Deadlines Approaching for LTC Nurse Loan Forgiveness and HCBS Employee Scholarship, Loan Forgiveness Programs

Posted on December 28, 2023 by Anna Mowry

Deadlines are quickly approaching for two programs that can be utilized to support our long-term care workforce and employee professional development: the Minnesota Long-Term Care Nurse Loan Forgiveness Program and the Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Employee Scholarship & Loan Forgiveness.

LPN and RN Nurse Loan Forgiveness Program – Deadline to apply is Jan. 6

The Minnesota Long-Term Care Nurse Loan Forgiveness Program application is open until Jan. 6. The program provides funds to repay qualified educational loans of eligible RNs and LPNs.

The Minnesota Long Term Care Nurse Loan Forgiveness Program is offered to licensed practical nurses and registered nurses who practice in a licensed nursing home, assisted living facility, home care provider, intermediate care facility for persons with developmental disabilities, or a hospital that owns/operates a licensed nursing home where a minimum of 50% of the hours worked is in a nursing home in Minnesota.

Here are the grant details:

• How to apply: a prospective participant must submit an application to ORHPC during the open application cycle.
• Deadline to apply: Jan. 6, 2024, 11:59 p.m.
• Annual repayment amount: $6,000 annually; eligible individuals can participate for up to four years.
• Eligible professions: LPNs and RNs; Current nursing students who will be licensed by March 31 following selection are also eligible to apply.

The Office of Rural Health and Primary Care (ORHPC) at the Minnesota Department of Health administers the Minnesota Long Term Care Nurse Loan Forgiveness Program, funded by the State of Minnesota. For questions, please contact health.loanforgiveness@state.mn.us.

HCBS Employee Scholarship & Loan Forgiveness Program -Deadline to apply is Jan. 5

The Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Employee Scholarship & Loan Forgiveness application is open until Jan. 5. The program helps qualified HCBS providers fund employee scholarships and/or loan forgiveness for education and training related to a course of study that is expected to lead to career advancement within the HCBS field.

The HCBS Employee Scholarship & Loan Forgiveness program, authorized by Minnesota Statutes Section 144.1503, was established to help qualified HCBS providers fund employee scholarships for education and training in nursing and other healthcare fields.

Here are the grant details:

• Grant funds must be used to cover costs related to a course of study that is expected to lead to career advancement with the provider or in the HCBS field.
• Employers can apply for an employee scholarship grant and/or nominate employees for loan forgiveness.
• Eligible applicant organization must offer an in-house employee scholarship and/or loan forgiveness program to its staff or is in the process of developing a program.
• Nursing homes and hospice facilities are not eligible.

How to apply:

• How to Apply: Review grant application forms and guidelines to learn how providers can apply.
• Deadline to Apply: Jan. 5, 2024, 11:59 p.m.
• For more information, please contact Health.HCBSgrant@state.mn.us.

Find more loans, scholarships, and grants

Members can also access our new resource— Grant Grid: Funding Opportunities for MN Senior Care Providers. This resource includes a comprehensive grid of over 25 grants, scholarships, loans, workforce development programs, and more funding opportunities for Minnesota senior care providers to consider.