FSCJ was recently awarded the 2017 State Farm Good Neighbor Citizenship Education grant, a $5,000 gift to help the ongoing financial literacy initiatives to broader populations and Collegewide programs. Designed to help prepare underrepresented students make informed financial decisions, become their own advocates and reinforce the vital role they play in the economy as producers and consumers, the program’s goal is to directly impact economic and financial decision-making throughout the community.

The workshops have historically served as a valuable community resource for preparing the region’s K-12 educators to share the knowledge with their students. With the latest funding support from State Farm, FSCJ will now have the ability to target and benefit special at-risk student populations including pre-collegiate at-risk students, veterans and their dependents, persons with disabilities, first time in college students, non-traditional returning students, career changers and students enrolled in Student Life Skills (SLS) courses. 

Additional program offerings will also be made available for FSCJ’s faculty and staff through partnerships with specific employee groups such as Faculty Senate, Career Employees' Council and the Administrative and Professional Collaborative.

Through the Collegewide program during the 2017-18 academic year, FSCJ intends to educate a minimum of 200 FSCJ students and 50 members of the faculty and staff on economic and financial matters, especially as it concerns borrowing wisely and decision-making regarding higher education. The workshop series will incorporate a range of topics including personal finance, debt management, budgeting and saving, financing college, investing for the future and the various types of insurance coverage.

A check presentation with State Farm representatives, Jacksonville City Council Members Aaron Bowman and Matt Schellenberg, Senator Audrey Gibson and FSCJ leadership was held to celebrate the partnership on May 25 at the FSCJ Kent Campus Art Gallery. View photos from the event here.