Hartford, CT – Capital Community College (CCC) is proud to announce the formation of the FIRST (Financial Independence to Reach Success and Transformation) Center, providing services and internships to low- and moderate-income individuals at the college and in the community. The primary goal of the center is to empower individuals to gain the knowledge and skills to attain financial self-sufficiency for themselves and their families, and in turn, for them to achieve personal and professional success.

“We are thrilled about the increased services that will be available to students through the FIRST Center, thanks to our longtime partner, The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America®,” said Wilfredo Nieves, Capital’s president. “Many students suspend their education due to financial challenges, and this will provide them with the critical support they need to address these situations, remain in college, and graduate.”

The centerpiece of the FIRST Center is a three-credit personal finance course, “Money Management for Life,” an introductory course (BFN 110)  that has run at CCC since 2013, with all course fees, books and materials covered by Guardian.

Expanded workshops and coaching services, with offerings provided in partnership with the Center for Urban Research and Training (CURET), Connecticut Women’s Education and Legal Fund (CWEALF), and the United Way, on personal finance for low literacy adult immigrants pursuing health careers, and individual financial coaching to pay for college, start a small business, own a home, or plan for retirement. Currently under development is a peer support network, which will be made up of student budget coaches, all successful graduates of the Money Management for Life course.

“Guardian’s support for the FIRST Center comes directly from our values as a company: people count, we do the right thing, and we hold ourselves to very high standards,” said Tracy Rich, Executive Vice President and General Counsel. “We have worked with Capital Community College since 2013 to deliver programs that will help students persist and complete their college studies to enable them to reach their career and life goals.”

Located on the third floor of Capital Community College, the FIRST Center features a computer lab and a financial lending library, along with free materials, resources, and information about services offered by partner organizations. There is also a one-on-one private area used for budget coaching, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance services, and other offerings from partner institutions.

For more information on the FIRST Center, contact Daniel Gregory at dgregory@capitalcc.edu or 860-906-5138.