CLEARFIELD — The Clearfield County Commissioners discussed the new scholarships the state has available to encourage students to stay.
Clearfield County Director of Planning Jodi Brennan said on Tuesday the state has started the Grow PA Scholarship Grant Program to keep people in the state after graduation.
According to Brennan, there is 460 eligible programs of study or majors that lead to in-demand occupations or fields such as agriculture, business education, computer science, STEM (Science, Technology Engineering, Mathematics,) nursing, allied health and criminal justice that are eligible for funding.
The program will provide eligible students up to $5,000 a year for a maximum of four years.
However, after graduation, the student must commit to work and live in Pennsylvania, within an in-demand occupation for the number of years they received the grant. For example, if they received $5,000 a year for four years, they must agree to live in the state for four years or pay the state back the funds. If a person received a $5,000 grant for four years and they only live in the state for three years, they would have to replay the state $5,000, according to Brennan.
PHEAA (Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency) will review applications until April 15, 2026. However, it is anticipated the funds will be exhausted before this time and people are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.
The program will provide funding to students who are eligible, on a first-come, first-served basis, until all the funding is exhausted. In subsequent years, renewal applications will receive priority for Grow PA Grant funding.
For more information, you can visit www.pheaa.org/funding-opportunities/grow-pa-scholarship-grant-program.
Brennan also said there are health care workforce scholarships. She said Penn Highlands has partnered with the Clearfield County Career and Technology Center and are offering full scholarships for the CCCTC’s full-time and part-time practical nursing programs.
“For those who want to go into that field, this is a great opportunity,” Brennan said.
According to a press release, Penn Highlands will fund tuition for qualified students enrolled in the full-time or part-time Practical Nursing program, through a partnership intended to address a regional shortage in nursing. In exchange, qualified students enrolled in CCCTC’s Practical Nursing program will sign an employment agreement that includes a full-time benefits package with the health system. Penn Highlands Healthcare will also sponsor tuition for students currently enrolled in CCCTC’s Practical Nursing program who sign an employment agreement.
Brennan said Clearfield County’s population continues to decline and it is important to let students know what opportunities are available here. She said when the county updated its Comprehensive Plan, they polled Clearfield County students and asked them if they plan to stay in Clearfield County after graduation and more than 70 percent of them responded “no.”
Brennan said in the survey, students were asked what they are looking for in a community that they want to go to, and the top three responses were a good paying job, a clean environment, and quality schools.
Brennan cited statistics from Center for Rural PA, which stated U.S. Census Bureau statistics show that from 2020-2023, Clearfield County had a net migration (people who move in versus people who move out) loss of 1,756 people, which is the fourth highest decline in the state behind Philadelphia County (63,644), Allegheny County (18,254) and Delaware County (1,844).
During that same time period, Clearfield County had the third highest population decline as a percentage of population with a 4.3 percent decline in population behind only Forest County, (7.5 percent) and Greene County (4.4 percent), according to the U.S Census Bureau statistics.
Those statistics also show since 2010, Clearfield County’s population declined from 81,642 to 78,132 — a total decrease of 3,510 or approximately 4.29 percent.
In other business, the Clearfield County Commissioners reminded residents that there are several community events being held in the county this weekend.
- Chairman Tim Winters reminded residents that the ABATE is holding its Motorcycle Awareness Day event on E. Market Street in downtown Clearfield on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be a number of speakers promoting motorcycle safety and there will also be a number of vendors at the event, Winters said.
- Commissioner John Sobel reminded residents that PA250 is holding a Liberty Tree planting in Osceola Mills at 10 a.m.
- Solicitor Heather Bozovich reminded residents that the Children’s Aid Society is having a free carnival for children at Irvin Park in Curwensville on Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Commissioner Dave Glass reminded registered voters that the deadline to apply vote by mail in ballot or absentee for the Municipal Primary Election is May 13 at 5 p.m.
