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NEWSLETTER HIGHLIGHTS
FPP EVENTS
PRESIDENT'S REPORT
BANK ON FLORIDA
FPP ADVOCACY
DISABILITY NEWS
MEMBER NEWS
 

SAVE THE DATE  

FOR FPP EVENTS

 

April 16, 2013

Money Smart Train-the-Trainer

Heart of Florida United Way 

TIME: 10 am-3 pm

LOCATION: Dr. Nelson Ying Center, 1940 Traylor Blvd. 

Orlando, FL 32804 

Information

 

 

May 29-31, 2013

5th Annual FPP Statewide Training Conference,
LOCATION: Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal in Orlando 


June 5, 2013
Money Smart Train-the-Trainer class
Manatee County

 

 

 

SAVE THE DATE  

FOR MEMBER EVENTS

 

April 11-12

Resilience and Rebuilding for Low-Income Communities conference
LOCATION: Washington, D.C.
FEATURING: Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke and Columbia University Professor Sudhir Venkatesh as keynote speakers.
More Information

 


THE FLORIDA PROSPERITY PARTNERSHIP (FPP)
The Florida Prosperity Partnership (FPP), was formally established in March 2009, evolving from a number of parallel and earlier efforts to create a statewide coalition dedicated to improving the financial stability and capability for low-to-moderate income Floridians.

FPP PURPOSE: To convene individuals and organizations with the desire to leverage their talent, resources, and passion to improve the prosperity of Florida's families.


FPP VISION:  All Floridians have equal opportunities to attain financial stability.


FPP MISSION: Establish a statewide collaboration holistically focused on providing life-enhancing services to Floridians. 

FPP EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 

 

Janet Hamer, Chair  

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta

 

Daniella Levine, Vice-Chair  

Catalyst Miami

 

Sandra Bernard-Bastien

Children's Services Council of Broward

 

Ted Granger, Treasurer  

United Way of Florida

 

Evan Goldman 

CSC of Broward County

 

George Owen 

Regions Bank

 

Maureen Quinlan 

United Way of Marion County

 

Mike Smith 

TD Bank

 

   

FPP BOARD MEMBERS

 

Ron Albert  

IRS    

 

Anika Coney 

Hillsborough County Dept. of FAS

   

Dr. Michael Gutter 

University of Florida, IFAS

 

Valerie Jenkins 

Wells Fargo

   

Iris Jones 

BB&T Bank

Mike Kennedy
Suncoast Community Capital 

   

Roger Mercado 

Community Cooperative Ministries, Inc.


Katie Metz

National Disability Institute

  

Rosa Morgan 

Community Assets Inc. 


Joan Nelson

Heart of Florida United Way

  

Kasha Owers  
United Way of Palm Beach County

 

Felipe Pinzon  

Hispanic Unity of Florida
 

Rob Sansome 

TrueWealth Ventures

   

Ron Sharpe 

United Way of Northwest Florida

 

Ellen Stoffer 

United Way Suncoast


Barbara Travis

Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas 

 

Jeff Winkler

Real$ense Prosperity Campaign, an initiative of United Way of Northeast Florida 

 

    

FPP STAFF 

 

Kaye Schmitz  

President and CEO
 

Bill Mills
Director of Strategic Initiatives
 

 

Penny Zaphel
Coordinator of Special Projects

 

Emilie Pennington

Graphics Designer

 

Lynn Gill

Bookkeeper

 

 

 

THANK YOU

TO OUR FUNDERS

funder logos_march2010  



PRESIDENT'S REPORT
By Kaye Schmitz
 

 

Greetings!

kAYE
KAYE SCHMITZ
We are happy to announce that we will extend Early Bird Registration for the FPP Conference by two weeks--until April 12. Still only $199 for paid FPP members. Here's the whole fee structure:
  • Member Early Bird Registration (through April 12) $199
  • Non-member Early Bird Registration (through April 12) $299
  • Member Registration (April 12 - May 29) $249
  • Non-member Registration (April 12 - May 29) $349
  • Member At the Door Fee $299
  • Non-member At the Door Fee $399 
In addition to our dynamic line-up of speakers from, literally, around the world, one of the sessions will feature our own Dr. Michael Gutter conducting a Poverty Simulation, where we'll all be able to see the pitfalls of poverty first hand. This will be a very powerful eye-opening session for all of us. We will also have a session on Policy and Advocacy issues for Florida, including a discussion of the CFED Scorecard results. Another sessin will highlight the importance of workplace financial education. Have your organization sign up now. Spots are going fast.

