Why Jacksonville’s Workforce Incentive Program Was the Perfect Fit for James and His Family

When manufacturing engineer James Gaudio and his family packed up their lives to relocate to Jacksonville, Illinois, they weren’t just moving to be closer to family - they joined a growing movement.

Through MakeMyMove, a platform best known for attracting remote workers to welcoming communities across the U.S., James became part of a new wave of participants: professionals choosing to live and work in the communities that recruit them.

“It wasn’t something I was looking for,” he said. “It just fell into my lap and the timing was perfect timing.”

Jacksonville is a regional hub in west-central Illinois known for its bright murals downtown and as a base for manufacturing. The move represented something even bigger: a sign that MakeMyMove’s model isn’t just about individual opportunity anymore. It’s about strengthening hometown economies one hire and household at a time.

Building New Memories on Familiar Ground

James and his wife had long talked about returning to central Illinois. His wife grew up nearby, in the small town of Winchester, Illinois, where her mother and aunts had all been teachers. Her siblings were graduates of the local school system and the couple often imagined raising their children in the same kind of close-knit environment she’d known.

When their second child was born, that pull toward family became impossible to ignore. “My wife has taken to it like a duck in water,” James said with a laugh. “She’s just smitten with being close to home around her family again.”

Their two young children, one a curious three-year-old, the other just an infant, have been adjusting in their own ways. “My son will sometimes say he wants to go home,” James admitted. “That’ll break any parent’s heart. We just sit down and explain to him that this is our new home. We’re going to live near Papa and Grandma and be with your cousins.”

The move was also multigenerational: James’s mother relocated with them after retiring, choosing to make the transition alongside her son and daughter-in-law. “She’s living with us now,” James said. “It’s been great having her close.”

Discovering the MakeMyMove Relocation Program

While the idea of moving back had been simmering for some time, the decision gained momentum thanks to a text message from his wife’s uncle.

“He sent a message one day saying there were incentives for relocating to Jacksonville,” James recalled. “So I started looking into it.”

At the time, he wasn’t actively job hunting in the area. He was employed elsewhere and the logistics of relocating felt daunting. But after reading about the MakeMyMove program, designed to help in-person workers find rewarding opportunities and community in towns across the country, he decided to apply.

“It was super simple,” he said. “The team down here in Jacksonville was really quick at getting back. I think a lot of those steps were knocked out in the first couple of days and the MakeMyMove platform was easy to use. The whole process was seamless.”

As part of the application, the Jacksonville Regional Economic Development Corporation (JREDC) reviewed his resume. “The president of JREDC, Kristin Van Aken Jamison, asked if she could share my resume with local employers, and I said absolutely,” James said. “The next day, she said there was a local company looking for an engineer.”

That introduction led to a series of interviews with CCK Automations and soon, a job offer.

“Everything just kept aligning,” he said. “It made the move and the situation a lot better and I was grateful for that.”

Joining Jacksonville’s Workforce

For James, the transition to working locally after years of considering remote options has been grounding. His new role as an engineer in Jacksonville has provided not just steady employment but a tangible sense of belonging in a community where people take pride in seeing their workforce grow.

At his new job, he’s already noticed a difference in company culture. When he talks about his upcoming work Christmas party, there’s a spark of appreciation in his tone. “Where I came from, it was called a holiday party. Catered lunches were distributed and then you’d go back to work,” he said. “This is a Christmas party, held after work, and it’s an actual event.”

Jacksonville’s size allows for that kind of workplace intimacy. The area - home to about 37,000 residents - balances the accessibility of a small town with the conveniences of a greater regional community. “There’s a level of convenience being located in Jacksonville,” James said. “You’ve got retail, groceries, the county seat - everything’s nearby. It feels like everything we need is right here.”

Settling In: From House Projects to Deer Season

Since arriving, life has been busy. Between work, settling into their new house and taking care of their children, James hasn’t yet had much downtime.

“I’ll admit I haven’t been able to have as much fun or explore the community as my wife and kids have,” he said. “Between work and things that need to be done around the house, I just haven’t had the time. But it’s deer season right now and I’m able to go hunting at the family farm down here, so I’m grateful for that.”

For James, hunting is more than a pastime; it’s a time for reflection and connection. “I take it very seriously,” he said. “It’s one of the times I get to self-reflect. I really cherish that. I’m also looking forward to doing some fishing in the spring,” he said. “There’s a lake down here that I’ve been coming to for the past ten years but I’ve never had the opportunity to fish there. I always say I’ll bring my boat and I never do. This year, I will.”

For now, home improvement projects keep him grounded, building out a home gym, organizing the garage and ensuring the space feels like theirs. “We moved our gym from the basement into the garage,” he said. “There are a few things I still need to do so that it’s ready to use during winter.”

From One Generation of Learners to the Next

While James focuses on his new job and home projects, his wife has been quick to plug into the community. A licensed clinical social worker specializing in children’s services, she has been researching local pre-K options for their son and exploring ways to get involved professionally.

“She’s the expert when it comes to the kids and education,” James said proudly.

Jacksonville’s education system is one of the city’s cornerstones. With public and private options and a strong connection to nearby institutions like Illinois College, the district has a long-standing reputation for quality.

For the couple, that reputation was a key factor in their decision to move. “ The schools where my son would’ve ended up before were in a less-than-desirable district,” he said. “I just knew this was a better opportunity and education system for him.”

Through Jacksonville’s relocation program, James and his wife were also offered a personal tour of the local schools with the superintendent, an incentive that helped solidify their confidence in the area’s education network.

Small-Town Connections

One of the things James looks forward to most as life settles down is building new relationships in the community.

“I want to get to the local VFW or the American Legion and join the club there,” he said. “I haven’t even walked into them yet. I’ve been so busy.”

Even though he hasn’t had much time to explore, he’s noticed the friendliness that defines small-town Illinois.

Incentives Designed to Help Movers Acclimate to the Community

As part of MakeMyMove’s Jacksonville incentive package, James received a mix of community perks.

“My wife jumped into the gym right away,” he said. “We’ve also received gift certificates for a steak dinner and recreational activities we can use, like axe-throwing and kayaking. A lot of it is spring and summer stuff, so we’re looking forward to doing more when it warms up.”

In addition to those, the Jacksonville relocation program offers new residents local experiences like golf outings, family passes to area attractions like the Jacksonville Speedway, each designed to help movers explore and engage.

When the Right Move Finds You

When asked about what’s next, James paused before answering, “That’s an interesting question,” he said. “Because the last two years, our main goal was to get to Jacksonville. Now we need to reflect on what’s next.”

After years of searching for balance, the Gaudio’s have found it through the serendipity of a community that welcomed them home.

“I’m grateful for how it all came together,” James said. “It feels like the right move at the right time, for all of us.”