Blogging Black Miami

Miami-Dade County’s Free Tax Filing Assistance Program can help you apply for tax credits

The Mayor's Office and the Board of County Commissioners once again have launched the Miami-Dade County Prosperity Campaign which reaches out to low-to-moderate income residents by preparing their income tax returns at no charge.  The program also helps residents apply for the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit.

Miami-Dade County's Free Tax Filing Assistance Sites  are staffed by IRS trained volunteers. This service will provide our low-income residents with the ability to complete their tax returns – and electronic filing (e-filing), and more importantly, help individuals fill out the necessary forms to get the Earned Income Tax Credit, an often overlooked program that provides refunds to working individuals who earned $12,120 or less last year, families with one qualifying child with $32,001 earned last year or families with two or more qualifying children that earned less than $36,348.  Last year's efforts brought $578 million in EITC into the County's economy.

Low-to-moderate income residents are encouraged to visit one of our locations  to receive free tax assistance. Residents must bring their W-2 Form and their child's/children social security number(s). For more information, call 311.

Mom and Pop Small Business Grants Available

Attention small business owners! Grants are available for your business through the The Mom And Pop Small Business Grant Program. The program provides financial and technical assistance to qualifying small businesses approved for funding.

Contact the district office where your business is located for applications and guideline information.

• Search for your Commission District office location
• View the 2007-2008 application schedule
• View Mom & Pop success stories 

Remember Gaston's Rules as You Shop This Holiday Season

I probably should have posted this last week to give it time to marinate in your consciousness. There is really no reason that Blacks don't have more financial resources except we don't follow basic rules. I'm guilty also.

Let's do better --- starting NOW. More important, let's teach our children better financial habits. As the United States' economy continues on this downward spiral, it would behoove all of us to do a major re-working of financial priorities and prepare for some serious survival issues.

Black entrepreneur A.G. Gaston had it right a long time ago. His lessons still hold true today.

A.G. Gaston: Rough Road to Riches

By James C. Johnson

As the civil rights movement swept through the South during the late 1950s, certain moments captured the bravery of those on the front lines. When Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was arrested in Birmingham, Alabama, for marching without a permit, march organizers knew his immediate release was crucial to keep the struggle alive. The call for help went out to Arthur George Gatson, the city's most prominent black entrepreneur, who posted the $5,000 bail for King's release. [MORE]

A. G. Gaston's 10 rules for success

1. Save a part of all you earn. Pay yourself first. Take it off the top and bank it. You'll be surprised how fast the money builds up. If you have two or three thousand dollars in the bank, sooner or later somebody will come along and show you how to double it. Money doesn't spoil. Keep it.

2. Establish a reputation at a bank or savings and loan association. Save at an established institution and borrow there. Stay away from loan sharks.

3. Take no chances with your money. Play the safe number, the good one. A man can't afford to lose has no business gambling.

4. Never borrow anything that, if forced to it, you can't pay back.

5. Don't get bigheaded with the little fellows. That's where the money is. If you stick with the little fellows, give them your devotion, they'll make you big.

6. Don't have so much pride. Wear the same suit for a year or two. It doesn't make any difference what kind of suit the pocket is in if there is money in the pocket.

7. Find a need and fill it. Successful businesses are founded on the needs of the people. Once in business, keep good books. Also, hire the best people you can find.

8. Stay in your own class. Never run around with people you can't compete with.

9. Once you get money or a reputation for having money, people will give you money.

10. Once you reach a certain bracket, it is very difficult not to make more money.