Mayor Laurent F. Gilbert, Sr., and three local credit unions will be promoting the week of September 24th as Dollar Wise Week, advocating the 2007 National Dollar Wise theme of "Savings for Kids and Families."

The City of Lewiston signed on to the United States Conference of Mayors' (USCM) Dollar Wise Campaign in 2006 as a complement to its award-winning leadership in the Lewiston-Auburn Tax Credit Awareness Coalition, which annually promotes the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). The EITC is a Federal benefit for low-to-moderate income workers.

The goal of the USCM National Dollar Wi$e Campaign is to encourage the development of ongoing local financial literacy strategies to educate citizens about financial issues. The USCM stresses that with improved basic personal income money management and planning skills, residents will be in a better position to own homes, raise healthy families, educate their children, and invest in small businesses.

For the 2007 Dollar Wise Week, Mayor Gilbert wanted to highlight the importance of financial literacy and wise financial decisions, and earlier this summer, he expressed an interest in possibly partnering with local credit unions in that regard.

Since that first meeting, Rainbow Federal Credit Union and Central Maine Credit Union have also chosen to participate in this year's local Dollar Wise campaign.

To kick off a week-long focus, Mayor Gilbert will host an 11:00 a.m. press conference on September 24, 2007, at Lewiston City Hall, 27 Pine Street, to speak about the value of financial literacy and savings. Throughout the week of September 24th, Mayor Gilbert will also be visiting participating credit unions to welcome and chat with patrons. The times of his visits are:

Also, on September 29, 2007, a FREE "Family Budgeting Workshop" (to include activities for children) will be offered at the Multi-Purpose Center, 145 Birch Street, Lewiston. At 9:00 a.m., Mayor Gilbert will read "The Three Little Pigs . . . A Financial Fairy Tale" (by National Retirement Solutions) to attending children/parents, and then parents may attend the budgeting workshop to be led by Laurie McDonnell of Women, Work, and Community. While parents are attending the workshop, credit union, City of Lewiston, and EITC Coalition volunteers will lead children in the following games: Pig-licious, Cookie Decorating; Pig-tionary; and Detective Find - Hunting for Gold.

FOR MORE INFO on any Press Releases contact:
Dot Perham-Whittier - Community Relations Coordinator
Lewiston City Hall
513-3000 - Extension 3205
dottie@ci.lewiston.me.us