Dozens of cities are offering up to $16,000 in cash incentives, homebuying allowances, tax credits and money toward local goods and services in hopes of enticing pandemic movers to relocate there. 

, an online directory launched in December 2020, aims to connect remote workers with such offers around the country.

CNBC journalist reports on MakeMyMove and the places offering incentives for remote workers to relocate. Evan Hock, co-founder or MakeMyMove, shares what the company is learning about remote workers and where they want to go.

Some cities are paying people up to $16,000 to move there—this online directory will help you find them

Cities across the country are courting remote workers with incentives more commonly associated with luring companies.

Localities that would have no hope of attracting a corporate expansion, much less a large headquarters, are seeing the value of bringing in talent that can help build local tax bases and economies. As these communities compete, it won't be surprising to see the big winners in corporate relocations jump into the game of luring remote workers.

“For the first time in at least a century, the fundamental deal that most workers had
signed up for — hitching their worklife to where they live — has been decoupled for
millions of people. Suddenly people have the freedom to live and play where they want, independent of their work,” said Evan Hock, co-founder and vice president of product for TMap, a tech recruiter based in Indianapolis. TMap has created a marketplace to match remote workers with states and cities eager to court them.

Cities across the country are courting remote workers with incentives more commonly associated with luring companies.

Localities that would have no hope of attracting a corporate expansion, much less a large headquarters, are seeing the value of bringing in talent that can help build local tax bases and economies. As these communities compete, it won't be surprising to see the big winners in corporate relocations jump into the game of luring remote workers.

Amid Bay Area exodus, more cities offer cash, land, other incentives to attract remote workers

The pandemic has created a massive paradigm shift in the way cities and regions hunt for jobs.

And a local company headed by Angie’s List co-founder Bill Oesterle is trying to make sure workers and communities across the country maximize the benefits of this seismic change.

Gone are the days when economic development officials merely hunted for companies to bring in scores of jobs. With the number of permanent remote workers more than quadrupling in the last year, a fast-growing number of city, county and state officials are trying to lure individuals who will bring their job—and the resulting economic impact—with them.

In the last six months, dozens of cities and regions across the country have started offering individual workers a variety of incentives, including housing enticements, moving expenses and up to $20,000 in cash, depending on the salary of the job a remote worker brings and the length of time they commit to stay.

The pandemic has created a massive paradigm shift in the way cities and regions hunt for jobs. And a local company headed by Angie’s List co-founder Bill Oesterle is trying to make sure workers and communities across the country maximize the benefits of this seismic change.

Local Firm Helps Forge New Economic Playbook

Among the many lasting effects of COVID-19 — one that has received little attention — is its potential to disrupt economic development. The pandemic introduced the world to remote work almost overnight. When those workers proved they could be productive, they triggered a secondary trend: realization by city and state governments that those remote workers represent an entirely new paradigm for economic development.

MakeMyMove CEO Bill Oesterle writes about the economic opportunities created by Covid-19 and the remote work culture. As geographically free agents, remote workers are attractive recruits for small communities seeking to increase their tax base and talent pool.

MakeMyMove In The News

Recent Coverage

Some cities are paying people up to $16,000 to move there—this online directory will help you find them

COVID-19 offers remote workers and small communities big economic opportunities

Amid Bay Area exodus, more cities offer cash, land, other incentives to attract remote workers

Local Firm Helps Forge New Economic Playbook