ProJeCt is approved by the Department of Community and Economic Development for participation in the Pennsylvania Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program as both an Educational Improvement Organization and a Pre-Kindergarten Scholarship Organization. This program provides a wonderful opportunity for businesses to direct their tax dollars locally for support of ProJeCt’s approved programs. Upon application and approval by DCED, corporations may receive tax credits for their contributions to ProJeCt’s SIZZLE!® summer literacy camp or Family Literacy Early Childhood Education program.
Any authorized Pennsylvania business that pays one of six business taxes and agrees to make the required contribution to an approved organization may apply to DCED for Educational Improvement Tax Credits and/or Pre-Kindergarten Tax Credits.
- For the Educational Improvement Tax Credits, businesses may receive a tax credit equal to 75% of its one-year contribution to an approved organization, up to a maximum of $200,000 per taxable year. That credit may be increased to 90% of the contributions, up to a maximum of $200,000 per taxable year, if the business makes the same contribution in each of two consecutive tax years.
- For the Pre-Kindergarten Tax Credits, businesses may receive tax credit equal to 100% of the first $10,000 contributed to a pre-kindergarten scholarship organization during a taxable year, and tax credits equal to 90% of any additional amount contributed up to a maximum of $100,000 of tax credits per taxable year.
The application process for both Educational Improvement and Pre-Kindergarten tax credits is a fairly simple one involving the completion of a one-page application. There are limited pools of tax credits available for each program, and applications are processed by DCED on a first-come, first-served basis. Applications will be accepted beginning June 30, 2006.
Last year, all Educational Improvement Tax Credits were issued on the first day applications were processed. All applications received on a specific day are processed on a random basis before DCED moves on to the next day’s applications.
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For the past twelve years ProJeCt has offered our SIZZLE!® summer literacy camp to at-risk, low income Easton area children in grades K-6. This free, six-week program is designed to augment the school district curriculum and prevent summer learning loss, while teaching children critical life skills and providing them with safe recreation opportunities. SIZZLE!® focuses on measurable academic outcomes and activities aligned with the Pennsylvania State Department of Education (PDE) standards for reading, writing and mathematics.
ProJeCt has delivered SIZZLE!® in collaboration with the Easton Area School District since 1999, serving as many as 350 children at three school district sites in 2005. SIZZLE!® won the 2005 Colonial Alliance for Public Schools Excellence in Education Award. It has been a designated “educational improvement program” eligible for funding under the Pennsylvania EITC Program since 2002. |
Since 1993, ProJeCt has provided Family Literacy services to the greater Easton community. Family Literacy addresses the intergenerational cycle of poverty and low literacy through a comprehensive set of services including adult literacy education, high quality early childhood education, parenting education, Parent and Child Together (PACT) Time, case management and home visitation.
In December 2005, DCED approved the early childhood education component of ProJeCt’s family literacy program for receipt of Pre-Kindergarten tax credit contributions by approved businesses. Our early childhood education program operates five days per week, providing a high quality, literacy-rich preschool for children while their parents attend classes. |
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Additional Information, Forms and Instructions are available on the DCED Website at www.newPA.com.
For more information, contact Pat McCutcheon, ProJeCt’s Director of Development, by phone (610.258.4361) or email ( pmccutcheon@projecteaston.org); or contact the Department of Community and Economic Development at 717.787.7120 |
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