PRESS RELEASE
Treasurer Fitzpatrick Partners with the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce & CVB to Promote Inclusion and Equity for Employees with Disabilities
Branson, MO – On Friday, Missouri State Treasurer Scott
Fitzpatrick announced a new collaboration with the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber
of Commerce & CVB as part of an initiative promoting inclusion and equity
for employees with disabilities. The Treasurer is encouraging Missouri
businesses to make it easier for employees with disabilities to save by adding
direct deposit opportunities for MO ABLE accounts. “I
am excited to work with the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce & CVB to
connect with employers in their region about the benefits of direct deposit for
MO ABLE,” Treasurer Fitzpatrick said. “I am grateful for their partnership and
know employers in the Branson area will step up to make a small change with a
big impact.” “The
Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce & CVB is proud to partner with
Treasurer Fitzpatrick to encourage businesses in our region to promote equity
and inclusion for Missourians with disabilities,” Jonas Arjes, Interim
President/CEO of the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce & CVB, said. “Missourians
with disabilities are an important part of our workforce and we support this
initiative to provide tools to help them save for the future.” October
is National Disability Employment Awareness Month. Throughout the month,
Treasurer Fitzpatrick is participating in a number of events across the state
to raise awareness and increase access and opportunity for individuals with
disabilities. On Thursday, the Treasurer announced that Missouri
State University will offer payroll deductions for MO ABLE accounts to
employees during open enrollment this year. Earlier this month, the Treasurer
announced partnerships with the
Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the
St. Louis Regional Chamber, the
Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce and the Arc of the Ozarks, the
Columbia Chamber of Commerce, the
St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce, and the
O’Fallon Chamber of Commerce. The
Treasurer also launched a new
informational video to provide a simple overview of the MO ABLE program for
Missourians with disabilities and their families. The video was produced in
partnership with the UMKC Institute for Human Development and the Missouri
Developmental Disabilities Council.
MO ABLE currently has 1,713 accounts and over $12 million in assets under
management, making it one of the largest ABLE programs in the country. Launched
in 2017, MO ABLE allows individuals with disabilities and their families to
save up to $15,000 per year, tax-free, without losing federal benefits like
Medicaid and SSI. For more information about the MO ABLE program and to take an
eligibility quiz, visit moable.com. ### Follow the Treasurer’s Office on Twitter,
Facebook, and Instagram @motreasurer.
