1. Frontera Asset Building Network NALCAB 2009 Border Community and Economic Development Summit El Paso, TX July 17-18

2. The Frontera Asset Building Network A Learning Community dedicated to improving asset building pathways and outcomes for families living along the U.S.-Mexico Border Region.

3. Who Are We? A Network of over 80 Border organizations Border NGOs: Community Action Agencies, United Ways, Housing Authorities, direct service providers Community Foundations Academic Institutions: state universities, community colleges Financial Institutions: CDFIs, credit Unions, banks, federal reserve Local/regional government- Housing authorities, municipalities National Partners: Annie E. Casey Foundation, National Community Tax Coalition, Internal Revenue Service, NALCAB, U.S.-Mexico Border Philanthropy Partnership,

4. Regional Coalitions San Diego, CA Southern Arizona Las Cruces, NM Albuquerque, NM El Paso, TX Cameron County, TX Laredo, TX Hidalgo County, TX

5. Regional Coalition Asset Building Programs Provide an array of asset building services – Free or low-fee tax preparation – Year round tax clinics – Earned Income Tax Credit outreach – Savings and IDA programs: education, auto, home, etc. – Credit repair/counseling – Foreclosure – Financial education – Microbusiness – Many more…

6. Why does the Network Exist? Many practitioners along the border find themselves working in isolation Connect and lift up best practices of how to effectively work and serve border communities Drive innovation and support for local work Provide a national voice to the border

7. FABN Membership -Peer learning and capacity building opportunities -Annual Learning Institute -Peer learning site exchanges -Webinars: ARRA, Border Census outreach -Grant opportunities -Research and Data -Latino Financial Behaviors and Preferences Study -Over 15,000 surveys on border residents financial preferences/behaviors -Informs program development, areas of advocacy, and resource development

8. Continued -FABN Asset Building Survey: Aggregates our partners’ work and impact on the border -Examples (2006-2008) * -over 17 million saved in tax fees -95 million returned to border families through free tax prep -Over 1,200 completed/enrolled IDAs -14,000 financial education courses complete -Over 1,000 homes purchased -3,000 new savings accounts * Does not include 2009 survey which is currently being conducted

9. Continued Communications—Keeping people connected! – Quarterly Newsletter – Job announcements – Grant announcements – Promotion of asset building trainings/events

10. FABN in the Field A voice for the Border in the broader field – Seat on the NCTC Steering committee – Research presentations around the country and internationally – VITA Grant Roundtable – CFED conferences Informing national programs – IRS English Language Proficiency Program

11. Areas of Growth Developing a Border Advocacy Agenda – Policy briefs under development Expanding Learning Opportunities – Topical peer exchanges – Provide competitive scholarships to national conferences Continue to grow our membership and track collective results/impact Expand national influence: more national partnerships and serve to inform other cities/organizations with emerging “border-like” communities

12. Questions? Thank You To learn more visit www.fabnetwork.org