Cities Offer Cash to Lure Remote Workers

Many people now have jobs that do not require a physical office. This shift has led cities to compete for new residents by offering large cash payments.

Cumberland, Maryland, launched a pilot program called Choose Cumberland. The city will pay $20,000 to up to 10 people who agree to move there. The payment is split into $10,000 in cash and $10,000 toward a down payment or home renovations. Recipients must make Cumberland their primary residence for at least five years.

The city is trying to reverse a long population decline. Cumberland, located 130 miles from Washington, D.C., lost many jobs when manufacturing companies closed starting in the 1970s. The population dropped from over 40,000 to fewer than 19,000. Mayor Ray Morriss noted that the city once had more than 40,000 people. He said the program targets people who bring their jobs with them.

Tulsa, Oklahoma, has one of the largest relocation programs. Tulsa Remote pays remote workers $10,000 to move to the city and rent or buy a home. The program started before the pandemic as an experiment to diversify a workforce reliant on oil and gas. Justin Harlan, the managing director, said the goal was to broaden the labor market.

Participation in Tulsa Remote has grown from about 70 people in 2019 to more than 3,500. The program requires only one year of residency. However, officials report a 90% retention rate after that first year. Since 2019, 75% of participants are still living in Tulsa. Harlan said the team meets with each new resident within 90 days to help them settle in.

Faith Langevin moved from Atlanta to Tulsa in 2022. She and her husband were both remote workers and both received the incentive. Langevin said the lower cost of living and the financial offer attracted her. She also valued the social component. When asked if she regretted the move three years later, she said absolutely not and called Tulsa home.

Evan Starr, an associate professor at the University of Maryland, studied the Tulsa program. He said researchers wanted to learn from an early mover in this market. Starr found the retention rate to be a positive sign. He warned that cities do not want people staying only for the money. If residents leave as soon as restrictions lift, the program fails. Starr believes remote work is permanent and has created new geographic mobility.

In Cumberland, Gino Giatras has lived there for a long time. His family has operated a hot dog shop since 1918. He said he welcomes new neighbors. He cited the people, the weather, and the local activities as reasons he loves the city.