Financial Literacy Education

There is an old curse of disputed origin which says, "May you live in interesting times."

These are indeed interesting times for many of us as we deal with shrinking pocketbooks, budgeting difficulties and financial planning headaches. Because of this, understanding the workings of personal finance, financial planning, lifestyle flexibility and locating helpful services become important tools in not just surviving, but thriving in difficult times.

Below are some online government resources that may be helpful in educating and informing all of us in weathering these "interesting times."

KANSAS INFORMATION

Thriving in Tough Times: Financial Resources
http://kslibinfo.wetpaint.com/page/Finances
(Information provided by Kansas librarians through the State Library of Kansas)

Financial Literacy Resources
http://www.kansasstatetreasurer.com/prodweb/financial_resources.php
(From the Kansas State Treasurer's Office)

Financial Literacy Resources
http://www.kcua.coop/Financial_Lit_Resources_147.html
(From the Kansas Credit Union Association)

Kansas Financial Literacy Education Law
http://www.kansasstatetreasurer.com/prodweb/press/column_3.php
(Statement by State Treasurer Dennis McKinney on a recently passed law on teaching financial literacy in Kansas schools)

Kansas Council on Economic Education
http://www.kcee.wichita.edu/
(The KCEE is a non-profit, business-education partnership dedicated to helping Kansas' K-12 teachers teach economics and personal finance)

KTKA and WIBW News
http://www.ktka.com/news/2009/jun/02/financial_literacy_education_now_law_kansas/
http://www.wibw.com/political/headlines/46769327.html
(Two news stories about the Kansas Financial Literacy Education Law which will require financial literacy education in Kansas schools)

US GOVERNMENT INFORMATION

Mymoney.gov
http://www.mymoney.gov/
(MyMoney.gov is the U.S. government's website dedicated to teaching all Americans the basics about financial education. Whether you are planning to buy a home, balancing your checkbook, or investing in your 401k, the resources on MyMoney.gov can help you do it better.)

Paying for Education
http://www.mymoney.gov/education.shtml
(A list of resources supplied by MyMoney.gov)

Responding to Life Events
http://www.mymoney.gov/life.shtml
(Birth, death, marriage, divorce, illness, foreclosure, job loss, re-education, etc.)

Retirement Planning
http://www.mymoney.gov/retirement.shtml
(Information on pensions, health benefits, savings, Social Security, etc.)

MyMoney for kids
http://www.mymoney.gov/kids.shtml
(Web resources for children on finance and budgeting supplied by US government agencies)

Thriving in Tough Times

Are you looking for information to help you weather the recession? Chin up! The State Library of Kansas has assembled resources to assist you! Whether it's finding a new job, figuring out how to refinance your home mortgage, where to turn if you've lost health insurance, or just how to weather current economic conditions, you have a place to turn to. The State Library has a new wiki to help you find the assistance you need at

http://kslibinfo.wetpaint.com/

There are resources on:
Employment and Training http://kslibinfo.wetpaint.com/page/Employment+%26+Training
Managing your finances http://kslibinfo.wetpaint.com/page/Finances
Housing assistance http://kslibinfo.wetpaint.com/page/Housing
Resources for families http://kslibinfo.wetpaint.com/page/Families
Under construction: Look for the soon-to-be-added resources that details how your local public library is helping your community.

If you know of a valuable site or resource that isn't on this website you can start or join discussions and add to the pool of resources. Let's help our fellow Kansans weather this storm!

Federal Stimulus: What it means to Kansans

The Federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 has passed and is in the process to be implemented. The purpose of the Recovery Act, also known as the economic stimulus bill, is to create and save jobs, jumpstart our economy, and build the foundation for long-term economic growth. The Act includes measures to modernize the nation's infrastructure, enhance America's energy independence, expand educational opportunities, increase access to health care, provide tax relief, and protect those in greatest need. This now generates questions above and beyond "should it pass?" Questions pop up such as how will these monies affect the states and how much will Kansas get? How is this money going to be used? Where did this money come from? Some answers to these questions will need to wait until the funding available in this bill is allocated; until then, see the resources below for available answers and much more information:

From the U.S. government:

New! Kansas Department of Transportation lists transportation projects that would utilize ARRA monies
http://www.ksdot.org/EconomicStimulus.asp

Real and valid grants available from Federal Agencies via ARRA
http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?mode=Search&dates=7&docs1=doc_open_checked

Quick FAQ from the Whitehouse:
http://www.recovery.gov/?q=content/frequently-asked-questions#2

You will be able to track the funds when they have been allocated at:
http://www.recovery.gov/

Full text of the actual stimulus bill
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d111:H.R.1:
or
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=111_cong_bills&docid=f:h1enr.pdf

To view the committee report on this act go to:
http://www.rules.house.gov/bills_details.aspx?NewsID=4149

To meet the acts' objectives, the President is directing Federal agencies to take critical steps in preparation for the Act’s implementation. See here, for the White House’s February 9, 2009 initial implementation memorandum and February 18 detailed guidance memorandum.
http://www.recovery.gov/files/recoverylegislationmemo.pdf

http://www.recovery.gov/files/Initial%20Recovery%20Act%20Implementing%20Guidance.pdf