ConfSponsorship
Conference Sponsorships
We would like to thank our newest sponsors: 
WellsFargo
Valerie Jenkins and Wells Fargo for their silver sponsorship.

Florida Community Bank and Nancy Merolla for a bronze sponsorship.
RegionsBank
George Owen and Regions Bank for a bonze sponsorship.
UWSuncoast
Both Emory Ivery and Joan Nelson from United Way Suncoast and Heart of Florida United Way respectively, for their combined bronze sponsorship.

UWHeartFla
In addition, we thank our new exhibitors, Lifewise Strategies (Syble Solomon), the FDIC (April Atkins), and United Way of Northwest Florida (Ron Sharpe). We still have spots for additional sponsorships, so don't hesitate to contact me

And don't forget, if you need an invoice in order to get your membership fee paid so you can qualify for the conference discount, please get in touch with me and I will be happy to send you one. 
FPP 5th Annual Conference Commercial
FPP 5th Annual Conference Commercial


OtherNews
Other News
Please keep reading to get an update on Bank On Florida and the very well attended launch of Bank On Central Florida, led by Lakeland's Mayor Gow Fields, a policy update by Ted Granger and some exciting Member News that includes a final report from the President's Council on Financial Capability, an NCTC tool that helps you figure the real cost of preparing a "free" tax return, exciting news from the Federal Reserve Bank, and scholarships that are available from Step Up For Children.

Let April be the month you register for the FPP Conference. Have a great month. 

Kaye's signature 
BOFL
BANK ON FLORIDA
By Bill Mills, Bank On Florida Director

Bill Mills
BILL MILLS

Bank On Central Florida Launch Event

 

United Way of Central Florida hosted a successful launch event for Bank On Central Florida in March. It was a packed house with representatives from financial institutions, nonprofits, and local cities. We especially want to thank Lakeland's Mayor Gow Fields for championing the cause! Sue Schluender, the Education & Operations Director for Explorations V Children's Museum is taking the lead for United Way of Central Florida's Financial Stability Partnership. She worked with Ameshia Jackson, the Program Director-Family Empowerment Program for Catholic Charities of Central Florida, Inc. to have an entire day of Bank On and Money Smart Train the Trainer education with April Atkins from the FDIC as their special guest trainer.

 

FreeFLTaxSites.org Update

 

Our FreeFLTaxSites.org website has had over 3,000 hits since its inception. Thanks again to all of the organizations that have shared the website on your own website, in your newsletters, on Facebook, and on Twitter! If you have not done so, please read more about how you can help promote it, here.

 

Money Smart Train the Trainer

FDIC Money Smart Logo  

Heart of Florida United Way and Bank On Greater Orlando will be hosting a Money Smart Train the Trainer class on April 16. It is not too late to RSVP! See the attached flyer for more information.  

This just in! On June 5, there will be another Money Smart Train the Trainer class in, or around Manatee County (location to be announced). Check back next month for more details.

 

Advocacy
FPP ADVOCACY
By Evan Goldman and Ted Granger

Ted and Evan
TED GRANGER AND
EVAN GOLDMAN
Consumer Finance Legislation Passes Committee

As the session bears down on its mid-point, there are numerous bills being considered that will impact the pocketbooks of many of the people FPP members serve, from foreclosure to insurance and taxes. One may have particular implications;

The Florida Consumer Finance Act (the Act) sets maximum interest rates for consumer finance loans, which are "loan[s] of money, credit, goods, or a provision of a line of credit, in an amount or to a value of $25,000 or less at an interest rate greater than 18 percent per annum."

Consumer finance loans, made by lenders licensed by the State, may charge a maximum rate of:
  • 30 percent a year, computed on the first $2,000 of the principal amount;
  • 24 percent a year on that part of principal exceeding $2,000 but not exceeding $3,000; and
  • 8 percent per year on that part of principal exceeding $3,000.
HB 425 would increase the amount of principle that can be charged the higher rate -- raising the 30 percent level to $3,000 and the 24 percent level to $3,000 - $4,000.

