Barre, VT – State Treasurer Mike Pieciak visited Capstone Community Action in Barre on Thursday, during National Financial Literacy Month, to highlight the financial education programming and resources they offer at their four central Vermont locations: Barre, Morrisville, Randolph, and Bradford.
The State Treasurer’s Office partners with Capstone to facilitate the funding of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, which trains volunteers to help prepare state and federal income tax returns for families or individuals who make $60,000 or less. The VITA program helps thousands of Vermonters each year claim refunds and credits. Treasurer Pieciak’s visit coincided with VITA program appointment hours and he was able to meet with both filers and volunteers.
“I am so impressed with Capstone’s financial education and assistance efforts,” said Treasurer Pieciak. “Capstone fills a critical need in our community, providing access to financial literacy resources with real personalized attention and assistance. I am particularly thrilled to see first-hand how the VITA program helps Vermonters navigate the tax return process and put dollars back into their pockets. This resource will be critical in ensuring that all eligible Vermonters are able to take advantage of the federal Saver’s Match, beginning in 2027, and especially those participating in the VT Saves public retirement plan which we plan to have launched then.”
Capstone also offers personal financial coaching on topics such as budgeting and credit, emergency savings, retirement, taxes, insurance, Green Saving Smart Financial and Energy Coaching, and Micro Business Development Programming.
“Financial literacy isn’t just about having more money,” said Sue Minter, Capstone’s Executive Director. “It’s about understanding our financial systems – like building credit for healthy borrowing or investing in a retirement account – and having the tools and resources to make informed choices about your financial future. By providing coaching services to our clients, we can hope that they are inspired to make a better future for themselves and their children, build assets, and begin to make headway in ending the generational cycle of poverty. Capstone greatly values our VITA partnership with the Treasurer’s Office and we are excited to collaborate on future projects that help Vermont families work towards financial security.”
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