
Learn & Return
Empowering Local Talent, Driving Hometown Innovation
The Learn and Return Program is a strategic initiative by AIREE designed to attract and support college graduates and licensed professionals who are committed to making a positive impact in their hometowns. This dual-benefit program provides both student loan repayment assistance and access to startup capital for participants who aim to contribute to local economic growth through business development, community investment, and technological innovation.
By bridging the gap between education and implementation, the Learn and Return Program equips skilled individuals to return to their communities and lead the next generation of place-based transformation.
Program Overview
Student Loan Repayment Assistance
Participants may receive up to $15,000 over three years to reduce the burden of student debt. Funds are disbursed directly to approved student loan servicers. Participants will work alongside AIREE advisors and financial counselors to create a repayment plan aligned with their income and long-term goals.
Startup Business Microloans
For those launching a new business or community-based initiative, AIREE offers access to early-stage capital through low-interest microloans. These funds support ventures that contribute to the revitalization of local economies, including real estate services, technology solutions, housing innovation, and infrastructure support.
Technology-Driven Community Development
Participants are encouraged to apply technology in practical ways to address housing, employment, and access challenges. This may include launching platforms focused on real estate data, using AI for market forecasting, incorporating smart systems into housing design, or digitizing small business operations to expand local reach and resilience.
Eligibility Requirements
Eligible Participants
The program is open to individuals with a post-secondary degree or state-certified training in the following fields:
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Real estate (brokers, appraisers, title agents, property managers)
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Mortgage lending and financial services
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General contracting, construction, and skilled trades
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Architecture, planning, or historic preservation
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Business development, data analytics, or journalism
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Hospitality or tourism professionals engaged in community-based revitalization
Geographic Eligibility
Applicants must have a connection to or professional interest in one of the following communities:
Alabama: Selma, Marion, Montgomery, Birmingham, Auburn, Tuskegee
Florida: Tampa, Orlando, Daytona Beach, St. Petersburg
"I don't measure America by its achievement but by its potential."
- Shirley Chisholm