submission of an application and supporting documentation and is strengthened and monitored through continued technical assistance.

For more information, call 978-322-8403.

We serve businesses in the following Massachusetts cities and towns:

Amesbury, Andover, Billerica, Boxford, Chelmsford, Dracut, Groveland, Haverhill, Lawrence, Lowell, Merrimac, Methuen, Newburyport, North Andover, Salisbury, Tewksbury, Tyngsboro, West Newbury, and Westford.

This is a U.S. Small Business Administration Microloan Intermediary Lender.
sba

Learn more about solutions for Finances & Business or go to the Merrimack Valley Small Business Center website.

grand opening
grand opening

Grow Your Business

grand opening scaledHere at the Merrimack Valley Small Business Center (MVSBC), we offer a variety of business development services to help you GROW YOUR BUSINESS. We can help you develop a marketing plan, improve your financial situation, prepare to apply for a business loan, and more!

Step 1

Complete make an appointment to meet one-on-one with an MVSBC counselor. At this meeting, you will talk with your counselor about your business, challenges and goals, learn more about MVSBC membership and develop an Action Plan to help you achieve your goals.

Step 2

Become a member of the MVSBC and work with a counselor to take advantage of our business development services and develop an Action Plan to help you achieve your goals.

Your counselor may recommend that you enroll in our 6-week training program Financial Tune UP Boot Camp (FTUBC). FTUBC helps you build your financial literacy skills and improve your financial situation. Features of this 6-week program are:

  • 6 classes will teach you how to budget, track cash, pay down debt, build credit and save for the future.
  • Financial coaching to help you prepare a budget, review your credit report and develop a plan to improve your financial situation.

Step 3

Use your Action Plan as a guide to help you take steps to improve your business. Continue to network with other MVSBC members through monthly networking events and peer networking groups to share best practices and troubleshoot. Your MVSBC counselor will also be checking-in with you to see how things are going and help you achieve your goals!

Learn more about solutions for Finances & Business or go to the Merrimack Valley Small Business Center website.

mvsbc logo
mvsbc logo

Start a Business

 

Unique You ribbon cutting scaledHave you dreamed of starting your own business?

Do you have an idea but aren’t sure where to start?

We can help!

Here at the Merrimack Valley Small Business Center (MVSBC), we can help you evaluate your readiness to start a business, determine the feasibility of your business idea, and help you develop a plan to START YOUR BUSINESS!

Step 1

First, attend our orientation seminar Are You READY… to Start a Business? In this seminar, you will learn more about MVSBC services and about what is involved in starting and running a business.

Step 2

Think you’re ready? If so, make an appointment to meet one-on-one with an MVSBC counselor. At this meeting, you will talk with your counselor about your business idea, your readiness to start a business and learn more about MVSBC membership.

Step 3

Become a member of the MVSBC and work with a counselor to take advantage of our business development services and develop an Action Plan to help you achieve your goals.