MONROE - Those who are looking to further their education but might not have the funding available now have options, thanks to one family in Monroe.
The newly formed R. Kubly Family Foundation, created by the Kubly family and owners of Swiss Colony, is starting a program so Monroe might see more of its best and brightest coming back to live and work in Monroe and Green County. They've started an initiative to pay for graduate or professional school in return for a promise to live and work in Monroe for five years.
R. Kubly Family Foundation Board member and Swiss Colony Public Relations Manager Sheila Berrey said the newly formed group still is learning about all the process entails, but is excited to jumpstart the program and get some new high school graduates and college juniors and seniors interested.
The group is offering a school loan program to encourage young people to live and work in Monroe and hopes the offered incentive will help bring young professionals to the area to help growth.
Those who apply for the program will be reviewed by the R. Kubly Family Foundation Board, and once accepted the applicant will receive funding for graduate or professional school. When their education is finished, the student will be expected to live and work within the Monroe school district for five years in order to have their entire school loan forgiven.
Those who don't follow their commitments to living and working in Monroe will go into a loan repayment program, Berrey said.
Since the economy has recently been slow, Berrey said the group likely would work with individuals who complete the program and can't find work in Monroe. The committee would be flexible for that individual and encourage them to still live in Monroe and commute to their job until they could find something in town, Berrey said. The group also is encouraging entrepreneurs to apply for the program, hoping to bring new businesses to the city, as well.
"It's not a tried-and-true system yet," Berrey said, noting the program likely will change and become perfected over the next couple of years.
Berrey said of the 30 years she's spent in Monroe, she's seen little growth and she, along with other members of the board, hopes that will change.
"It's critical to sustain and grow Monroe," Berrey said. "We (the foundation) have a vested interest in Monroe."
The R. Kubly Family Foundation board hopes to recruit people for the program who not only want to live and work in Monroe, but also show strong leadership skills, hoping those people will get involved and be active in the community. They've already received a few applicants. Funding will depend on the individual need of the applicant.
Ryan Kubly, the third generation of the Kubly family, heads the board that was formed about two years ago. After Rebecca Ryan visited last October and the Future Forward Initiative was introduced, groups formed for that purpose: to bring, attract and retain young people to live and work in the area.
"We're looking for community-minded leaders," Berrey said.
Applications are accepted for the scholarship loan program two times a year from Dec. 1 until Feb. 28 and from June 1 until Aug 31. The foundation also has a grant program and those applications are accepted any time.
To learn more about the programs, visit www.kublyfamilyfoundation.org or e-mail info@kublyfamilyfoundation.org.
The newly formed R. Kubly Family Foundation, created by the Kubly family and owners of Swiss Colony, is starting a program so Monroe might see more of its best and brightest coming back to live and work in Monroe and Green County. They've started an initiative to pay for graduate or professional school in return for a promise to live and work in Monroe for five years.
R. Kubly Family Foundation Board member and Swiss Colony Public Relations Manager Sheila Berrey said the newly formed group still is learning about all the process entails, but is excited to jumpstart the program and get some new high school graduates and college juniors and seniors interested.
The group is offering a school loan program to encourage young people to live and work in Monroe and hopes the offered incentive will help bring young professionals to the area to help growth.
Those who apply for the program will be reviewed by the R. Kubly Family Foundation Board, and once accepted the applicant will receive funding for graduate or professional school. When their education is finished, the student will be expected to live and work within the Monroe school district for five years in order to have their entire school loan forgiven.
Those who don't follow their commitments to living and working in Monroe will go into a loan repayment program, Berrey said.
Since the economy has recently been slow, Berrey said the group likely would work with individuals who complete the program and can't find work in Monroe. The committee would be flexible for that individual and encourage them to still live in Monroe and commute to their job until they could find something in town, Berrey said. The group also is encouraging entrepreneurs to apply for the program, hoping to bring new businesses to the city, as well.
"It's not a tried-and-true system yet," Berrey said, noting the program likely will change and become perfected over the next couple of years.
Berrey said of the 30 years she's spent in Monroe, she's seen little growth and she, along with other members of the board, hopes that will change.
"It's critical to sustain and grow Monroe," Berrey said. "We (the foundation) have a vested interest in Monroe."
The R. Kubly Family Foundation board hopes to recruit people for the program who not only want to live and work in Monroe, but also show strong leadership skills, hoping those people will get involved and be active in the community. They've already received a few applicants. Funding will depend on the individual need of the applicant.
Ryan Kubly, the third generation of the Kubly family, heads the board that was formed about two years ago. After Rebecca Ryan visited last October and the Future Forward Initiative was introduced, groups formed for that purpose: to bring, attract and retain young people to live and work in the area.
"We're looking for community-minded leaders," Berrey said.
Applications are accepted for the scholarship loan program two times a year from Dec. 1 until Feb. 28 and from June 1 until Aug 31. The foundation also has a grant program and those applications are accepted any time.
To learn more about the programs, visit www.kublyfamilyfoundation.org or e-mail info@kublyfamilyfoundation.org.