Alexi Giannoulias - Illinois State Treasurer




	Additional Resources College \| Educators \| Employment \| Entrepreneurs/Small Business Owners \| Extension Services \| Government Benefits \| Health \| Hispanics \| Homeownership \| Military Families \| Retirement Planning \| Seniors College Learning in Illinois The official Illinois resource for those interested in attending college includes links to Illinois colleges and universities, online learning, internship information, and methods of college funding. College Zone The Illinois Student Assistance Commission is a one-stop financial aid center for those planning to attend college. Bright Start College Savings Program The Illinois State Treasurer’s Office administers the Bright Start College Savings Program, a tax-free way to save for college. The site offers financial calculators to help begin or assist with financial planning of college costs. Top Educators Illinois Personal Finance Challenge (IPFC) The ECON Illinois is a program that identifies and promote talented students who do extremely well of understanding personal finance concepts. Take the first step in getting involved. Top Employment Illinois Department of Employment Security The Illinois Department of Employment Security administers unemployment insurance and helps job seekers find jobs and employers find workers. Experience Works Experience Works helps low-income seniors, many with multiple barriers to employment; get the training they need to find good jobs in their local communities. Illinois Clicks! Illinois Clicks! links to job sites, including a senior jobs database. Top Entrepreneurs/Small Business Owners State of Illinois Business Portal – Women and Minority Business Assistance Learn how to register as a minority or woman-owned business and find other business development resources at the State of Illinois Business Assistance for Women site. National Association of Women Business Owners The National Association of Women Business Owners is the only dues-based national organization representing the interests of all women entrepreneurs across all industries. Women’s Business Development Center The Women’s Business Development Center helps women start or expand their business. Employ Illinois The Illinois State Treasurer’s Employ Illinois program helps small and large business owners start, enhance or save their business with the help of low-interest rate loans. Money is also available specifically for day care providers. Top Extension Services University of Illinois Extension The University of Illinois Extension’s programs are aimed at making life better, healthier, safer and more profitable for individuals and their communities. University of Illinois for Urban Illinois University of Illinois Extension services for urban Illinois. Top Government Benefits Official State of Illinois website The official website of the State of Illinois is the gateway to services and information about living, visiting, business, working, health and wellness in Illinois. GovBenefits.gov The official benefits website of the U.S. government, with information on over 1,000 benefit and assistance programs. Illinoisbenefits.org The state's resource for benefits, information and enrollment assistance for people with Medicare, their caregivers and the volunteers and professionals that assist them. Illinois Department of Child and Family Services The state’s resource for information about Child Protection, Foster Care, Adoption, Day Care licensing and other services provided by the Illinois Department of Children & Family Services (DCFS). Top Health IllinoisBenefits.org The Illinois resource for benefits, information and enrollment assistance for people with Medicare, their caregivers and the volunteers and professionals that assist them. Top Hispanics Illinois Migrant Council The Illinois Migrant Council provides social services for migrant and seasonal farm workers. Mujeres Latinas En Accion Advocacy center for Latina women and children. Top Homeownership Finally Home Program The Illinois Treasurer's Our Own Home Program helps home buyers with less-than-perfect credit secure sustainable loans and provides an alternative to predatory loans that can lead to foreclosure. Top Military Families Opportunity Illinois The Illinois State Treasurer’s Opportunity Illinois program backs low-interest loans to members of the U.S. National Guard and U.S. Military Reserves to help support their families financially during deployment. Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs The Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs assists veterans and their family members get the services they have rightfully earned. Top Retirement Planning Women’s Institute for a Secure Retirement The Women’s Institute for a Secure Retirement works to provide low and moderate income women (aged 18 to 65) with basic financial information aimed at helping them take financial control over their lives and to increase awareness of the structural barriers that prevent women’s adequate participation in the nation’s retirement systems. AARP Money AARP Money is an online resource for persons 50 and older that offers Social Security and retirement calculators, among other resources. Wi$e Up - Women's Bureau, U.S. Department of Labor The Women's Bureau has a flexible, self-paced financial education curriculum called Wi$e Up that aims to help Generation X and Y women save for the future. Top Seniors Illinois Department on Aging Working with Area Agencies on Aging, community-based service providers and older people themselves, the Illinois Department on Aging strives to improve quality of life for current and future generations of older Illinoisans. Illinois Agencies & Organizations Serving Seniors The Illinois Department on Aging’s list of resources for seniors. USA.gov Senior Citizens Resources Official information on services from the U.S. government. Generations United Generations United is a national membership organization that focuses solely on improving the lives of children, youth, and older people through intergenerational strategies, programs, and public policies. Owl Illinois Owl Illinois is an advocacy center for midlife and senior women. Go Direct The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Federal Reserve Banks sponsor Go Direct, a campaign to motivate people who receive Social Security and SSI checks to use direct deposit. Top

Employ Illinois gives business owners access to capital to start or enhance their businesses with the help of low- interest rate loans.

Opportunity Illinois backs low-interest loans to consumers and community development agencies to improve the quality of life in Illinois.

Cultivate Illinois helps farmers offset the rising cost of farming and encourages green business development.

Money Market Fund allows local government entities to pool their investments to gain a higher rate of return for their residents.

Online bill paying gives people with busy schedules a quick and convenient way to pay government bills and fees.