One answer is to help eligible families and individuals access the federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC.) The EITC is a refundable federal tax credit that helps working people achieve economic stability and security. To find out more about the EITC, visit www.michiganeic.org .With the current economic downturn, the EITC is more important than ever for Michigan’s working families. Estimates are that $12.3 to $49 million can be brought directly into the wallets of Michigan’s working poor families through a successful outreach effort. I invite you to join me as we bring together community coalition leaders from across the state to raise awareness of the EITC and bring free tax preparation to communities that need it most.

The Michigan EITC Outreach Initiative is a statewide effort, led by the Governor’s office, to increase collection of the EITC by eligible individuals by supporting local community coalitions in raising awareness and implementing volunteer tax preparation sites in their areas. To visit the Michigan EITC Statewide Initiative site, click on www.michiganeic.org .

You are an important partner in making the promise of the EITC a reality for many of the families who do not currently receive it. Through education and networking, we can make the dream of increasing Michigan’s EITC participation rate a success.