Hoping to piggyback on the success of the federal Cash for Clunkers program, Lower Columbia CAP is promoting a privately funded incentive program designed to spur more auto sales.

The nationwide 2009 Automotive Stimulus Plan offers rebates up to $4,500 on the purchase of new and used vehicles. Participating dealers absorb the costs, said Michael Pinto, CAP’s financial education supervisor.

CAP will describe the dealer-funded incentive program during an educational forum from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Cowlitz PUD auditorium.

The program’s Web site — www.automotivestimulus.org — asks consumers to enter the type of vehicle they seek, then matches the request with a participating dealer.

No dealers in Cowlitz County have signed up for the program, which lasts through the end of September, Pinto said.

Trade-ins don’t need to meet a minimum fuel-efficiency, and buyers can apply the credit to new and used vehicles, Pinto said.

While Cash for Clunkers trade-ins were scrapped for salvage, vehicles traded in under the Automotive Stimulus Plan can be resold, Pinto said.

Cash for Clunkers ended earlier this month after the federal government doled out $2 billion in rebates nationwide. Dealers declared the program a success for stimulating the sales of new, more fuel-efficient vehicles.

Clarification: Sept. 1

Lower Columbia CAP is not the place to go to buy a car through a privately funded rebate program designed to spur auto sales.

In response to a story in Monday’s Daily News, the local social service agency is getting many inquiries about the program.

While CAP is putting on a presentation about the 2009 Automotive Stimulus Plan, it is not running the program.

CAP’s presentation is at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at the Cowlitz PUD auditorium. The program’s Web site is www.automotivestimulus.org