Bill proponents contend that interest rates are higher on these smaller types of loans because they are riskier, unsecured loans. However, the Florida Consumer Action Network points out that even though borrowing and lending costs are at historically low levels, the bill increases the interest, fees, and penalties for already very expensive loans that are primarily used by low and middle class consumers, many living paycheck-to-paycheck. At the same time, more than 50 percent of consumer finance organizations in Florida are owned by just three out-of-state companies, 80 percent of which - according to the North Carolina banking regulator - have maintained profits year-after-year, even through the recession.

Perhaps most disturbing is that consumer finance lenders have a sad tradition of churning their customers: Industry data show that over 75 percent of their lending is for refinancing existing customers, generating new fees and interest each time. Instructions to employees of Security Finance (one of top lenders in Florida, dba Sun Belt Credit, based in South Carolina) show their business thrives on getting people into debt, but not letting them out: "push the renewals, by getting the customer to renew their accounts it will be harder for that customer to pay us out."

The bill is now on the house calendar awaiting a vote by the full House.
DISABILITY NEWS
By Michael Rousch MS, National Program Director of the National Disability Institute & Katie Metz, Regional Specialist
 
Mike and Kate
MICHAEL ROUSCH AND
KATIE METZ

Expanding Financial Literacy Programs to Persons with Disabilities

           

National Disability Institute (NDI) is celebrating National Financial Literacy Month this April by highlighting tools that organizations can access to expand financial literacy programs to include persons with disabilities. 

 

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) states that the proper goals of the ADA are "to assure equality of opportunity, full participation, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency".  Financial literacy supports the proper goals of the Americans with Disabilities Act by providing knowledge, tools and resources that will assist persons with disabilities to become economically self-sufficient. Often times, financial literacy programs are not offered or delivered to persons with significant disabilities which may be attributed to a lack of accessible financial literacy materials / curriculums; a lack of understanding on what is financial literacy; and/or not fully understanding how to interact with persons with significant disabilities when delivering a financial education class.  NDI has a variety of tools that will assist organizations expand their financial literacy programs to include persons with disabilities. 

 

Financial Literacy Tools: 

  • Accessible Financial Literacy Checklist:  NDI in partnership with Assets for Independence created the Accessible Financial Literacy Checklist. The checklist will help organizations remove barriers to participation by individuals with disabilities and create an inclusive environment.  Creating an inclusive environment starts with the actions and attitudes of staff who set high expectations about a barrier free environment that encourages everyone to be sensitive and solution oriented to individual differences. 
  • Webinar: Financial Literacy-Empowering Persons with Developmental Disabilities to be Engaged with Their Money  webinar will provide tips and tools on offering financial literacy to persons with disabilities.
WEBINAR: Empowering Persons with Developmental Disabilities to be Engaged with Their Money
WEBINAR: Empowering Persons with Developmental Disabilities to be Engaged with Their Money

 

To learn more about other tools that will assist organizations to expand financial literacy programs to include persons with disabilities, go to www.realeconomicimpact.org.
MemberNews
MEMBER NEWS

President's Advisory Council on Financial Capability Releases Final Report 
AdvisoryCouncil logo

Helping young Americans build strong financial knowledge, skills, and habits will serve them well over their lives and promote sounder and more stable household economies. This is one of several findings the President's Advisory Council on Financial Capability (Council) included in its final report  to President Obama, which was delivered through the Department of the Treasury.

 

The Council's report includes a number of recommendations to help improve the financial lives of American individuals and families. The report finds a critical need to bring rigorous financial education to our young people.  Financial education is the foundation for better decision-making, and it should start early and continue to be taught in school. The Council's report also focuses on improved coordination between local government, business, and community leaders. Local financial capability councils, which are created and planned by state, tribal, and local leaders, were inspired by the President's Advisory Council and will be critical in turning ideas into action. Finally, the report emphasizes the importance of research and the need to establish a baseline understanding of financial knowledge, particularly among young people. Financial education will not be successful unless we have a rigorous evaluation of metrics and testing to determine what actually works to change financial behavior. 

