CEDC Highlights of 2005

• VITA (the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program) prepared 225 tax returns and recovered $128,000 in Earned Income Tax Credit.
• 40 Students recycled and refurbished donated computers during our After School Computer Recycle and Refurbish Program & The School Vacation Computer Boot Camp. At the end, all 40 received a certificate of completion and were able to take home their very own computer.
• 15 additional computers were provided to low-income and disabled community members.
• Our Immigrant Support Network, ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) and Computer Literacy classes, trained 35 immigrant workers.
• Worked with city and state redevelopment authorities to identify sites for affordable housing and open-air urban farm projects.
• In conjunction with the United Way of Greater New Bedford, our Community Building Mini-Grants Program funded 40 projects of volunteer and grassroots organizations.
• Smart Start provided business and technical assistance to 20 existing and start-up businesses.

VITA: Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program

The Earned Income Tax Credit lifts more children out of poverty than any other government program--2.7 million each year (4.9 million people in all)¹. The IRS estimates $3 million of the EITC was left unclaimed in New Bedford in 2004. New Bedford no longer has an IRS walk-in office.

Every year the VITA program at the CEDC helps hundreds of working families build assets for their future.

Please contact the CEDC at 508 979-4684 or e-mail Info@cedc-sm.org if you are interested in free tax assistance or to become a volunteer.

¹ IRS 2004

After School Computer Recycle and Refurbish Program & The School Vacation Computer Boot Camp

Empowering Youth with Practical Skills & Bridging the Digital Divide

Each year The After School Computer Recycle and Refurbish Program and the School Vacation Computer Boot Camp, conducted by Cordell Polk, teach dozens of students to disassemble and reassemble donated computers.

Upon completion the students receive a certificate and are able to take home their very own systems, "new and improved".

Micro-business Technical Assistance

At the CEDC, one of our main goals is to open doors to resources for aspiring entrepreneurs and existing small-business owners. We work with community members on programs and issues such as:

• Smart Start Workshops and one-on-one technical assistance
• Understanding personal finances
• Fixing bad credit
• Writing a business plan
• Linking to existing micro-credit

If you are thinking of starting your own business and need info and access to micro-loans and more, please call us at (508) 979-4684 and make an appointment with consultant Paula Mannillo.

Immigrant Worker's Support Network

Since 1999 the CEDC has provided a variety of immigrant support services, such as:

• Navigating Community Resources: Legal, Health, Workplace Advocacy & Referral
• English and Computer Literacy Classes
• New! Video Conferencing --Directly to Quiche, Guatemala from New Bedford

For more information, please contact Corinn or Brian at (508) 979-4684.

Web Developer Naseem Alharbi: U_NHarbi@UMassd.edu