Neighborhood Housing and Community Development

For Immediate Release:
April 21, 2008

City of Austin to participate in Financial Fitness Week, an initiative providing consumers with financial advice Financial Fitness Week: April 21 - 27, 2008

The Austin Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC) will participate in the Financial Fitness Greater Austin (FFGA) April 21-27, 2008. FFGA is a public education and awareness campaign designed to help consumers better manage personal finances. Representatives with the AHFC’s Housing Smarts Housing Counseling Program will provide a one-hour seminar about the importance and use of credit scores for first-time home buyers as well as provide overall financial advice for individuals interested in purchasing a home.

The seminar, Strictly Money: Family Finance, is from 1 to 2 p.m. Tuesday, April 22, at 1000 E. 11th St Room 400A. The class is sponsored by the AHFC and is free to public. For a listing of all classes available, including the City of Austin’s seminar, visit http://www.financialfitnessaustin.org/index.php.

About FFGA

The FFGA campaign began as a coordinated effort of the Alliance for Economic Inclusion, Senator Kirk Watson, the Financial Literacy Coalition of Central Texas and more than 65 organizations in the Greater Austin area. Financial Fitness Greater Austin (FFGA) is achieved through the collaboration and coordinated effort of several organizations in the Greater Austin area including businesses, financial institutions, schools, not-for-profits, government agencies and the media.

These groups came together this year to stress the importance of financial literacy, inform consumers where they can get help, and provide free educational seminars and activities throughout the week. Programming is offered to all demographics and income levels and covers all facets of personal finance. Our hope is to make this an annual event for Austin, and part of a year-round initiative to keep our community financially fit.

The City of Austin and the Austin Housing Finance Corporation are committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request.

Contact: Jacqueline Mayo, (512) 974-3121 (voice), (512) 802-7108 (pager)