Tuition Assistance Program For Volunteer Firefighters Extended

VALHALLA, NY — A program for tuition assistance to help volunteer fire departments and EMS agencies recruit and retain personnel was renewed for another year.

Westchester County Executive George Latimer said 132 volunteer first responders were awarded $500,000 in 2022 after the Higher Education Recruitment and Retention Opportunity (HERRO) program was launched.

Based on that success, Latimer and the Board of Legislators approved funding the same amount for 2023.

“Our county is committed to doing what we can to support our local volunteer fire and EMS agencies to recruit and retain members,” he said. “These volunteer agencies are critical to ensuring the safety of so many communities across our county.”

The county hopes to bolster depleted volunteer ranks by providing active volunteer emergency services personnel with tuition reimbursement or student loan repayment assistance up to $6,000 per year.

To be eligible, a HERRO applicant must be an active member of a volunteer fire department, fire company, fire district or EMS agency for one year.

An applicant’s department or agency will have to verify that these training and service requirements have been met.

The HERRO program is administered by the Department of Emergency Services. Application forms and more information about the program’s requirements can be found through this link.