ACCESS Miami | Miami, Florida

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ACCESS Miami MODEL PROGRAM MIAMI, FLORIDA FOUNDING SPONSOR FINANCIAL EDUCATION FOR AMERICA M A Y O R S ’ N A T I O N A L D O L L A R W I $ E C A M P A I G N THE UNITED STATES CONFERENCE OF MAYORS COUNCIL FOR THE NEW AMERICAN CITY

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ACCESS Miami was a key part of Miami’s citywide antipoverty initiative. This program provided a single portal for Miami residents to access a variety of services offered by the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, including financial seminars, workshops, free tax preparation, workforce initiatives, and small-business loans, among others.This publication provided an overview of the program and highlighted several success stories of residents who had taken advantage of ACCESS Miami’s offerings..Published January 2008

Transcript of ACCESS Miami | Miami, Florida

Page 1: ACCESS Miami | Miami, Florida

ACCESSMiami

MODEL PROGRAM MIAMI, FLORIDA

FOUNDING SPONSOR

F I N A N C I A L E D U C A T I O N F O R A M E R I C A

M A Y O R S ’ N A T I O N A L D O L L A R W I $ E C A M P A I G N

THE UNITED STATES CONFERENCE OF MAYORSCOUNCIL FOR THE NEW AMERICAN CITY

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MIAMI, FLORIDA

DOLLAR WI$EModel Program

ACCESS Miami

Standing for Assets, Capital, Community,

Education, Savings, and Success, ACCESS

Miami is part of Mayor Manny Diaz’s Anti

Poverty Initiative launched in 2001. ACCESS

Miami unites city resources with those

available in the public, private, and nonprofit

sectors. ACCESS Miami collaborates with

numerous successful partners one-on-one

to offer services to Miamians year-round,

including financial seminars, workshops,

free tax preparation, workforce initiatives,

and small-business loans, among others.

Residents can access as many—or as few—

of these resources as they see fit.

RIGHT

Miami Mayor Manny Diaz announces the new ACCESS Miami initiative at a press

conference, September 1, 2005.

MayorManuel A. Diaz

O N L I N E

www.accessmiamijobs.com

C O N T A C T

William Porro

305.416.2181

[email protected]

THE UNITED STATES CONFERENCE OF MAYORS

JORG

E PE

REZ/

CITY

OF

MIA

MI

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ACCESSTO EXISTING SUPPORT AND BENEFITS

ACCESS Miami increases public awareness of existing support and benefits that are available to low– to moderate-income working families and individuals. To that end, it has aligned itself with ongoing programs that assist low– to moderate-income residents to improve rates of access of eligible residents.

Tax preparation assistanceThe City of Miami offers multiple options to assist residents with tax preparation during tax season. These include the operation of Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites that offer free tax preparation with the support of the Internal Revenue Service. The City of Miami has also signed an agreement with H&R Block, the nation’s largest tax preparer, to offer city residents dramatically-discounted tax preparation services at select H&R Block locations throughout the city. Over 4,000 residents have opened savings and individuals retirement accounts (IRAs) using these services.

The Benefit BankThis Internet-based eligibility tool is available at each of the city’s 13 Neighborhood Enhancement Team (NET) locations, in addition to various community and faith-based organizations. With the assistance of a counselor, residents enter relevant personal information to complete their tax returns. The process helps ensure that eligible residents take advantage of all available federal tax credits such as the Child Tax Credit and the Earned Income Tax Credit. It also ensures that residents take advantage of other available supports and benefits for which they are eligible, such as food stamps, Medicaid, Florida KidCare (SCHIP), the Low Income Heating and Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), and others.

ACCESS TO TOOLS THAT INCREASEASSETS, SAVINGS, AND WEALTH CREATION

The City of Miami has invested significant funds and resources to offer a one-of-a-kind savings program called the Matched Savings Fund for residents who qualify. Eligible residents can open individual development accounts (IDAs). For every $1 put into the account the city matches with an additional $2 for up to $4,000 (maximum allowed matched dollars) in savings per family. The savings must be used for the purchase of a home or to capitalize a business. ACCESS Miami continues to seek partners that will enhance savings and future

investment opportunities for Miamians.

ACCESSTO FINANCIAL EDUCATION

ACCESS Miami empowers residents with the knowledge they need to make solid financial choices. This knowledge is vital in helping all city residents build a secure financial future. ACCESS Miami works with numerous corporations and organizations in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to offer free financial literacy seminars and workshops to residents.

ACCESSTO CAPITAL FOR SMALL BUSINESSES

ACCESS Miami aids small-business owners in

COUNCIL FOR THE NEW AMERICAN CITY

“I am very happy to be in my new

home. Without the Matched Savings Fund I would have

never been able to save for a new home.”

“I get to apply for my food

stamps through the benefit bank

without the wait and hassle

of having to go to the AFDC and every year

do my taxes in the office

with courteous attention and

efficiency.”

kandice simon

jacinto fernandez

ACCESS Miami is a comprehensive, replicable,

citywide initiative focused on increasing residents’

access to the financial tools that are fundamental

to economic prosperity and success.

