Smaller cities and towns across the US are implementing relocation support schemes to attract remote workers, offering cash incentives and other benefits. These initiatives aim to counter population declines and address the high cost of living in larger metropolitan areas.
Muncie, Indiana, for example, offers $5,000 in cash to cover relocation costs for remote workers moving from outside the state. This scheme is listed on the MakeMyMove website, which facilitates similar programmes in other small US cities and towns.
Brianna Beyrouti, a single parent, moved with her two children from Portland, Oregon, to Muncie last year, receiving $5,000 towards her move. She continues to work remotely for the same bank, earning $107,000 annually, but now pays $1,100 a month for her mortgage, home insurance, and property tax, compared to $1,290 in rent in Portland. She reports being $600 a month better off due to lower housing costs, state income tax, car insurance, and energy bills.
Another example is Elena Chrysostomou, who relocated from San Diego, California, to Jacksonville, Illinois, in 2024. She received $5,000 in cash and a "quality of life package" worth $4,000, including free gym memberships and golf passes, from the Jacksonville Regional Economic Development Corporation. Her mortgage for a three-bedroom home in Jacksonville is $1,868, significantly less than the $3,000 she paid for a one-bedroom apartment in San Diego.
The MakeMyMove programme assisted 1,000 people in relocating last year and is projected to help 1,500 in 2026. Other incentives offered by various locations include complimentary cinema tickets, restaurant vouchers, and free bottles of wine.