Athens County residents who receive government assistance can learn how to save money and reach their financial goals through the Individual Development Account program.

The purpose of the IDA program is to help low-income families reach an asset goal, such as home ownership or starting a business, said Kathleen Sergott, Enterprise Development Corporation project specialist.

The program is administered by EDC and the Appalachian Development Federal Credit Union, the first low-income designated credit union to open in Ohio in 11 years, Sergott said.

Participants of the IDA program, who are recipients of Technical Assistance for Needy Families, are recommended by the Athens County Department of Human Services.

The IDA program provides a matching credit union account for participants, Sergott said. Participants deposit up to $42 a month and EDC matches their deposits two-to-one.

The maximum amount that can be matched in a year is $1,000, which would leave the participant with $3,000, she said. The account also earns 3 percent interest.

Thirty people participate in the program, and five spots are reserved for participants of the Drive to Work program, which also is administered by the two agencies, Sergott said. Next year, the program is expected to serve 45 people.

The IDA program operates on funds donated by private foundations, she said. It will have a $45,000 yearly budget for the next two years.

Robert Dye, a self-employed handyman from The Plains, participates in both the IDA program and Drive to Work.

Dye said the programs are especially beneficial to the many working poor in southeast Ohio.

According to the 1990 census, 29 percent of Athens County residents live below the poverty line, said Tracy Galway, community relations coordinator for the Athens County Department of Human Services.

Dye also said the IDA program gives him an incentive to save money. He said he eventually hopes to own a home.