Delta State University and the Center for Community and Economic Development recently announced\u00a0the successful completion of the asset-building program Delta Dollars.<\/p>\n
Delta Dollars is an 8:1 matched individual development account program that focuses on financial literacy and post-secondary education. Since the spring of 2015,\u00a019 participants have utilized Delta Dollars to accumulate a combined savings total of $9,730 \u2014 money students use to build financial assets needed\u00a0to pursue their\u00a0college education.\u00a0A total of $66,641.55 has been disbursed for their post-secondary expenses at Delta State.<\/p>\n
\u201cWithout the funding provided by this program, I would not have been able to graduate this semester,” said student Jammie Marquez. “I have been beset by difficulties that have required me to take extra classes. Knowing that I would be able to rely on my savings and funding from Delta Dollars made me confident that I could overcome those difficulties and add the courses without worrying about the added cost.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nursing student Gabrielle Windless shared the same appreciation for Delta Dollars.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a great program,” she said. “I was able to stay on track towards graduation by attending summer school with the funds. I learned a lot from the self-paced financial literacy modules.”<\/p>\n
A grant from Assets for Independence, a program of the U.S. Department of Health and Humans Services, funds approximately 50\u00a0percent\u00a0of program costs. The remaining half\u00a0is funded through non-federal sources.\u00a0Other partners and contributors included\u00a0Delta State University Foundation<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Renasant Bank<\/a>.<\/p>\n