Pitkin County partners with national nonprofit for legacy planning – AspenTimes.com

Report on Pitkin County’s Financial Empowerment Initiative and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: Advancing Financial Stability and Sustainable Development

Pitkin County has initiated a strategic partnership to provide free legacy planning and financial counseling services to its residents through the Financial Empowerment Center (FEC) of the Rockies. This initiative is a direct contribution to achieving several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by enhancing economic stability, reducing inequality, and fostering resilient communities.

A Collaborative Model for Regional Impact (SDG 17)

The program’s structure exemplifies SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals. It is a collaborative effort involving multiple stakeholders:

• Pitkin County Government
• Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund (a national nonprofit)
• The Savings Collaborative (the financial counseling service provider)

The FEC of the Rockies is the first tri-county and rural FEC in the United States, serving Pitkin, Garfield, and Eagle counties. This regional approach demonstrates an innovative partnership model designed to extend critical services to a broader rural population.

Core Services and Contribution to Economic Goals (SDG 1, 8, 10)

The FEC offers professionally trained counselors who provide one-on-one guidance to low and moderate-income individuals and families. The services are designed to directly address key economic and social targets.

Key Services Offered:

1. Legacy planning and asset protection
2. Debt management and reduction
3. Savings establishment and growth
4. Credit building and repair
5. Access to safe and affordable banking products

Alignment with Specific SDGs:

• SDG 1 (No Poverty): By helping clients reduce debt and increase savings, the program directly tackles financial insecurity and contributes to poverty alleviation. Nationally, FECs have helped residents reduce over $344 million in debt and accumulate nearly $70 million in savings.
• SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): Financial literacy and stability are foundational for sustained and inclusive economic growth. Empowering residents to manage their finances effectively strengthens their economic participation.
• SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities): Offering these crucial services at no cost ensures that expert financial guidance is accessible to all, regardless of income, thereby helping to reduce economic disparities within the community.

Building Community Resilience (SDG 11)

The initiative is a cornerstone of efforts to build a more resilient and sustainable community, in line with SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). As stated by county leadership, helping residents protect their assets and plan for the future creates a sense of security that strengthens the community fabric as a whole. Since its launch in March 2025, the FEC of the Rockies has already provided support to over 110 clients, demonstrating a clear and immediate impact on community well-being.

Access to Services

Residents can schedule a confidential, no-cost appointment with a financial counselor either in-person or virtually. Appointments can be booked online at fecpublic.org/appointment-pitkincounty.

Analysis of the Article in Relation to Sustainable Development Goals

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article highlights a local initiative that connects to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by focusing on financial stability, poverty reduction, inequality, and community resilience through partnerships.

• SDG 1: No Poverty
  
  The program directly targets poverty by offering free financial counseling to individuals and families with “low and moderate incomes.” Services like helping clients “pay down debt, increase savings,” and “protect and preserve their assets” are fundamental strategies for poverty reduction and building financial resilience against economic shocks.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
  
  While not focused on job creation, the initiative supports inclusive economic growth by empowering individuals. By helping residents “access safe and affordable mainstream banking products” and build credit, the program enhances their participation in the formal economy, which is a key aspect of sustainable economic development.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
  
  The Financial Empowerment Center (FEC) aims to reduce financial inequality by providing essential services at no cost to low and moderate-income residents. This ensures that vulnerable populations have access to the same tools for asset protection and financial planning (“legacy planning”) that are often more accessible to wealthier individuals, thereby promoting economic inclusion.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
  
  The article states that when people feel financially secure, “our community as a whole becomes stronger and more resilient.” By strengthening the financial stability of its residents, the program contributes to building a more resilient and sustainable community in Pitkin, Garfield, and Eagle counties.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
  
  The initiative is a clear example of a multi-stakeholder partnership. The article explicitly mentions the collaboration between “local governments” (Pitkin, Garfield, and Eagle counties), a “national nonprofit” (Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund), and a local service provider (“the nonprofit Savings Collaborative”). This partnership model is essential for achieving the SDGs.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

The article’s content aligns with several specific SDG targets:

1. Target 1.4: “By 2030, ensure that all men and women, in particular the poor and the vulnerable, have equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to basic services, ownership and control over land and other forms of property…”
   
   The program’s focus on “legacy planning” and helping residents “protect and preserve their assets” directly addresses this target by empowering individuals, especially those with lower incomes, to have control over their property and economic resources.
2. Target 1.5: “By 2030, build the resilience of the poor and those in vulnerable situations and reduce their exposure and vulnerability to… economic… shocks…”
   
   By helping clients “pay down debt” and “increase savings,” the FEC directly builds their financial resilience, making them less vulnerable to unexpected economic hardships.
3. Target 8.10: “Strengthen the capacity of domestic financial institutions to encourage and expand access to banking, insurance and financial services for all.”
   
   The initiative supports this target by guiding clients to “access safe and affordable mainstream banking products” and establish credit, thereby expanding financial inclusion for all.
4. Target 10.2: “By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of… economic or other status.”
   
   The program specifically targets “individuals and families with low and moderate incomes” and provides them with tools and knowledge to “plan for their future with confidence,” directly promoting their economic inclusion and empowerment.
5. Target 17.17: “Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships…”
   
   The article describes the FEC as a “collaboration between local governments, the nonprofit Savings Collaborative, and support from the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund,” which is a textbook example of the public and civil society partnership promoted by this target.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article provides specific quantitative data that can serve as indicators to measure the program’s progress and impact.

• Number of clients served: The article states that FECs have served “more than 200,000 clients nationwide” and the local “FEC of the Rockies has supported more than 110 clients” since its opening. This is a direct indicator of the program’s reach in providing access to financial services (relevant to Targets 1.4, 8.10, and 10.2).
• Amount of debt reduced: The mention that FECs have “helped residents reduce over $344 million in debt” is a powerful indicator of progress towards building financial resilience and reducing poverty (relevant to Target 1.5).
• Amount of savings increased: The article notes that the program has “grown families’ savings by nearly $70 million.” This is a key indicator of increased financial stability and resilience against economic shocks (relevant to Target 1.5).

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: aspentimes.com