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Rochester, N.Y. — Monroe County Executive Adam Bello has announced new funding to help underserved communities with financial counselling to find affordable car loans. Through the American Rescue…

Jason Tracy, CEO of CCCS of Rochester receives Member of Distinction Award from the Council of Agency Executives. This award is given to one of 165 not-for-profit agencies in our region. As Jason says…

Consumers with low credit scores may soon have a way to boost that three-digit number! A new product is supposed to become available in Summer 2019 and it will be geared towards consumers with low cre

CCCS of Rochester has been partnering with financial institu

Recently, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the Excelsior scholarship, which will provide tuition-free college at New York’s public colleges and universities to families making up to $125,000 a year. Under the Excelsior Scholarship, nearly 80 percent, or 940,000 middle-class families and individuals making up to $125,000 per year, would qualify to attend college tuition-free at all CUNY and SUNY two- and four-year colleges in New York State. A regional breakdown of families who would be eligible for the program is available below.  The new program will be phased in over three years, beginning for New Yorkers making up to $100,000 annually in the fall of 2017, increasing to $110,000 in 2018, and reaching $125,000 in 2019.  Scholars must be enrolled in college full-time and average 30 credits per year (including Summer and January semesters) in order to receive the funding, however, the program has built in flexibility so that any student facing hardship is able to pause and restart the program, or take fewer credits one semester than another.   Students are required to maintain a grade point average necessary for the successful completion of their coursework, and, as the program makes a major investment in the state’s greatest asset – our young people – scholars will be required to live and work in-state for the same number of years after graduation as they received the scholarship. These initiatives build on the Governor’s commitment to making college affordable for all students in the Empire State, including the nation-leading 'Get On Your Feet' Loan Forgiveness Program, which allows eligible college graduates living in New York to pay nothing on their student loans for the first two years out of school. Visit the website https://www.hesc.ny.gov to learn more about the Excelsior Scholarship and to be electronically notified when you may apply by entering you email address on the Excelsior Scholarship Alert form.

CCCS of Rochester Joins the Sharpen Your Financial Focus™ Initiative to Help You Make Smart Money Decisions CCCS of Rochester is excited to announce that as a member of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling ® (NFCC®), we are participating in the Sharpen Your Financial Focus campaign. The NFCC has joined forces with leading financial services companies and other national partners to launch this initiative. Programs offered to consumers through this initiative will provide you with great information to help you make smart money decisions. Our NFCC Certified Financial Professionals are here to provide you with the financial education that you need to secure your financial future. You can take the first step toward achieving your financial goals by completing one or more of the following action items: • Take MyMoneyCheckUp® at www.cccsofrochester.org and click on MyMoneyCheckup. MyMoneyCheckUp is an online financial self-assessment tool designed to increase awareness and provide consumers with concrete steps to improve their financial well-being. • Contact CCCS of Rochester by calling 585-546-3440 or online at www.cccsofrochester.org to schedule an appointment with an NFCC Certified Financial Professional for a financial review. • Participate in a free CCCS of Rochester financial workshop. Designed as a “deep dive”, the education class will focus on the major area(s) of interest to the consumer. Visit our website at www.cccsofrochester.org for a listing of workshop dates and times. CCCS of Rochester is proud to take part in this initiative, and is here to help get you on the path to financial success. Get started today!

One of our top priorities at CCCS is to work closely with community agencies in order to integrate financial education within their programs and projects. We believe that doing so strengthens the services provided by these organizations and affords us the ability to expand our reach and impact.  We have the privilege of partnering with many different groups and are grateful for each of these opportunities. One in particular that we want to share with you is the City of Rochester Biz Kid$ program. Biz Kid$ is an entrepreneurship education program for students between the ages of 10-18 that focuses on helping urban youth learn about making and handling money. The Biz Kid$ program accomplishes this goal by offering weeklong camps, monthly seminars, and the opportunity for students to join a business team and sell products at local fairs and festivals. Through our Credit Education Bureau (CEB) extension, CCCS helps Biz Kid$ with program development, curriculum development, and educating students on the subject of money. Biz Kid$ serves approximately 100 students annually and many Biz Kid$ graduates have gone on to start and run successful businesses locally. Recently, a group of Biz Kid$ visited the CCCS offices and participated in a workshop about the ins and outs of credit. Students played a “Jeopardy” style game and competed as they learned about credit reports, credit scores, loans, and interest rates. To learn more about Biz Kid$ or to register your student for Biz Kid$ visit: http://www.cityofrochester.gov/bizkids/ or call the City of Rochester Recreation Department at (585) 428-7371.

CCCS of Rochester has been awarded $46,000 to help homeowners stay in their homes. As part of NYS Attorney General Schneiderman’s Homeowner Protection