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Topper: Students Encouraged to Apply for GROW PA Grants

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Pennsylvania House Republican Leader Jesse Topper (R-Bedford/Fulton) today announced the GROW PA Grant Program is now open for Pennsylvania students to apply.

Created as part of the FY 2024-25 budget, GROW PA Grant Program is administered by Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) and provides grants to a maximum of $5,000 per eligible students to encourage Pennsylvania students to enter education programs related to in-demand occupations that will help boost Pennsylvania’s economy and incentivize Pennsylvania’s students to remain in the Commonwealth to work after graduation.

Currently there are over 460 eligible programs or fields of study eligible for the GROW PA Grant Program ranging from STEM fields to criminal justice.

“The GROW PA Grant Program can be a game changer for the future of Pennsylvania students and the Commonwealth’s economy,” Topper said. “This program is designed to incentivize Pennsylvania students to receive an education in areas where there is high demand for skilled employees in the Commonwealth. The more we can encourage Pennsylvania students to be educated in Pennsylvania, stay in Pennsylvania and work in Pennsylvania, the better the future of our Commonwealth looks.”

To be eligible for a GROW PA Grant, students must meet the following criteria:

  • File the 2025-26 Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
  • Must be a current resident of Pennsylvania.
  • Meet satisfactory academic progress for Title IV financial aid.
  • Have not yet earned a bachelor’s degree.
  • Must be enrolled at least half-time in an eligible associate or bachelor’s degree program that leads to a job in an in-demand occupation as determined by PHEAA.
  • Sign a Master Promissory Note agreeing to repay all funds received if the work requirement is not met, including any potential interest accrued.

Topper was instrumental in the enactment of the GROW PA Grant Program when he was the Republican chairman of the House Education Committee.

“The future of Pennsylvania depends on having Pennsylvanians stay in Pennsylvania and the GROW PA Grant Program is an important tool in helping secure the future well-being of today’s students and tomorrow’s Commonwealth,” Topper said.

Students and parents looking for more information on the GROW PA Grant Program can go here: https://www.pheaa.org/funding-opportunities/grow-pa-scholarship-grant-program.

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The Franklin County Free Press, established by Vicky Taylor in 2019, emerged as a beacon of local journalism for the residents of Franklin County. Under Vicky's leadership, it quickly became an essential source of news, particularly at a time when major newspaper publications were increasingly overlooking local coverage.

On January 1, 2022, the torch was passed to Nathan Neil and his firm, Neil Publishing, LLC. Neil, a local entrepreneur with multiple thriving businesses in Chambersburg, shares Vicky's fervent commitment to both the community and the world of local journalism.

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