Applications for the Make Muskingum Home Program are now open

ZANESVILLE, Ohio – An application window has opened up to help pay off student debts and bring people to Muskingum County.

The Muskingum County Community Foundation (MCCF) and the J.W.  and M.H. Straker Charitable Foundation are accepting applications for the Make Muskingum Home Program. The program offers up to $50,000 in student loan repayment assistance, provided that the applicant agrees to live in and contribute to the Muskingum County community.

“This is our fourth year and in the three previous years, I am happy to announce that we’ve had 40 winners,” said Beth Fox, the director of programs at MCCF. “Those 40 winners have contributed over $3.5 million in our county’s tax base and we’ve also seen 25 purchases of homes in our county from those 40 individuals.”

The program is open to graduates from four-year institutions as well as those from trade schools as long as they are employed by someone in Muskingum County with a significant presence in the community. If accepted, they’ll live in the county for five years, remain employed in the county, and participate in community improvement efforts.

“We have a number of previous winners who are involved in youth sports. We have a number who are involved with some of our local non-profits like Paws Animal Clinic,” Fox said. “So we have [a] wonderful group of, you know, young professionals out there who are not only, you know, paying into our tax base, who are buying houses, but they’re also becoming active members of our community. And ultimately that’s what we want. ”

Applications are now open until Thursday, Oct. 31. You can learn more by visiting the programs website or by calling the MCCF at 740-453-5192.