Need a financial hand? Reach for ours.
Alternatives Impact welcomes donations to support local people & businesses in harm's way due to financial fallout, public health crises, and the overwhelmingly uncertain landscape caused by the novel coronavirus.
Your donation today to the COVID-19 Economic Crisis Response Fund provides immediate support to any (or all) of the programs listed below. For those that need a helping hand right now, please know that your local nonprofit Community Development Credit Union - Alternatives Federal Credit Union - stands ready to help.
By giving to Alternatives Impact, a 501(c) 3 affiliate of Alternatives Federal Credit Union, you'll advance our community-wide economic development work.
Cooperative membership in the credit union is not required to access help. Everyone is welcome. Alternatives Impact believes in people helping people and knows that local solutions require local teamwork. We are all in this together.
Personal &
Family Resources
Financial Counseling to Explore & Navigate Your Options
Feeling overwhelmed, stressed, or unsure of your financial options at this time? Don’t know how you’re going to make it through the next week, let alone month? We’re good at finding opportunity where folks thought none existed. Our dedicated Financial Counselors are excellent listeners. Talking through problems, looking for solutions, and connecting you with resources you need is what our counselors have always done - and it’s needed now more than ever. Scheduling a 1:1 conversation over the phone or Zoom could be the best step you take today.
Contact
our Financial Counselors
Email:
[email protected]
AFCU Community Assistance Loan Fund for Individuals and Families
Designed to help individuals and businesses 'fill the gaps' due to lost or reduced income and increased expenses at this time. Alternatives Federal Credit Union is offering a 0% loan (yep, there's really no interest!) to bring some much-needed stability to your life as you face unexpected consequences due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Alternatives expects demand to be great and they may not be able to accommodate all requests. They may need to close the program quickly, due to funds being allocated rapidly. Therefore, applicants are advised to apply as soon as possible. AFCU is an Equal Opportunity lender and encourages applications by women, people of color, and WBE and MWBE business enterprises, among others. A special thank you to the Community Foundation of Tompkins County, along with other funding partners, for making the AFCU Community Assistance Loan Fund possible.
Loan
Payment and Solutions Team
At Alternatives, we are your partner along life’s financial road - before, during, and after this collective crisis. Whatever burdens you, whatever financial situation you find yourself in, let us help find a solution. Our Solutions Team is on standby ready to discuss your particular loan situation and walk-through the available options as you navigate the unknown.
If you’ve lost your job, are facing reduced income or increased expenses and are having trouble financially, we can understand. You are not alone. Connection is key, so reach out now.
Contact Kaelee Rydzik, Solutions
Officer
Phone: (607) 216-3450
Email:
kr[email protected]
Free
Tax Preparation Program
It’s your money. Why not keep it? Our Free Tax Preparation Program is extended to July 15, 2020. Due to many logistical hurdles, we’ll be working on a limited number of returns, particularly for low-income families relying on a significant refund. Unfortunately, we must be concerned about potential identity theft and so can only complete drop-off returns for tax clients for whom we prepared a 2018 tax return or who are current members of the credit union.
Business & Nonprofit Resources
AFCU Community Assistance Loan Fund for Business
Designed to help individuals and businesses 'fill the gaps' due to lost or reduced income and increased expenses at this time. Alternatives Federal Credit Union is offering a 0% loan (yep, there's really no interest!) to bring some much-needed stability to your life as you face unexpected consequences due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Alternatives expects demand to be great and they may not be able to accommodate all requests. They may need to close the program quickly, due to funds being allocated rapidly. Therefore, applicants are advised to apply as soon as possible. AFCU is an Equal Opportunity lender and encourages applications by women, people of color, and WBE and MWBE business enterprises, among others. A special thank you to the Community Foundation of Tompkins County, along with other funding partners, for making the AFCU Community Assistance Loan Fund possible.
Business Counseling to Explore & Navigate Your Options
Many of you have had to close your business or reduce your operations dramatically due to COVID-19. We have a team of professionals in place to help you figure out how to make sense of a world that is changing every day. Our Business Services Team has been offering free 1:1 support through video chat and over the phone for years. We have a range of resources including technical assistance, legal help, networking & support circles, and personalized business guidance. Your business problems are our problems too.
Sign up for an appointment here.
SBA Paycheck
Protection Program (PPP)
Alternatives values our relationships with local businesses, especially when the going gets tough. We are a participating lender in the SBA Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). This program is part of the CARES Act which is designed to assist businesses retain their employees and keep money flowing through the local economy.
Please note: the SBA has announced that due to the high application rate, they are no longer accepting applications for this round of funding. The SBA is seeking to do another possible round of funding to meet the need of our small businesses. Our staff will continue to process applications in anticipation of that funding. While this does make it difficult for our lending team to determine the exact time frame on a decision for your application, our staff is in regular contact with the local SBA office and has been grateful for their support and guidance during this process.
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