Improve Local Childhood Education Through Refundable Tax Credits

by | Oct 2, 2017 | Workforce & Education

Direct up to $5K of your business tax liability

If you’ve ever dreamed of being able to decide exactly how your business’ Louisiana tax dollars were spent, our state’s innovative School Readiness Tax Credits program can help!

Most businesses who file a Louisiana tax return qualify for this program that sounds too good to be true, but isn’t. When you contribute to the On Track by 5 Alliance in Lafayette Parish, or Volunteers of America in the surrounding One Acadiana parishes, you’ll receive an annual dollar-for-dollar tax credit of up to $5,000.00 per business entity.

Those funds will be used to help raise the bar in early learning centers by providing curricula and staff training resources, and that amount will also be applied to your Louisiana tax liability or refunded to you as young learners benefit from your support. You can also claim a personal federal income tax deduction of up to $5,000.00.

The latest research clearly shows that the great majority of brain development occurs during the first few years of a child’s life, and that getting a young person properly prepared for kindergarten can be essential to his or her educational success. In Lafayette Parish alone, the monies you contribute will help raise standards at the nearly 40 publicly-funded early childhood centers currently serving approximately 3,000 young learners.

Local efforts to raise awareness of this unique opportunity and increase contributions to Louisiana’s School Readiness Tax Credit program have been funded in part by The Pugh Family Foundation and United Way of Acadiana. Businesses that have contributed to this program include MidSouth Bank, TECHNEAUX, Allen & Gooch, J. Neil Morein, Pugh Family Foundation, A-Bears Kids Only Preschool, Scott Boudin Festival, Rucks Family Foundation, Acadiana Computer Systems Inc., Home Furniture Company, Copy & Camera, CASHWAY Pharmacy, Blackhawk Datacom, J.L. Sonnier CPA, Giles Automotive, Associated Travel, Dr. W. Duay Jr. DDS, Allison M. Leblanc, Ameriprise Financial, and Pinhook Foundation.