Start-up capital or the financing necessary for the expansion of a small businessis often difficult to secure through a traditional lender.

ACCESS Miami works with organizations that aim to help the small business owner grow.We work with a local micro-lending specialist organization to identify a potential borrower'sinitiative and desire to succeed with loans ranging from $500 to $25,000. ACCESS Miami'sstrategic partnerships also bring tax credits, loans, and grants to apply towards training, jobcreation and retention.

We give you ACCESS to capital.

Interested? Call us at (305) 416-1435, or send us an e-mail at [email protected]

CITY OF

An official program of the City of Miami's Economic Development Department.

ABOVE

Flyers such as this advertise the manyprograms and services provided by ACCESS Miami.

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their quest for successful enterprise and to create successful small businesses. For many low– to moderate-income residents, startup capital or the financing necessary to expand a small business is often difficult to secure through traditional lending sources. ACCESS Miami aims to help the small-business owner expand their enterprise by providing access to capital that is ordinarily unavailable to them. ACCESS Miami works with a local organization specializing in microlending to assist entrepreneurs in need of additional capital. This program offers loans ranging from $500 to $25,000 and focuses on a potential borrower’s initiative and desire to succeed. ACCESS Miami has also forged a strategic partnership with the Small Business Administration (SBA) to bring tax credits, loans, and grants to apply towards training, job creation, and job retention.

ACCESSTO JOBS AND JOB TRAINING

ACCESSMiamiJobs.comA program created by the city’s Department of Economic Development, ACCESSMiamiJobs.com provides information about training and job opportunities in several industries to City of Miami residents. The goal of AccessMiamiJobs.com is to ensure that prescreened city residents have access to employment and training opportunities, creating a direct link between residents and job placement. To better reach residents who don’t otherwise have internet access, computer kiosks which offer free access to the ACCESSMiamiJobs.com Web site are available at select NET office locations.

MAYORS’ NATIONAL DOLLAR WI$E CAMPAIGNFinancial Education for America

202.861.6759 | www.dollarwiseonline.org | [email protected]

FOR MORE INFORMATIONFor more information on the Mayors’ National Dollar Wi$e Campaign, please contact us at the telephone number, Web site, or e-mail address listed below.

Sayda Marrero and her mother used all their savings to purchase a small minimarket located in the heart of Miami’s East Little Havana district. The business had been in operation for a few months and was just generating enough to cover basic expenses. The business needed new refrigerators, minor renovations, and inventory. Because of recent investment into the business, money was tight to do such repairs and acquire more inventory. Having a new business and just getting

started, she wasn’t quite a candidate for a loan from a commerical bank. But Sayda learned about ACCESS Miami’s microloan program and decided to go ahead and apply. With the loan, Sayda was able to purchase the equipment she needed, and substantially increase her inventory. Now, having survived her first three years in business, she notes, “I am grateful to ACCESS Miami for offering me the opportunity that no other financial institution would.”

SAYDA MARRERO | Mini Market Nicaragüense | First loan: $5,303.25

An ACCESS Miami Success Story

ACCESS Miami’s poverty-alleviation programs are built on four cornerstones

EVIDENCE OF SUCCESS

ACCESS Miami programs have demonstrated noteworthy success in their efforts to combat poverty. City-affiliated tax preparation efforts in 2007 were the most successful ever, with the participation of more than 9,250 residents, saving residents over $830,000 in fees. Since 2005, ACCESS Miami has helped eligible residents save over $2.4 million in tax-preparation fees. Refunds since inception total more than $142 million. Through this initiative, Miami residents have been able to claim over $58 million in EITC funds from 2005 through 2007. More than 300 city residents have opened IRA savings accounts in 2007 through ACCESS Miami. An additional $700,000 in microloans have been made to small-business owners in the city.

PLEASE RECYCLE

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Building self-sufficiency and independence through training on practical, vocational skills such as painting forms an essential part of Miami’s anti-poverty efforts.

Do you wantto be a

Painting Professional?

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ATTEND,please RSVP to Monica Bosano atPh: 305.416.1411 ore-mail:[email protected]

LOCATIONLegion Memorial Park6447 NE 7th AvenueMiami, FL 33138

STARTS ON: Monday, April 2nd

ENDS ON: Friday, April 13th

TIME: 9am-2pm (weekdays for two weeks)

• Learn a new skill

• Start your own business

• Be considered for employment with various local companies

ACCESS Miami, in cooperation with Sherwin Williams will be conducting a FREE Paint Training Course that will run two weeks. Participants must be 18 years or older and provide their own transportation. No high school diploma is needed. Certification will be awarded at the end of the program and eligibility for job placement will be available. Only 20 training slots are available on a first come, first served basis, so call today!

Sponsored by:Breakfast and lunch is included.

FREETRAINING

Official Training Event

Access to Existing Support and Benefits

O N E

Access to Wealth Creation and Asset-Building Tools

T W O

Access to Financial Education

T H R E E

Access to Capital for Small Businesses

F O U R