FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact:  Brie Turek (407) 246-3106
               Heather Allebaugh (407) 246-3423
 
 

Mayor Dyer to Kickoff 2007 ExtraCredit Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Campaign

Orlando, FL—January 31, 2007--Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer will join the Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce and the ExtraCredit Campaign Coalition at a press conference to kickoff Central Florida’s 2007 ExtraCredit Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Campaign and celebrate National EITC Awareness Day on Thursday, February 1, 2007, at 10:00 a.m. at the LYNX Central Transit Station, 455 Garland Avenue, Orlando FL 32801.

In 1975, the federal government established the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) program through the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to help families that work. No other program in the history of federal programs has been more successful in helping working families and moving children out of poverty. For this tax year (2006), the IRS estimates that more than $32 million are waiting to be put into the hands of working families right here in Central Florida.

“ExtraCredit has been selected as a national model for EITC campaigns by the National League of Cities because it is the only prosperity campaign that is lead by a business organization, a coalition of partners, and the IRS. Business and community partners working together is the key ingredient for helping working families and our community’s prosperity,” says Mayor Buddy Dyer.

With the Federal Income Tax Return filing season on the horizon, many of our employees and working families are eligible for a variety of tax assistance programs. The ExtraCredit Coalition also promotes 29 Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Sites in Orange County where recipients who qualify can get their taxes filed electronically for free. The 2007 ExtraCredit Campaign offers information services through an award winning website at www.orlando.org and a unique partnership with 211 Community Resources by dialing 2-1-1 or 407.839.HELP (4357).

“Last year, the ExtraCredit EITC Campaign outreached to 1,160 employers that represent more than 650,000 working people in Central Florida. ExtraCredit teaches businesses how to become a “Hero” by helping their employees and our Central Florida working families. The ExtraCredit Campaign represents “business advocacy” at its best,” says Jacob V. Stuart, President of the Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce.

The ExtraCredit (EITC) Campaign is a business led initiative sponsored by the Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce and funded by the Edyth Bush Charitable Foundation, the City of Orlando and Orange County Government. “We want to thank Jacob Stuart, President of the Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce and the ExtraCredit Coalition partners and volunteers. Because of your leadership and support, the ExtraCredit Community Campaign is helping working families get the tax refund they deserve,” says David Odahowski, President of the Edyth Bush Charitable Foundation, Inc.

For information more information on the EITC or Taxes visit: www.irs.gov or call 1-800-829-1040.

For information on ExtraCredit, contact Maria Urbino at 407-835-2442 or visit: www.orlando.org