Harford pays down $305,000 in volunteer fire/EMS student loans in an effort to recruit and retain quality first responders.
Harford County government helped pay down student loan debt for 61 volunteer first responders with $305K sent last week directly to lending institutions. Harford's NEXT GEN Responder Student Loan Relief Program repays student loans up to $5,000 per year to help retain volunteer first responders and recruit the next generation.
According to the press release:
"Harford County's volunteer first responders do an outstanding job saving lives every day," County Executive Cassilly said. "We can't thank them enough, and we are proud to offer this program to reduce their student loan debt and show our support for their dedication to our community."
Harford County does not have a paid fire service and relies instead on 12 volunteer fire companies countywide. In addition to going to school or working paid jobs, volunteers must meet rigorous training standards and be available in emergencies that can happen any time of the day or night.
Any volunteer first responder with student loan debt is eligible for the program, including recent graduates and college students majoring in any field of study. To qualify, they must be a volunteer member of a Harford County volunteer fire or ambulance corps and earn 50 points in the LOSAP - Length of Service Award Program - for qualifying service activities in the 12 months beginning on October 1 each year. Payments of up to $5,000 per year, up to a maximum of $20,000 over four years, are made directly to the student loan issuer.
MACo 2024 Legislative Initiative
The Commission to Advance and Strengthen Firefighting and Emergency Medical Services Within Maryland was created by 2023 legislation – spearheaded by leadership from the career and volunteer fire communities and MACo. Its final Report illustrates the depths of the concern with the firefighting workforce, but targets multiple recommendations for Maryland to recharge the value proposition for new hires. Part of MACo's 2024 legislative initiatives will be to implement many of these recommendations. Senator Malcolm Augustine and Delegate Dana Jones will be spearheading legislation to retool the Charles W. Riley Firefighter and Ambulance and Rescue Squad Member Scholarship Program Riley to allow for free community college and a 50% tuition reduction at institutions of higher education within Maryland. Additionally the legislation will create a new student loan foregiveness program for firefighters and EMS workers - this new program is modeled after a similar recruitment and retention offerings for police officers.
Read the full press release.
Read more about the Charles W. Riley Program.
Read more about the Police Officer Scholarship Program.
Read more about the Maryland Loan Assistance Repayment Program for Police Officers.
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