Grow Hardee Scholarship

The Grow Hardee Scholarship is designed to be a reverse scholarship which incentivizes individuals with undergraduate college degree(s) or trade, technical, vocational, or industry certification(s) to live in Hardee County, Florida.  

Applicants who have graduated from an accredited postsecondary undergraduate or technical/vocational school program  are eligible for the scholarship. 

The applicant may apply for a scholarship award up to the total expenditures incurred for tuition and school-assessed fees minus previous scholarships or grants received during the degree or certification attainment.

A successful scholarship recipient would establish and prove residency in  Hardee County for 365 days before receiving any reverse scholarship award benefits. 

2023 GROW HARDEE SCHOLARSHIP OPENS OCTOBER 2, 2023

Frequently Asked Questions About the 

Grow Hardee Scholarship

Who is eligible for the scholarship?

To be eligible for an award, an applicant must submit a completed application with the intent to establish residence within 180 days of the award or have already established residence within Hardee County. An applicant must graduate from an accredited post-secondary school with an undergraduate diploma or technical/vocational/industry certificate in the eligible years (2020,2021,2022 or 2023) for the current 2023 scholarship.

How much is the scholarship award?

An applicant will request reimbursement of all tuition and fees incurred in pursuit of the undergraduate degree or trade/vocational/industry certificate. Up to the total amount requested may be awarded by the committee payable in five annual installments if Hardee County residency is maintained for five consecutive years. The award amount is determined by the Committee and is limited by available funds, number, and size of requests.

 

When will I receive the scholarship funds? 

The scholarship funds will not be paid to any awardee until he or she has established and documented residency in the County for 365 calendar days. Any awardee who has not established residency within 180 calendar days after the date of written or electronic notice of the award will forfeit the scholarship. The Foundation will make the payments directly to the applicant awardee.

The Grow Hardee Scholarship application opens October 2, 2023

The deadline to submit in the 2023 window is 

5:00 pm EST February 2, 2024

The table below details when graduates with undergraduate degrees or trade/technical/vocational/industry certificates are eligible to apply for a scholarship.  

All required documents must be submitted prior to the deadline of February 2, 2024

If you require reasonable accommodation completing this application, contact educationfoundationhardee@gmail.com.

PREVIEW THE APPLICATION BELOW PRIOR TO OPENING THE SUBMISSION LINK. YOU ONLY HAVE ONE (1) OPPORTUNITY TO SUBMIT THE APPLICATION. 

APPLY FOR THE GROW HARDEE SCHOLARSHIP HERE

GROW HARDEE SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION 

Frequently Asked Questions about Residency

Do I have to live in Hardee County to apply for the scholarship?

No, you may apply for the scholarship before living in Hardee County.  However, benefits will not be paid until you have established and documented residency in Hardee County for 365 days. Any awardee who has not established residency by 180 days after the award date will forfeit the scholarship. 


Does my job have to be in Hardee County?

No, you can work in or out of Hardee County if you live in Hardee County.


What if I move any time after I have established residency?

If you move, you must notify the Foundation immediately, even if you move somewhere else within Hardee County.  If you move out of the County you will immediately lose the award and no future payments will be made. 


If my scholarship is forfeited due to the residency requirement, can I get the scholarship reinstated? 

Any cessation of residency during the 365-day period will immediately negate any proposed award. Once an award is terminated, a new application may be made, if the new application is made within the three-year period following receipt of an undergraduate degree or trade certificate. A new application does not imply receipt of an award. No fractional payments will be made for partial annual residency.

Required documents to mail to the Foundation

Preview the application here before you submit

Policies & Procedures

Frequently Asked Questions

Application Evaluation

In 2018, through the Local Development Agreement (LDA) For Ona Mine—Hardee County with Mosaic Fertilizer LLC and contribution by The Development Group, agreed to fund an endowment of a scholarship fund to be “administered and audited by” the Hardee County Education Foundation (HCEF).