Proposed Occupation List for 2025 Hometown Heroes Program
For the 2025-2026 fiscal year, eligibility for financial assistance through the program appropriated shall be limited to the following borrowers:
• A person employed full-time by a Florida-based employer as a health care worker, school staff member, first responder, public safety or court employee, or child care worker;
• A service member of the United States military or military reserves, the United States Coast Guard or its reserves, or the Florida National Guard; or
• A veteran employed full-time by a Florida-based employer.
HEALTHCARE WORKERS
Borrowers employed full-time by a Florida-based healthcare provider/physician, hospital, assisted living facility, healthcare facility, and mental health facility are eligible. Examples include, but are not limited to:
Nursing
- Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN)
- Clinical Nurse Specialist
- Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
- Nurse Anesthetist
- Nurse Midwife
- Nursing Assistant (CNA)
- Nursing Technician
- Registered Nurse (RN)
- Medical Technicians
- Anesthesia Support Technician
- Cardiology Technician
- Clinical Technician
- Computed Tomography (CT) Technician
- Emergency Room (ER) Technician
- Laboratory Technician (Including Phlebotomist)
- Monitor Technician
- Music Technician
- Neurology Technician
- Nuclear Medicine Technician
- Orthopedic (Ortho) Technician
- Pharmacy Technician
- Radiation Technician
- Rehabilitation (Rehab) Technician
- Sonographer
- Surgical Technician
- X-ray Technician
- Medical Therapists
- Audiology Therapist
- Occupational Therapist
- Physical Therapist
- Respiratory Therapist
- Speech Therapist
- Physicians & Pharmacists
- Anesthesiologist
- Anesthesiologist Assistant
- Dentist
- Hearing Aid Specialist
- Nuclear Pharmacist
- Optician
- Orthotist
- Pharmacist
- Pharmacy Technician
- Physician
- Physician Assistant
- Prosthetist
Mental Health Workers
- Psychiatrist
- Psychologist
- Behavioral Health Technician
- Behavioral Therapist
- Mental Health Specialist
- Social Worker
- Other Healthcare Workers
- Acupuncturist
- Assisted Living Administrator
- Genetic Counselor
- Home Health Aide
- Massage Therapist
- Medical Assistant (CMA or MA)
- Patient Care Assistant
- Patient Transporter (Orderly)
SCHOOL STAFF MEMBERS
Borrowers employed full-time by a Florida-based K-12 public, private, charter or magnet school are eligible. Examples include, but are not limited to:
- Assistant Principal
- Career Specialist (Guidance Counselor)
- Classroom Teacher
- Food Service / Cafeteria Staff
- Librarian / Media Specialist
- Maintenance / Janitorial Staff
- Principal
- School Counselor
- School Psychologist
- Social Worker
- Teacher Aide
FIRST RESPONDERS
Borrowers employed full-time by a FL-based fire department, ambulance service or hospital are eligible. Examples include, but are not limited to:
- Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
- Firefighter
- Paramedic
- PUBLIC SAFETY WORKERS
- Borrowers employed full-time by a Florida-based local, county, state, or federal law enforcement
- department, juvenile detention facility, correctional facility or emergency operations center are
- eligible. Examples include, but are not limited to:
- 911 Public Safety Communicator (911 Operator or Dispatcher)
- Adult Protective Services Enforcement
- Child Protective Services Enforcement
- Correction Officer
- Correctional Probation Officer
- Juvenile Detention Officer
- Juvenile Probation Officer
- Sworn Law Enforcement Officer (Local, State or Federal)
COURT EMPLOYEES
Borrowers employed full-time by a Florida-based county, state or federal court, court administrator’s office, State Attorney’s Office, or Public Defender’s Office are eligible. Examples include, but are not limited to:
- Assistant Public Defender
- Assistant State Attorney
- Attorney
- Court Clerk
- Court Stenographer (Court Reporter)
- Judge
CHILD CARE WORKERS
Borrowers employed full-time with a Florida-based licensed child care facility pursuant to s.402.301-402.305 or exempt from licensure pursuant to s.402.313 and 402.316 are eligible. Examples include, but are not limited to:
- Any worker at a licensed Child Care facility
- Any worker at a licensed or registered family day care home
MILITARY
A servicemember of the United States military or military reserves, the United States Coast Guard or its reserves, or the Florida National Guard, including:
- Air Force, Air Force Reserve & Air National Guard
- Army, Army Reserve & Air National Guard
- Coast Guard & Coast Guard Reserve
- Florida National Guard
- Marine Corps & Marine Corps Reserve
- Navy & Navy Reserve
- Space Force & Space Force Reserve
VETERANS
- Veterans employed full-time by a Florida-based employer who have been discharged under other than dishonorable conditions from one of the eligible Military or Reserve branches above.
