|
|
|
CKEEP
The Central Kentucky Economic Empower Project
("CKEEP") is a coalition that partners with the IRS to provide free
tax preparation to low-income families, raise awareness about the Earned Income
Tax Credit, and help families build assets. The project was created by LexLinc, which is a partnership among local citizens. LexLinc
served as CKEEP's incubator and the project lead during the initiatives first
six years. However, due to its exponential growth, in the fall of 2009,
LexLinc is transitioning CKEEP to the Kentucky Poverty Law Center to provide
CKEEP with the support needed to grow regionally and provide its clients with
more services. CKEEP is an official KYPLC program and is housed in KYPLC's
Community Education Department.
Each year, millions of dollars are lost by hard-working families in the
Lexington area who do not claim the Earned Income Tax Credit. That money
is lost to them and to the local economy. Additionally, millions of
dollars are lost when area households pay high fees to tax preparation firms
that charge for Refund Anticipation Loans (RALs) or rapid refunds. Click here to
learn how you can help out.
In the 2009 tax season, fifteen free tax preparation sites
completed more than 2,100 returns for low-income families, resulting in over
$2.67 million in federal refunds, $865,020 of which were composed of claimed
Earned Income Tax Credits. Click here to see
CKEEP's 2009 report. To see our plans for the upcoming tax season and to view our marketing materials, please visit our tax site
page.
How CKEEP Got Started
During tax season 2003, LexLinc promoted several of the
existing, unconnected free tax preparation sites in Lexington. With this
promotion, the idea for a community-based partnership to enhance local use of
the EITC was conceptualized. The formal partnership of CKEEP, Central Kentucky
Economic Empowerment Project, began in April 2003. Together with the IRS,
CKEEP’s goals are to increase the number of free tax sites in Lexington,
increase the awareness and use of the EITC in Lexington and to develop family
asset building plans. LexLinc served as CKEEP's incubator and the
project lead during the initiative's first six years. Since the fall of
2009, CKEEP is an official KYPLC program and is housed in KYPLC's Community
Education Department.
|
|
|
|
|
|
