Harford County Officials Pay $305K Toward First Responders' Student Loan Debt

HARFORD COUNTY, MD — Sixty-one volunteer first responders serving Harford County have had their student loan debt knocked down a level thanks to the Next Gen Responder Student Loan Relief Program.

The Harford County program repays student loans up to $5,000 per year to help retain volunteer first responders and recruit the next generation. Harford County doesn't have paid fire services and relies instead on 12 volunteer fire companies positioned across the county.

The recent payment totaled $305,000. The funds were sent directly to lending institutions.

“Harford County’s volunteer first responders do an outstanding job saving lives every day,” Harford 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.”

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 starting Oct. 1 each year. Payments of up to $5,000 per year, up to a maximum of $20,000 spanning four years, are made directly to the student loan issuer.