Eight counties | 36 cities | one region

ST. JAMES—The Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) and Phelps County Public Housing Agency (PHA) Family Self-Sufficiency will host a free workshop May 18 on “Personal Finance 101” in Cuba. Residents of Steelville are invited to attend.

The workshop will cover budgeting essentials, how to create a monthly budget and tips on growing savings.

The workshop will be held from 11 a.m. to 12 noon at Peoples Bank Annex Building, 500 W. Washington, Cuba. The presentation will be given by JoAnne Queen, assistant vice president with Peoples Bank.

Workshops are offered at no cost to the participant. Please RSVP by calling Savannah Vandegriffe at 573-265-4200 ext. 132.

Free training classes are a part of the MRPC and PHA’s efforts to help prepare families who are first time homebuyers for homeownership and make them aware of the resources available to assist with homeownership.

These partnerships are a part of MRPC’s outreach efforts in partnership with senior citizen housing groups and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines, which assists with grant funds to renovate senior citizen housing complexes throughout the region.

For more information on the homeownership program and workshop, contact Vandegriffe.

Formed in 1969, MRPC is a voluntary council of governments serving Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Osage, Phelps, Pulaski and Washington counties and their respective cities. A professional staff of 25, directed by the MRPC board, offers technical assistance and services, such as grant preparation and administration, housing assistance, transportation planning, environmental planning, ordinance codification, business loans and other services to member communities.

MRPC provides staffing to the Phelps County Public Housing Agency that provides rental assistance to over 700 low-income families in Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Phelps (outside the city limits of Rolla) and Washington counties. The PHA also offers the Family Self-Sufficiency Program where clients develop a goal-oriented, five-year plan that moves them toward self-sufficiency and independence from government programs.

To keep up with the latest MRPC news and events, visit the MRPC website at www.meramecregion.orgor on Facebook at www.facebook.com/meramecregion/.