Aims to again offer free income-tax prep help

GREELEY — Aims Community College, based in Greeley, is offering free tax preparation and e-filing through the Tax Help Colorado program, funded by the Denver-based Piton Foundation. Anyone who earned less than $54,000 last year can stop by the Greeley, Fort Lupton or Loveland campuses on the dates and times listed here: Greeley campus: Saturdays, Feb. 2 to April 13 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Westview Building (closed March 9 and 16). Fort Lupton campus: Fridays, Feb. 8 to March 1 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Loveland campus: Feb. 15 and 22 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aims has participated in the Tax Help Colorado program for the past decade, when 20 accounting students first worked to assist 390 taxpayers in the Greeley area secure more than $500,000 in federal and state refunds. Last year, Aims assisted 1,046 taxpayers and helped them receive more than $2 million in federal and state refunds. “I am so proud of our continuing partnership with the Tax Help Colorado program,” Leah L. Bornstein, Aims president and CEO, said in a written statement. “This program not only benefits our community but also provides real-world training for our students.” Aims students who help with the program take a two-credit course that covers basic law and tax preparation in the fall semester. Students then take an IRS VITA certification exam once they’ve completed the course, which certifies them to prepare tax returns for low to middle-income taxpayers.

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LONGMONT — A new program, “Sharing the NextLight” is helping low-income children have access to essential internet services. Sharing the NextLight provides a free NextLight connection to qualifying low-income Longmont families with children in the St. Vrain Valley Schools. The families would receive a free symmetrical 25-megabit connection to their home, along with a combined modem/ wireless router. The program is a collaboration between the Longmont Community Foundation, Longmont Power & Communications and Longmont Children, Youth and Families. The first 20 families will start receiving services in March. To be considered, families will apply to Longmont Children, Youth and Families. Qualifying families must live in Longmont, have children attending K-12 in the St. Vrain school district and receive free or reduced lunch assistance. The Longmont Community Foundation aims to raise $60,000 by July 1, which would support 100 families to be served for the 2019-2020 school year. Anyone who wishes to support the program and help reach those goals can donate by going to www.longmontfoundation.org, clicking on “Donate” and selecting “Sharing the NextLight.” “Sharing the NextLight fits so well with our mission of improving the community for all,” Eric Hozempa, director of the Longmont Community Foundation, said in a prepared statement. “Sharing the NextLight will help low-income students use the technology tools they need and not run the risk of falling behind their peers. We’re honored to play a part in helping these families succeed.”

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