Cities pay up to $20,000 to lure remote workers

The American dream of living anywhere is becoming a municipal strategy.

Local governments across the United States are competing for new residents by offering substantial cash incentives to people who work remotely. The goal is to attract individuals who are already employed but can live in any location. These programs aim to stabilize populations in areas that have suffered economic shifts over the past several decades.

Cumberland, Maryland, launched a pilot program called Choose Cumberland. The city offers a total of $20,000 to up to 10 selected applicants. The package includes $10,000 in relocation cash and an additional $10,000 for a home down payment or approved renovations. Recipients must make Cumberland their primary residence for at least five years. The Appalachian community, located roughly 130 miles from Washington, D.C., saw its population drop from more than 40,000 to fewer than 19,000 after major manufacturing employers closed starting in the 1970s. Mayor Ray Morriss stated that the city is targeting people who bring their jobs with them.

Tulsa, Oklahoma, operates the largest such program, known as Tulsa Remote. The initiative began before the pandemic and pays remote workers $10,000 to rent or buy a home in the city. Justin Harlan, the managing director of Tulsa Remote, said the program started as an experiment to diversify a workforce that relies heavily on oil and gas. Participation has grown from about 70 people in 2019 to more than 3,500. The program requires only one year of residency, but officials report a 90 percent retention rate beyond that period. Seventy-five percent of participants since 2019 still live in Tulsa. Harlan noted that staff meet with every individual within the first 90 days to help them integrate.

Faith Langevin moved from Atlanta to Tulsa in 2022. She was drawn by the lower cost of living and the financial incentive. Her husband, also a remote worker, received a similar payment. Langevin said the social component made the move stand out. When asked about regrets three years later, she replied, "Absolutely not!" and added, "This is really home!"

Evan Starr, an associate professor at the University of Maryland’s School of Business, studied the Tulsa program to understand its long-term effects. He noted that high retention rates indicate the money is not the only draw. Starr warned that cities do not want residents who leave as soon as restrictions end. He believes remote work has opened up a new level of geographic mobility, freeing workers from the location of their employers.

In Cumberland, Gino Giatras, whose family has run a hot dog shop since 1918, welcomes the new neighbors. He cited the people, the weather, and local activities as reasons people love the city.