Partnership created to help with finances

YOUNGSTOWN — Mahoning Valley residents have a new resource for learning how to manage their financial resources during these tough economic times.

The Mahoning County Financial Stability Partnership, spearheaded by the Youngstown/Mahoning Valley United Way and the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County, was launched today.

“There are a lot of working poor who are less than a paycheck away from catastrophe. The purpose of the Financial Stability Partnership is to help people on all levels to stabilize financially,” said Sarah V. Lown, development incentive manager for the Youngstown City Office of Economic Development.

Lown chaired United Way’s Achieving Our Potential Vision Council, which saw that the county has a large population of people who are working but don’t make enough money to get by. Out of that came the idea for the financial stability partnership, said Ginny Pasha, Youngstown/Mahoning Valley United Way director of community investment.

All of the 23 financial stability partnership members are focused on helping working families manage their resources, Pasha said.

The library provides information access to a large and diverse audience in the community, and partnership with other organizations is a good way to combat problems and help the community have a brighter future, said Carlton A. Sears, library director.

For the complete story, see Thursday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com.