From remote workers being incentivized to bring their income to a smaller city, to housing grants for students, here’s what local cities are offering.

SAN FRANCISCO — In an effort to boost small local economies, cities across the United States are offering incentives totaling tens of thousands of dollars for folks from big cities to move into little towns. 

MakeMyMove calls itself the “first marketplace for relocation programs,” acting as the middleman between a city in need of an economic boost and people wanting to move somewhere else. 

Cities are offering incentives from personalized tours and helping new residents move in, to free college tuition and housing assistance programs for eligible applicants, or even straight up cash for moving costs. 


What’s in it for the cities?

Incentivizing people with certain skills and jobs to move into smaller areas can boost the economy. 

While some may focus on remote workers bringing their larger income to a lower cost of living area, there are many cities offering incentives for people to work and live in their community. 

Each remote worker generates more than $80,000 on average to their new location’s economy, cofounder Evan Hock told SFGate. Movers brought over $34 million in annual household income in 2024. Of that, 46% flows to communities with declining populations, according to MakeMyMove data.

Many locations offering incentives have populations of a few thousand, but there are some large, well known cities offering incentives for people to move into certain areas. 

There are over a dozen states offering incentives on MakeMyMove, totaling more than $500,000 when added up. 

Here are some of the largest offerings across the country and who may be eligible.


Indiana 

Indiana has the most offers available with 34 incentives totaling nearly $300,000 when added up. Here are some of the largest offerings. 


Noblesville, Indiana

Noblesville, a town with a population just over 75,000, is offering $15,000 in incentives to U.S. citizens living outside of Indiana ages 18 or older with jobs making at least $80,000 annually. Some incentives include:

  • $5,000 relocation grant
  • $500 “health and wellness stipend” 
  • 1-year membership to a workspace location to work remotely
  • Season passes to nearby golf courses, amusement parks and the aquatic center 
  • An “exclusive” welcome event to speak directly to the city mayor


Floyd County, Indiana

Floyd County, consisting of cities like New Albany and Georgetown, has a population of 80,000. The county is offering $15,000 worth of incentives to those living outside of Indiana ages 18 or older with jobs making at least $75,000 annually. Some incentives include:

  • $5,000 cash for relocation
  • Five years access to two workspace locations
  • A curated welcome basket made up of “local favorites”


Fort Wayne, Indiana

Fort Wayne is the second most populated city in the state with more than 273,000 people living there. The city is offering a total of $14,480 in incentives to those living outside of Indiana ages 18 or older with jobs making at least $50,000 annually. Some incentives include:

  • 5% in down payment assistance and closing costs to eligible buyers
  • Discounts, pours and other perks at one of Fort Wayne’s favorite local breweries
  • 2 complimentary passes to the Fort Wayne Botanical Conservatory


Angola, Indiana

Angola is a city near the Ohio and Michigan state lines and has a population of under 10,000. The city is offering a total of $19,849 in incentives to those living outside of Indiana ages 18 or older with jobs making at least $50,000 annually. Some incentives include:

  • $5,000 cash for relocation
  • 5% in down payment assistance and closing costs to eligible buyers
  • One month of free rent at certain apartments
  • 1-year Indiana State Park Pass


Wells County, Indiana

Wells County, consisting of cities like Bluffton, has a population just over 23,000. The county is offering $20,190 worth of incentives to those living outside of Indiana ages 18 or older who can or will get a full-time job in the county. Some incentives include:

  • $5,000 cash for relocation
  • 1-year Southern Wells Community Schools all-sports pass
  • 5% in down payment assistance and closing costs to eligible buyers


Huntington County, Indiana

Huntington County has a population of 36,000 people. The county is offering $15,000 worth of incentives to U.S. citizens living outside of Indiana ages 18 or older with jobs making at least $50,000 annually. Some incentives include:

  • $5,000 cash for relocation
  • 5% in down payment assistance and closing costs to eligible buyers
  • 6 week summer day camp for kids ages 4-14


Wabash County, Indiana

Wabash County has a population just over 31,000 people. The county is offering $17,800 worth of incentives to U.S. citizens living outside of Indiana ages 18 or older with jobs making at least $50,000 annually. Some incentives include:

  • $5,000 cash for relocation
  • $100 “travel fund” stipend for family to visit 
  • 5% in down payment assistance and closing costs to eligible buyers
  • $250 “Early Award Scholarships” for children in middle school


Illinois 


Mattoon, Illinois

Mattoon has a population just under 19,000 people. The city is offering $11,000 worth of incentives to those living at least 100 miles away from Mattoon and making $45,000 working remote. Some incentives include:

  • $5,000 cash for relocation
  • $500 in restaurant vouchers
  • 6 months free storage unit
  • $1000 off a car purchase, or a $200 service gift card


Michigan

Michigan may not have many offers available, but they total to more than $30,000 in incentives. 


Muskegon County 

Muskegon County is offering teachers up to $15,000 to move and work in the county of 178,000. The incentives are available to Pre-K through 12 grade teachers with two and four-year early childhood certificates. 

  • $15,000 paid quarterly over the course of 3 years


Jackson, Michigan

Jackson is a city of 31,000 offering invectives totaling $26,000 for anyone not currently living in the city. The person must make at least $70,000 in total household income, but be at or below 120% of the Area Median Income for some incentives. Some incentives include:

  • $25,000 in Down-Payment Assistance
  • 1-year golf course membership
  • One month household YMCA membership 

Jackson is also offering a $20,000 signing bonus to those joining the Jackson Police Department force. The offer is available to U.S. citizens 21 years and older who pass a background investigation, psychological evaluation and other tests. Some incentives include:

  • Signing bonus up to $20,000
  • Tuition and gym reimbursement


Southwest Michigan

The southwest corner of the state, specifically Berrien, Cass or Van Buren counties, are offering out-of-state residents up to $14,000 to live and work in these areas. Some other incentives include:

  • $5,000 put toward buying a home
  • Free college tuition at Lake Michigan College for eligible applicants
  • Help finding partner job in the new location


Detroit, Michigan

Detroit is offering a Tech Fellowship with incentives totaling $31,680. Applicants must have from a Michigan college or university after 2022, are a “founder of an established venture backable startup with fewer than 10 employees,” and are willing to work at least 40 hours a week. Some incentives include:

  • $2,000 per month stipend for rent (for one year)
  • “Curated community and cohort events”
  • Collaborative co-working space memberships


Texas, Arkansas 


Texarkana

On the state line and split between Texas and Arkansas, Texarkana is offering people 18 and older living outside Arkansas or the Texarkana region who earn at least $60,000 up to $18,900 in invectives. 

  • $5,000 cash for relocation
  • 25% off tuition at Texas A&M Texarkana, with the first class free
  • Membership to the Texarkana Regional Arts and Humanities Council