Policy initiatives to increase the financial capability of everyday people have a hard time gaining traction in Idaho’s political environment.
No bills passed during the last session. Asset building is far off the radar.
So, advocates, policymakers, and others formed the Idaho Asset Building Network to develop new messaging and increase the visibility of asset building. The network has reframed asset building for potential, but untraditional, allies by repositioning its focus in more accessible terms, such as: “self-sufficiency” and “independence,” “sustainable savings” for families.
In April the network used the Assets & Opportunity scorecard from the Corporation for Enterprise Development (CFED) to draw more policymakers to its work.
The scorecard helped make the case for more effective financial policies and positioned the network as a means to band together, strengthen programming, and advance a policy campaign.
