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TRUE Community Credit Union and the Jackson Community Foundation have been awarded $59,000 to help Jackson County students build savings for education and training after high school through the Jackson Saves program. Awarded through the Michigan Children’s Savings Account Program Innovation & Sustainability Initiative, the grant is funded by the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) and administered by the Community Economic Development Association of Michigan (CEDAM).      

Jackson Saves is a Children’s Savings Account program offered in partnership with TRUE Community Credit Union, the Jackson Community Foundation, and the Jackson County Intermediate School District. Launched in 2019, Jackson Saves provides participating students with a free, deposit-only savings account. To date, 3,026 accounts have been opened, with $212,460.57 in total deposits. Each account begins with a $50 seed deposit, and the new funding will create an opportunity for students to grow their balances through active participation.

In March 2027, students will have the ability to earn incentives during Reading Month that reward student reading achievement with additional deposits into existing accounts. Students who achieve classroom participation goals will receive funds in their Jackson Saves accounts, turning progress in the classroom into savings for what comes next.

This is the first time Jackson Saves students will be able to earn deposits beyond the initial investment. By pairing literacy with savings, the program is designed to spark engagement, build healthy financial habits, and help more young people see education after high school as possible and attainable.

“We’re grateful to LEO and CEDAM for bringing additional funds to Jackson County for students and their post-secondary education,” said Janelle Merritt, TRUECCU Director of Community Partnerships. “Jackson Saves has always been about helping students and families dream, plan, and prepare for what comes next. This Reading Month incentive gives students a chance to connect the effort they put in today with the future they are building for tomorrow.”

The initiative also supports Drive Jackson’s 20-year strategic plan and its focus on education and learning. The selection recognizes the strength of TRUECCU and their partners’ relationships with local schools and their proven success connecting students, families, and educators through Jackson Saves. Through this collaboration, TRUECCU, the Jackson Community Foundation, and the Jackson County Intermediate School District are working together to strengthen savings habits, support post-secondary exploration, and help students imagine a future full of possibility.

Jackson Saves is part of the Michigan Children’s Savings Account Network, a statewide coalition of community-led programs that help students and families plan for the future through early savings, family engagement, and post-secondary exploration.