 

You can view the report here. 

 

Questions?
__________________________ 


What's Your Cost Per Tax Return? Come Find Out!

NCTC logo  

As part of the Sustainable Models Project, NCTC has launched the first version of the Cost Per Return Tool. The tool is designed to help community tax programs understand their current cost structures and resource demands. You'll learn what costs contribute to preparing a tax return, what the cost per return benchmark is for the field of community tax programs, and most importantly, your program's cost per return.

  

  

 Possible usage includes:
  • Share it with your partners (Board, funders, staff, volunteers, etc.) - show how much effort and time it takes to make your program operate and be great! 
  • Use it as groundwork - improve your program by performing cost area analysis
  • Use it as an educational opportunity - share with staff and volunteers.
NCTC is offerering incentives! Read more

__________________________  

 

Atlanta Federal's Exciting Informational Resources and Upcoming Events

FDIC FRBA CCANB  

By: Janet Hamer, 

Senior Community Development Manager, 

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta

  

 

Highlights of theFederal Reserve's Economic Development podcast series

 

  • Strictly Business: A Case for Greater Company Participation in Workforce Development: How can employers be effective partners in improving the local workforce ecosystem? Peter Cappelli, professor and director of the Wharton School's Center for Human Resources, discusses how firms can provide on-the-job training for skills needed within their organizations. (more)
  • Women Entrepreneurs Mean Business: What are the current trends in female entrepreneurship? Alicia Robb, senior research fellow at the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, discusses recent data on women-owned firms and the challenges and opportunities in expanding this sector. (more)

Upcoming Events

  • Plan to attend the Resilience and Rebuilding for Low-Income Communities conference April 11-12 in Washington, D.C., featuring Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke and Columbia University Professor Sudhir Venkatesh as keynote speakers. Sponsored by the Federal Reserve System, the eighth biennial Community Development Research Conference will spotlight research on a variety of topics related to creating sustainable, resilient, and thriving neighborhoods.

Workforce Development Information Resources

  • Interested in better understanding the complex factors creating long-term unemployment conditions, particularly in low- and moderate-income communities? Review the publication A Perspective from Main Street: Long-Term Unemployment and Workforce Development, which highlights key topics that emerged from a series of regional events and forums on the attenuating effects of long-term unemployment. These forums gathered representatives from intermediary organizations who deliver workforce development services and local employers. While the report does not attempt to be a comprehensive compilation of all ideas and views expressed at the regional forums, it identifies several promising workforce development strategies from around the country.
  • What are some promising practices in preparing students for the current job market? Review a summary from a January workforce development event focused on historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), during which HBCU presidents and corporate leaders met at the Atlanta Fed. The event was part of a larger Federal Reserve initiative to address workforce development issues, including workforce readiness.
  • View presentations, videos, and other materials from the 2012 conference on The Future of Workforce Development: Where Research Meets Practice hosted by the Atlanta and Kansas City Feds. 

I hope you find these resources useful. If you have any questions or suggestions for the community and economic development team at the Atlanta Fed, please let me know.

 
__________________________  

  

Step Up For Students. 

A scholarship for your child? 
 
Step Up Children logo  

Florida has help for schoolchildren who are low-income, in foster care or homeless. 

 

Today, more than 50,000 low-income students in Florida are receiving a Step Up For Students Scholarship. Could your child be next? 

 

Many families still don't know this option exists, but Florida has the nation's largest K-12 scholarship program giving low-income families the ability to choose the school that best meets their children's needs. Families who qualify for the free or reduced-price school lunch program, children who are in foster care or who are homeless, could be eligible. Learn more.

 

Applications for the 2013-14 school year have started. Please visit www.StepUpForStudents.org to apply. 

 

To learn more, please visit www.StepUpForStudents.org, call 877-735-7837 or email [email protected]

  

  

 
membership
NOTICE - Anyone interested in joining FPP or if you would like to submit an article for publication in subsequent newsletters, please send an email to Penny Zaphel, Coordinator of Special Projects - [email protected] .

Sincerely,


Kaye Schmitz
Florida Prosperity Partnership