Community Building Through the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)

The Institute for a Competitive Workforce, in partnership with the New Jersey Chamber and the IRS, held a leadership development course in March 2007 entitled "Community Building Through the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)." The course teaches chamber leaders, workforce investment professionals, and community advocates how promoting usage of the EITC can help address economic issues in their communities.

The agenda featured experts from the Brookings Institution and the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities presenting on the economic benefit of the strategies involved, as well as chamber and community experts presenting on the practicality and success of implementing such strategies. The course showed how the EITC can be leveraged to help businesses retain their valued workforce and how frontline workers create equity and begin to move up the economic ladder.

Course Topics Included:

• The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC): What It Is and Why It's Important
• What the Data and Research Tells Us: Where and How New Jersey Can Benefit
• How to Leverage Community Partnerships and Asset Building
• Views from the Field: Success Stories from Another State 

Faculty Included:

• Mary DuPont, Executive Director, Nehemiah Gateway Community Development Corporation (invited)
• Elizabeth Kneebone, Research Analyst, Metropolitan Policy Program, The Brookings Institution
• Greg Roth, Senior Manager, Workforce and Education Programs, Institute for a Competitive Workforce
• John Sinzer, Vice President, New Jersey Chamber of Commerce Foundation
• Ron Smith, Chief, Volunteer and Community Partnerships, Internal Revenue Service
• John Wancheck, Coordinator, EITC Outreach Campaign, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

Funder: Annie E. Casey Foundation

Partners: New Jersey Chamber of Commerce
Internal Revenue Service

ICW Publications: 

>> Community Building Through the Earned Income Tax Credit (Summer 2007) (pdf)

>> EITC Timeline: A Look at Twelve Months in the Life of an EITC Campaign (Summer 2007) (pdf)

>> Recruitment and Retention of the Frontline and Hourly Wage Worker: A Business Perspective 
(Spring 2007) (pdf)

Additional Resources:

>> The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)

>> EITC Information for Employers

>> Past ICW Workforce Leadership Course