TOMPKINS COUNTY, N.Y.—The living wage in Tompkins County has increased from $15.32 an hour to $16.61 as of July 27, 2022, announced the Tompkins County Workers’ Center (TCWC) and Alternatives Federal Credit Union (AFCU), the two organizations that collaborate to update the wages in the county. Though the living wage rate is typically reevaluated every […]
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Posted inGovernment
Meet the candidates for County Legislature
TOMPKINS COUNTY, N.Y. –– Round two of Ithaca Voice candidate Question and Answers is here –– County Legislature edition. Our reporters sent out Q&A’s to every candidate vying for a district seat ahead of Tuesday’s Democratic primary election. Click the races below to find out how your potential representatives answered. And as a reminder on […]
Posted inEconomy, Featured, News
Local partnership aims to assist BIPOC community members looking to start businesses and buy homes
ITHACA, N.Y. –– Black Hands Universal, an Ithaca nonprofit started by Harry O. Smith, and Alternatives Federal Credit Union are working together to help Black, Brown and Indigenous people in the Ithaca community who are looking to start their own businesses and buy homes. This is on top of the numerous programs and initiatives that […]
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Alternatives Federal Credit Union
“Your Money Stays Here at Your Local Community-Minded Credit Union” Alternatives Federal Credit Union is an Ithaca-born Community Development Federal Credit Union founded in 1979 with a vision for “empathetic financing to lift people out of poverty.” Our Founder and first CEO Bill Myers, along with four friends chipped in $25 each to form our […]
Posted inCommunity Announcements
Alternatives FCU announces $1.4 million interest free loan program
This is a community announcement from Alternative Federal Credit Union. It was not written by The Ithaca Voice. To submit news releases, email tips@ithacavoice.com. ITHACA, N.Y. — Sustainable and collaborative efforts are required to support our communities during these challenging times. The novel coronavirus pandemic continues to present a wide variety of unanticipated, stressful, and […]
Posted inNews
As the Treasury delays, Harriet Tubman $20 bills live on in Ithaca
ITHACA, N.Y. –– While the federal government has postponed the scheduled 2020 rollout of the new Harriet Tubman $20 bill, one Ithaca business owner has found a simple solution — make their own. In 2016, it was proposed by former Treasury Secretary Jacob J. Lew to replace President Andrew Jackson on the $20 bill with abolitionist icon […]
Posted inBusiness
At Finger Lakes ReUse, Every Day is Thanks (for) Giving
ITHACA, N.Y. — When we last checked in on Finger Lakes ReUse, things weren’t looking too good. Plans for housing for vulnerable individuals and expanded business operations were put on hold. The larger store on Elmira Road was facing foreclosure and possible layoffs of its staff, many of whom were trained and brought back into […]
Posted inNews
It takes at least $14.28 to make ends meet in Tompkins, living wage study finds
ITHACA, N.Y. – “The most depressing feeling that you can think of is being paid and being broke the same day,” Nazelle Davis said at a panel discussion of the latest findings from the Alternatives Federal Credit Union Living Wage Study on Friday. Davis used to work in retail, pushing out 12-hour shifts yet ending up without […]
Posted inFeatured, Ithaca, News, Tompkins County, Top
Rally highlights women’s, families’ call for a living wage in Tompkins County
“People are living one paycheck or one unexpected expense away from being homeless, jobless and making a choice of whether to feed their families. … We must fight for the equality, dignity and sustainability for all working families.”
Posted inNews
Should Tompkins make a living wage standard? Local group to study possible impacts
ITHACA, N.Y. — A local effort is underway to examine the potential impacts of making a living wage the standard in Tompkins County. The latest living wage study by Alternatives Federal Credit Union found a single person working full time would have to make $28,911 per year, or $13.90 per hour 40 hours a week to […]