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NEWSROOM
NEWS RELEASE
DATE: September 19, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Scott D. Jackson
(203) 776-5978 |
MAYORS NATIONAL DOLLARWI$E CAMPAIGN
Hamden Joins National Financial Literacy Campaign
HAMDEN, CT - Mayor Carl Amento and the Town of Hamden have joined the U.S. Conference of Mayors national "DOLLAR WI$E" campaign to help improve the financial literacy of Town residents. Mayor Amento has joined chief elected officials in 54 towns and cities across the country in declaring September 26, 2005 to October 1, 2005 as "DOLLAR WI$E Week" in Hamden.
The goal of the Mayors' National DOLLAR WI$E Campaign is to encourage the development of ongoing local financial literacy strategies to educate citizens about financial issues. With improved basic personal income money management and planning skills, citizens will be in a better position to own homes, raise healthy families, educate their children, and invest in small businesses.
"With rising bankruptcy rates and the increase in crippling credit card debt that threatens so many Hamden families, it is more important than ever that we take proactive steps to inform residents of better ways to manage their personal finances, " Mayor Amento said.
Hamden already offers financial literacy courses for participants in the Workforce Alliance job training program and approved participants in the Downpayment Assistance program, funded by the town's Community Development Block Grant. These programs seek to clarify topics such as understanding payroll deductions, avoiding bad debt, and evaluating insurance options for class participants.
Given the growing importance of this type of education, Mayor Amento has instructed the Town's Community Development office to offer training courses to any interested Hamden resident.
Any resident interested in attending a financial literacy training course should contact Community Development Program Manager Scott Jackson at 776-5978 or visit the Community Development website, www.hamdencommunitydevelopment.com. The official DOLLAR WI$E resource book is also available at this website.
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