CaABI topic for chamber meeting

During the Ritzville Area Chamber of Commerce’s general membership luncheon on Thursday, Dec. 13, Patrick Malone will be discussing the Columbia area Asset Building Initiative (CaABI). The meeting begins at noon, and the no-host lunch is at the Ritz Roadhouse.

CaABI is the result of a public policy project called “Horizons” that was established many years ago. Washington State University Extension taught Horizons to 42 communities in central and eastern Washington over the course of eight years.

CaABI is focused on financial education, credit counseling, debt management planning, tax aide and first accounts for new residents, and much more. CaABI is currently available to residents in Adams, Grant, Klickitat and Skamania counties.

Malone will discuss the first phase of CaABI, which consists of seven goals and desired outcomes to be achieved by August 2013. Malone’s presentation will begin with a personal financial literacy quiz to help those in attendance learn more about asset building.

Malone’s presentation is to help gage the interest in classes inside of Ritzville and Adams County concerning money management in the spring of 2013, as well as a money smart training seminar for small businesses.

For more general project information about CaABI, contact Malone at [email protected]. To learn more about the chamber, contact the office at 659-1936 or by email at [email protected].