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

Cumberland, Maryland, is offering $20,000 to up to ten people who agree to relocate to the city. The new pilot program, called Choose Cumberland, splits the payout into $10,000 in cash and an additional $10,000 for a home down payment or approved renovations. Recipients must maintain Cumberland as their primary residence for at least five years to qualify for the full amount.

Mayor Ray Morriss explained that the city aims to attract individuals who bring their jobs with them. Cumberland, located roughly 130 miles from Washington, D.C., has faced a long-term population drop. The city’s population fell from more than 40,000 residents to fewer than 19,000 following the closure of major manufacturing firms and other large employers starting in the 1970s.

Cumberland is one of more than 100 locations currently advertising cash incentives to draw new residents, according to the website Make My Move. Tulsa, Oklahoma, runs one of the most established programs. Tulsa Remote began before the pandemic and pays $10,000 to remote workers who 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 the local workforce, which had relied heavily on the oil and gas sectors.

The Tulsa initiative has expanded from approximately 70 participants in 2019 to more than 3,500. Harlan noted that while the program requires only one year of residency, it maintains a 90% retention rate beyond that period. He stated that 75% of participants who joined since 2019 still live in Tulsa. The team meets with each new resident within their first 90 days to help them integrate into the community.

Faith Langevin moved from Atlanta to Tulsa in 2022 after being drawn by the lower cost of living and the financial incentive. Her husband also works remotely and received the same payout. Langevin said the social aspect of the community made the move stand out for her. Three years later, she described Tulsa as her home.

Evan Starr, an associate professor at the University of Maryland’s School of Business, studied the Tulsa Remote program to understand how early movers in this market perform. Starr found the retention rates to be strong, noting that cities do not want residents who arrive solely for the money and leave once restrictions end. He believes remote work is permanent and has opened up new levels of geographic mobility for employees.

In Cumberland, Gino Giatras, whose family has owned a hot dog shop since 1918, said he welcomes the new arrivals. He cited the people, weather, and local activities as reasons he loves the city.