Clinton County Community Student Loan Assistance Program
“The Clinton Community School District is excited to offer this student loan assistance program to all employees of the district. The district recognizes the increasing challenges of student loan debt and is proud to work with the county and city to address this problem with the current and future workforce of our school district.” – Gary DeLacy, Superintendent
What is it?
The Clinton County Community Student Loan Assistance Program was created to help ease the financial burden of student loans while recruiting and retaining top talent into Clinton County through a progressive debt relief initiative.
The Clinton County leadership team understands that the $1.5 trillion in student loan debt shouldered by over 45 million Americans serves as an impediment to economic growth in rural counties. Investment in the purchase of a home, vehicle, or the starting of a family, may be delayed due to the financial burden of student loan debt.
Individuals enrolled in the Clinton County Community Student Loan Assistance Program will receive $30 a month toward the payoff of their student loan debt for up to five years.
Partner Organizations
Eligible candidates have the opportunity to receive matched contributions through an established partnership with county-based municipalities and community school districts.
City of Clinton
– An eligible applicant must reside within city limits to receive the City of Clinton $30 a month contribution.
City of Camanche
– An eligible applicant must reside within city limits to receive the City of Camanche $30 a month contribution.
City of DeWitt
– An eligible applicant must reside within city limits and be employed by a Clinton County-based employer to receive the City of DeWitt $30 a month contribution.
Clinton Community School District
– An eligible applicant must be an employee of the district and reside within district boundaries to receive the Clinton Community School District $30 a month contribution (those employed by the district before August 1st, 2019 are eligible to receive the Clinton Community School District contribution of $30 a month).
Camanche Community School District
– An eligible applicant must be an employee of the district and reside within district boundaries to receive the Camanche Community School District $30 a month contribution.
Central DeWitt Community School District
– An eligible applicant must be an employee of the district and reside within district boundaries to receive the Central DeWitt Community School District $30 a month contribution (those employed by the district before August 1st, 2019 are eligible to receive the Central DeWitt Community School District contribution of $30 a month).
Eligibility
Eligible applicants must have re-located to Clinton County on or after August 1st, 2019. You must be able to provide proof of Clinton County residency, as well as proof of prior residence outside of Clinton County. Acceptable proof of residency includes, but is not limited to:
- Utility Bill
- Property Deed
- Rental Agreement
A qualified applicant does not need to work for a Clinton County-based employer in order to receive the county contribution. Eligibility for the Clinton County contribution is based on residency only.
How to Apply
- Download the Clinton County Community Student Loan Assistance Program Application
- Attach proof of residence, both current and prior, as part of the submission.
- Submit your application to Clinton County, Iowa. There are two ways of submitting:
– Email to auditor@clintoncounty-ia.gov or
– Print and hand-deliver to the Clinton County Auditor’s office at:1900 North 3rd Street,
Clinton, IA 53732
Conditions
- Applicant must meet all qualifications throughout the duration of eligibility of the County and the third-party program administrator.
- An applicant may be in the program for no longer than five (5) years.
- Applicant must certify their residency annually within Clinton County.
- Applicant must notify the County within 30 days of changing residency outside of Clinton County by emailing auditor@clintoncounty-ia.gov.
- The County maintains its right to terminate the program with any individual with a 60-day notice.
- The County may reject any application based on the availability of funds for the program.
An applicant’s student loan debt will be verified through a third-party (www.getpeanutbutter.com). The verification process must prove that the applicant is the Borrower on a U.S. Federal or Private Student loan that is in good standing and has sufficient balance. Recognized student loan debt is not limited to a four-year degree or higher. Student loan debt resulting from any source of post-secondary education will be qualified – to include certificates.
An eligible individual may not qualify for participation in the program if, during Loan Verification, it is determined that:
- The individual is the Co-singer on the loan and not the Borrower.
- The loan is in Default
- Payments cannot be applied to the loan because it has not been assigned to a loan servicer or has been reassigned by a loan servicer to a collection agency.
- Payments cannot be applied to the loan because it has a balance less than the Organization’s Student Loan Repayment contribution.
- The loan is a personal loan, home equity loan, revolving credit line, person-to-person loan, or another type of financial instrument that is not a Student Loan.
Questions?
Clinton County Auditor
auditor@clintoncounty-ia.gov
(563) 244-0568
The Clinton County leadership team celebrates the launch of the Community Student Loan Assitance program along with David Aronson, President of Peanut Butter.
