MCCF Begins Taking Applications for Make Muskingum Home Program

ZANESVILLE, OH – A local non-profit organization is trying to alleviate some student loan stress while bringing more people to our area.

Through a partnership between the Muskingum County Community Foundation and the J.W. and M.H. Straker Charitable Foundation, they have created the Make Muskingum Home Program.

The program will pay off up to $50,000 in student debt over a period of 5 years, for those willing to call the area home.

Brian Wagner, the CEO of the Muskingum County Community Foundation, said their hope is to get more people interested in living in Muskingum County.

“We pay them as long as they’re here, so it starts the first payment, for the first month towards their student loan payment will happen shortly after we make the award announcements, so it pretty much starts immediately for them to do that,” Wagner said. “So again, we pay the lender directly and we pay it on a monthly basis so that they know that the debts being covered.”

Wagner says currently there is over $500,000 to be awarded to this year’s Make Muskingum Home recipients.

He said they hope to not only see the community grow as a part of this program, but also the community’s engagement to different events.

“It highlights the opportunities for people to make a conscientious effort and choice to live here in Muskingum County,” Wagner said. “Part of what they need to do to be eligible is also to stay active in the community. They need to be involved and that’s whether through a service organization, volunteer at their PTO, get involved with their church, help with their children’s sporting activities, whatever it is, we want to see them engaged in the community so they can really understand the impact they’re making and how wonderful of a community we have here in Muskingum County.”

If you are interested in applying for the Make Muskingum Home Program, you can head to mccf.org under the Make Muskingum Home tab to apply or to makemuskingumhome.org.