Dear Friends,
For 45 years, New Ventures Maine has empowered adults in work/life transition to define and achieve their career, self-employment, and financial goals. NVME participants often note personal and financial challenges as motivators for change. For Craig, who struggled with addiction and incarceration, completing the My Money Works class was a first step towards addressing credit issues and getting a safe and reliable car. For Crystal, NVME money management classes, matched savings, and individual coaching provided vital support to help her go from homelessness to homeownership. These stories are examples of the successes our 1,053 participants experienced this year. Also of note in FY23, with the leadership of NVME and the nine CA$H coalitions, CA$H Maine (a statewide collaboration, comprised of non- and for-profit partners, working together to help empower Maine individuals and families to achieve long-term financial stability) served 6,058 tax filers, a record number, generating nearly $4 million in federal income tax refunds. We believe this was due, in part, to increased awareness about Maine tax credits and CA$H Maine because of tax filing related to $850 Inflation Relief Check payments. With sustained investment from the Maine Legislature and Governor Mills, and with support from the University of Maine System and the University of Maine at Augusta, NVME was able to empower more Maine people to access greater financial stability and wellbeing. We thank our individual supporters and partners from every sector in each of our program areas for your ongoing support.
Highlights FY23 NVME continued to empower Maine people to build careers, launch small businesses, and manage their money through free classes and individual coaching. Highlights include: • With support from the Maine Community Foundation and the Elmina B. Sewall Foundation, NVME offered a new class, Changing Jobs: Finding Work That Fits. Designed to help women access high-wage jobs with benefits post-pandemic, the class was offered both statewide and for women living in Androscoggin County, targeting the job market and services in that area. • 97 entrepreneurs from around the state prepared for e-commerce by participating in online training. Business owners had the opportunity to create a website at no cost through NVME’s partnership with Empower by GoDaddy. • CA$H Maine coalitions helped people who had not filed a 2021 tax return to receive the $850 Inflation Relief Checks from the State of Maine by October 31, 2022. Collectively, the coalitions filed 6,881 returns for people seeking the $850 checks and helped them receive an additional $1,939,533 in Property Tax and Sales Tax Fairness Credits. • Trades conferences for underrepresented populations, including girls and gender-expansive youth, formerly known as Totally Trades, were re-branded as Trades for ME and two conferences were held in person in Westbrook and Calais. • NVME staff completed the first phase of a United Way of the Tri-Valley Area grant to provide financial education to youth and young adults. The 81 students from four participating high schools reported increased confidence and knowledge of budgeting, credit scores, interest rates, and investing. NVME Statewide Staff (L to R: Elaine Thomas, Thomas Grogan, Destin DeCambre, Lisa Sweet, Rachel Boynton, Sarah Hutchins, Janet Smith, Oyebanjo Ogunlela, Suzanne Senechal-Jandreau, Lisa Archer, Jean Dempster, Alicia LaFosse, Jennifer DeJoy (not pictured : Catherine Collins, Kelley Glidden, Rebecca Lux Soc, Chris Morin, Dion Olmstead)
Dannel Malloy , University of Maine System Chancellor Janet Smith , New Ventures Maine Executive Director
2023 Annual Report
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