 Welcome to the City of Columbia's 2021 National Financial Literacy Month. My name is Valerie Austin and I am the Financial Empowerment Program Specialist for the Office of Community Development. This year we are celebrating our National Financial Literacy Month by highlighting different financial programs and initiatives that the Office of Community Development administers to our city residents. One of our financial initiatives that have been very successful over the years is our Bank on Columbia initiative. Bank on Columbia provides Columbia's residents access to affordable bank accounts and reconnecting them with mainstream financial institutions. The goal for this financial program is to educate Columbia's residents with in-depth financial literacy workshops. Our partner financial institution helps assist the program with financial materials and affordable accounts. Another financial initiative that our Office of Community Development administers is Columbia Kids Save. Columbia Kids Save provides a long-term affordable savings account for students enrolled in kindergarten at Walker Nantz Elementary and Carver Lyon Elementary Schools. The Office of Community Development provides an initial seed deposit of $50 and we will also match each account dollar-for-dollar up to $50 each year. This program not only encourages young students to save but it educates them on the importance of saving. It helps them save for higher education or it can be used to open a business or purchase a home when students reach the age of 18. These savings accounts are built by contributions from family, friends, and students themselves. Office of Community Development partners with financial institutions such as First Horizon, VB&T, and South State Bank to help assist our residents with their financial needs and providing them with affordable accounts and reconnecting them with mainstream financial institutions. Again, I welcome you all to our first virtual National Financial Literacy Month.