U.S. city offers $7K incentive for remote workers to relocate
GEORGIA, UNITED STATES — Columbus, the second-largest city in Georgia, has launched an attractive program that offers remote workers over $7,000 to join its community.
This initiative, a collaboration with MakeMyMove, is part of the Columbus 2025 project, designed to draw remote employees by showcasing the U.S. city’s vibrant culture, outdoor activities, and supportive community.
“With a focus on talent attraction and retention, we saw an opportunity to promote our community to those who work remotely and can choose where they want to live,” said Columbus 2025 Executive Director Tabetha Getz.
Eligible individuals could receive a relocation package worth $7,400, including $5,000 in cash and $2,400 in benefits like co-working spaces, social outings, and memberships to local organizations and amenities.
To qualify, applicants must:
- have a minimum annual income of $75,000 from a single source
- be currently employed full-time in a role that allows relocation
- live outside a 75-mile radius of Columbus
- commit to moving to Muscogee County within six months
- be at least 18 years old and legally allowed to live and work in the U.S.
Interested candidates must create a MakeMyMove account, complete an online application, and undergo a selection process that includes income verification, a questionnaire, a phone interview, and a meeting with the Columbus residents’ committee.
“Columbus is a city on the rise and offers a strong sense of community with big city amenities and a lower cost of living,” Getz said.
“We are piloting the program as one piece of the talent attraction strategy, with the goal of attracting a small cohort of remote workers in 2024 and expanding the program in the future.”
This innovative approach by Columbus 2025 mirrors a growing trend among cities to attract remote workers as a strategy for economic and community development.
Colorado is the top U.S. state for remote workers, with 37.3% working from home at least one day per week, according to a new report by SelectSoftware Reviews.
A study based on LinkedIn data and BCG’s Cities of Choice survey identified “talent magnet cities,” including London, United Kingdom; Toronto and Vancouver, Canada; Berlin, Germany; Singapore; Stockholm, Sweden; and Madrid, Spain.
Portugal was the top destination for American visa applicants on Deel in 2023, with its golden visa driving interest. Countries like Japan and South Africa are also launching programs for digital nomads to attract and retain international talent.
