Agency Details:

NWI Asset Building Campaign

The Northwest Indiana Asset Building Campaign (NWIABC) is a community coalition dedicated to making managing finances elementary. NWIABC is committed to informing Lake & Porter County's working families about the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) during the tax season (January - April, every year) and general financial literacy for the remainder of the year.

Description:
Our main focus beginning January of every year is tax assistance via the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. This program helps working families claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), a tax credit worth up to $5.657 this upcoming 2009 filing season for qualifying individuals.

NWIABC in conjunction with our community partners train volunteer tax preparers each year using the Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) training techniques to ensure quality returns. This year our preparers will process and file thousands of returns at no charge to residents of Lake & Porter County who earn less than $49,000 per year,

After April, our focus shifts from free tax preparation to financial literacy. NWIABC partners offer many opportunities for financial education to the residents of Lake & Porter County, free of charge. Financial literacy classes are offered throughout the year with subjects ranging from the importance of having a savings account to the using credit wisely. Lake & Porter County residents will be provided information that helps them make better financial decisions and build assets.

History:
Northwest Indiana Asset Building Campaign (NWIABC) was first organized in May 2003. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) gave us the impetus to organize a coalition targeting those families in Gary, East Chicago and Hammond, Indiana who work hard but may not be getting the most from their income. The local Community Action Agency, Northwest Indiana Community Action Corp., serves as the fiscal agent for the Asset Building Campaign.

NWIABC is a coalition of community-based partnerships with the mission to link awareness and education, with tax preparation sites and asset building for low and moderate income taxpayers. Clients are mostly low- to moderate-income families. Their average income is about $15,000–$25,000.

The NWIABC is more than a tax preparation service. It is a group of committed community leaders who believe they have the power to change families and communities for the better. Part of our mission is to build assets for low and moderate taxpayers. Our partners provide many financial literacy programs throughout the year.

Contact people:

Sandra Harris Dunn-El, Program Coordinator, (phone), (email) Kenneth Fisher, Intake Coordinator, (phone), (email)

Office fax number: (219) 980-2093

Address:

3637 Grant Street Gary, IN 46408 (See a map)

Web Site: http://NWIABC.org

Directions:

Directly across the street from the Village Shopping Center.

Last updated on November 24, 2009