REGION — Agawam, Chicopee, Springfield and West Springfield public schools and their special education programs received funding to host financial education fairs, according to a statement issued by the state treasurer.
Also known as Credit for Life Fairs, these aim to assist students in learning how to budget, save, pay for college and live within their means, said Layla R. D’Emilia, the undersecretary for the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation.
The state announced the 2024 recipients of the Financial Education Innovation Fund Grant on Monday, after a competitive application process that ended in November.
The state agencies awarded grants to 59 schools, totaling $223,548.
“With hands-on, high-quality lessons offered at these fairs, students can develop financial management skills they will use for the rest of their lives,” said Mary Gallagher, the commissioner of banks.
Of the 59 schools, 15 — including in Agawam and Springfield — received funding as seed applicants to host fairs for the first time, and 10 participating schools with a large populations of low- to moderate-income students received an additional $500, a first in the program’s history.
Since 2015, about 45,000 students have attended Credit for Life Fairs in the state.
“High school students deserve the opportunity to learn the financial skills they will need for every situation encountered throughout their lives,” said State Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg.
The Financial Education Innovation Fund Grant began as an effort to improve access to financial literacy throughout the state and is funded by the Division of Banks through a settlement over alleged unlawful lending practices.
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