Dive Brief:
- Tulsa Remote, a new initiative sponsored by the George Kaiser Family Foundation (GKFF), is offering financial assistance and bonuses of up to $10,000 to encourage remote workers and entrepreneurs to move to Tusla, Oklahoma, The Washington Post reports.
- Applicants must be at least 18 years old, have a job that allows them to work remotely or be an entrepreneur. Included in the package is $2,500 for moving expenses, $500 in monthly rent assistance and a $1,500 bonus after one year. All applicants must complete a video interview and visit the city to be made an offer, according to the report.
- The program has already received more than 6,000 applications, GKFF executive director Ken Levit told the Post. Tulsa's unemployment rate at 3% is lower than the national average of 3.7%, the Post said, citing U.S. Department of Labor statistics.
Dive Insight:
Offering remote workers an incentive to move may become a trend among some U.S. localities. The Tulsa Remote initiative follows a similar program launched in Vermont, where the state's governor signed off on legislation allowing workers who move to the state to earn a $10,000 grant that can be put toward moving costs or rent for a co-working space.
By at least one measure, workers aren't statistically enthusiastic about moving for new job offers. The risk and unknowns of a new market and associated lifestyle changes may lessen the appeal of some moves, according to analyst firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas. But in a candidate's market, businesses and governments are looking for innovative ways to attract talent to their communities, and the promise of moving without having to give up a current job may hold more appeal.
In California, public service announcements have been used to entice teachers to the state. Certain universities are opening programs to allow students to relocate and train for new careers at little or no cost. Employers, perhaps most notably Amazon, have relocated their headquarters to attract a larger applicant pool.
