Pocono Alliance, a nonprofit located in Stroudsburg, and ESSA Bank & Trust are working together to help low-income individuals and families improve their financial futures.

Pocono Alliance operates the Bridges Out of Poverty Program which addresses the issue of poverty by engaging the community and empowering the motivated. One portion of this program is Getting Ahead. During the Getting Ahead program, participants receive educational tools to identify financial and social resources to strengthen their individual productivity and contributions to the community.

Pocono Alliance and ESSA have established a matched savings account program in order to help people who have completed the Getting Ahead program, pursue their dreams of becoming homeowners, small business owners, or postsecondary education.

The program will provide incentive savings matches to participants, financial literacy classes, peer and staff support, and individual counseling in order to make asset ownership obtainable.

During the matched savings account program, participants will acquire financial skills and knowledge in order to make informed financial decisions. They will also learn how to set realistic short and long-term personal, financial, and asset goals.

For more information, visit Pocono Alliance’s website at www.poconoalliance.org or on Facebook under Pocono Alliance.