Timeline of the Act and implementation:
http://www.recovery.gov/?q=content/timeline

How your tax dollars to be used according to this act:
http://www.recovery.gov/?q=content/investments

Speaker Pelosi's highlights of the act:
http://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/legislation?id=0273

Word from President Obama:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/president-obama-delivers-your-weekly-address/
or
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/02/24/obama.speech/index.html?eref=rss_topstories#cnnSTCVideo

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Advisory Group:
http://www.governor.ks.gov/news/NewsRelease/2009/nr-09-0123a.htm

Summary of the effects on the economy by the Congressional Budget Office:
http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/99xx/doc9987/Gregg_Year-by-Year_Stimulus.pdf


From the Kansas Government:
Governor's press release, "Federal Stimulus: The action we need to put America back to work"
http://www.governor.ks.gov/news/GovColumn/col09-0211g.htm

Quick highlights:
http://www.governor.ks.gov/recovery/highlights.htm

Sebelius forms group to prepare Kansas for Federal stimulus bill:
www.governor.ks.gov/news/NewsRelease/2009/nr-09-0123a.htm

Governor Sebelius’ statement on the American recovery act: www.governor.ks.gov/news/NewsRelease/2009/nr-09-0213a-st.htm

Kansas Health Policy Authority and Medicaid monies available for Kansas:
http://www.khpa.ks.gov/LegislativeInformation/Testimony/2-23-09%20ARRA%20fact%20sheet.pdf

Monies for projects for roads and highways:
http://www.ksdot.org/EconomicStimulus.asp

NBAF

NBAF stands for the National Bio-Agro Defense Facility, a part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. This facility would research and develop solutions to some of the world's most complex human and animal diseases. Your Kansas government officials have worked hard to bring this facility home to Manhattan, Kansas in hopes that it would create jobs and economic growth. Kansas was selected out of five finalists to become host to this research based facility.


Read more about this new facility at
http://www.nbafinkansas.org/pdfs/fact_sheets/NBAF_Fact_Sheet.pdf and

http://www.dhs.gov/xres/labs/editorial_0762.shtm

Why the need for a new facility?
http://www.dhs.gov/xres/labs/gc_1171470811292.shtm

What would be studied at NBAF:
http://www.dhs.gov/xres/labs/gc_1181073261627.shtm

What will it look like?
http://www.dhs.gov/xres/labs/gc_1181072257904.shtm

Read about safety issues addressed for this facility:
http://www.nbafinkansas.org/pdfs/fact_sheets/NBAF_safety.pdf and

http://www.nbafinkansas.org/SafetyAndSecurity.aspx

Environmental impact of NBAF:
http://www.dhs.gov/xres/labs/gc_1187734676776.shtm#1

Read more about the final decision at
http://www.nbafinkansas.org/pressroom/PressReleaseDetail.aspx?id=134

Task force who worked to bring it to Kansas:
http://www.nbafinkansas.org/task_force/

This effort was supported by the Kansas Bioscience Authority, Governor Sebelius and Senator Pat Roberts
http://www.kansasbioauthority.org/Default.aspx

www.governor.ks.gov

http://roberts.senate.gov

Kansas Economics

Kansans are feeling the pinch due to recent events in the nation’s economy. Below are some of the tools that our lawmakers use to predict events and write laws pertaining to Kansas’ labor market and economy:

Kansas, Inc.: Kansas, Inc. provides a respected forum for business and industry, local leaders, and state executive and legislative officials to debate issues directly with one another
http://www.kansasinc.org/index.shtml

KTEC: The Kansas Technology Enterprise Corporation (KTEC) is a private/public partnership established by the state of Kansas to promote technology based economic development.
http://www.ktec.com/

Kansas Economy at a Glance- developed by the U.S. Department of Labor
http://stats.bls.gov/eag/eag.KS.htm

2008 Kansas Economic Report- developed by the Kansas Department of Labor
http://www.dol.ks.gov/LMIS/economicReport/2008/economic_Report_2008.pdf

Economic Development Report- developed by the Kansas Legislative Division of Post Audit
http://www.kslegislature.org/postaudit/audits_perform/08pa06a.pdf

Kansas Labor Market Information- developed by the Kansas Department of Labor
http://www.dol.ks.gov/lmis/lmis.html

2008 Kansas Wage Survey- developed by the Kansas Department of Labor
http://www.dol.ks.gov/LMIS/wagesurvey/ws2008/wagesurvey_2008.html

Kansas Economic Incentives from the Kansas Department of Commerce
http://kdoch.state.ks.us/public/resources/businesses/list.jsp

Employment and Economy Statistics from the Kansas Department of Commerce, Business Development
http://www.thinkbigks.com/EconomicIndicators.aspx

2007-2008 Data Book from the Kansas Department of Commerce
http://www.thinkbigks.com/Documents/databook_all.pdf

The Governor's Economic and Demographic Report
http://budget.ks.gov/ecodemo.htm