These US cities will pay up to $15,000 for you to relocate—but there’s always a catch

Update: This story originally misstated the incentive to move to Morgantown. The program offers $12,000, plus other perks, to relocate to West Virginia.

What would you do for $15,000? Several towns — including Morgantown, Lewisburg, and Shepherdstown in West Virginia — are paying people thousands of dollars to move and become a permanent resident, according to makemymove.com.

In all cases, the goal is to bring back the economy and revitalize cities in a state that has been losing around one percent of its population since 2015 and has a rapidly shrinking tax base. 

The latest offer comes from Ascend, WV, which is actually a program run by Brad Smith, a native West Virginian who found success during his time working in Silicon Valley as CEO of Intuit, and now wants to add a remote workforce to his home state.

The timing could not be better; as young adults leave major cities due to COVID, developing a remote workforce has never been so realistic.

There’s always a catch

But nobody gets the cash with the mere signature on a lease. The incentive begins with $10,000 paid in monthly installments, and $2,000 for completing your second consecutive year, for a total of $12,000. Other benefits include free outdoor recreation, valued at $2,500, free outdoor gear rentals valued at $1,200, and more.

To be accepted you have to prove that you not only can move to West Virginia, but that you are currently employed by a company that allows you to work remotely.

Multiple cities will pay you to be a resident

Of course, West Virginia isn’t the only place that’s offering incentives to potential new residents. Some cities — such as Buffalo, New York — will give away land that has been repossessed by the government and sold at 1 dollar.

Hawaii is luring young professionals to help reinvigorate local startups with $2,500 (and a free flight). There are similar programs in Oklahoma, Kansas, Alaska, and Georgia.

Why paid incentives could work for city growth

COVID has radically changed the way we live our lives. A mass exodus has been chronicled by many observers (see our story back in November). This is potentially great news for smaller cities that need new people to settle down and enter local economies.

This may also signal greater societal change. Rent in major cities has grown and grown over the years, making it almost impossible to save for retirement. Young Americans are plagued by student loan debt, and millennials still lag behind previous generations in home ownership. So, these financial payouts are mutually beneficial.

Cities need a younger population to help stimulate the economy and younger people — now more than ever — want a government that can help them achieve their dreams of homeownership. Will it solve poverty or the blight of ghost towns? Probably not. But it’s a good start.