Get Paid to Move? 9 Real Remote Work Relocation Incentive Programs in Rural US Counties
Let’s be honest for a second. We’ve all been there. It’s 3:00 PM on a Tuesday. You’re staring at a Slack channel that won't stop blinking, your rent or mortgage payment just cleared (and took a huge chunk of your soul with it), and you’re pretty sure the "city view" from your $2,800/month tiny-office-slash-bedroom is just a brick wall.
As a founder, a creator, or a marketer, your entire life is about optimization. Optimizing funnels, optimizing LTV, optimizing ad spend. But when was the last time you optimized your life?
You’ve probably daydreamed about it. Selling everything, moving to a farm, raising goats. It’s the burnout-founder’s fever dream. But what if it wasn't a dream? What if you could not only escape the high-cost-of-living (HCOL) grind but actually get a check for $10,000 or $15,000 just for showing up with your laptop and your W-2 (or 1099)?
This isn’t a scam. It’s not a fantasy. It’s a very real, very strategic economic trend: rural remote work relocation incentives.
I’ve spent countless hours digging through these programs, not just as a curiosity, but as a serious business strategy. For founders, this is about more than a change of scenery. It's about capital arbitrage. Lowering your personal burn rate means a longer runway for your startup. It's a talent magnet—a way to offer a six-figure perk (that you don't even pay for) to your next key hire. And honestly, it's a burnout circuit-breaker.
But it's also a minefield. The applications are dense, the tax implications are messy, and the "gotchas" are hidden in the fine print. You're not just moving; you're entering a business agreement with a town. So, let’s grab a coffee and break down the no-BS guide to getting paid to relocate. We'll cover the real programs, the red flags, and the exact checklist I use to vet these opportunities.
Why This Isn't Just "Free Money" (It's a Strategic Move)
First, let's get this straight. These rural counties aren't handing out cash because they're nice. They're doing it because they're bleeding. They're experiencing "brain drain" as young people leave for coastal hubs, and their tax base is shrinking. They are making a calculated bet that you—a skilled, high-earning remote worker—will bring in more in income tax, property tax, and local spending than the $10,000 they give you. You are, in effect, a venture investment for them.
For you, the "operator," this is a massive opportunity for arbitrage. While everyone else is fighting for scraps in Silicon Valley, Austin, or NYC, you can flip the script.
- Personal Burn Rate Arbitrage: Imagine your monthly housing cost is cut by 60%. Imagine your groceries cost 20% less. That $10,000 incentive? That's just the signing bonus. The real win is the thousands you save every single month. For a boot-strapped founder, this directly translates to a longer runway.
- Talent Acquisition Arbitrage: You're a 5-person startup. You can't offer FAANG-level salaries. But what if your job offer included: "And if you're open to relocating, our partners at [Program Name] will give you a $12,000 bonus and a free mountain bike"? You're now competing on lifestyle, funded by someone else.
- Focus Arbitrage: The HCOL hustle culture is built on distraction. Constant networking, constant comparison, constant noise. Moving to a quieter, "boring" place can be the single greatest productivity hack you ever discover. It's forced deep work.
When you reframe it this way—not as a handout, but as a strategic relocation of assets (you, your talent, your business)—the whole thing starts to look a lot less like a gimmick and a lot more like a brilliant business decision.
9 Real-Deal Remote Work Relocation Incentive Programs
Okay, let's get to the good stuff. These programs change constantly—funding runs out, rules are tweaked. Always, always go to the primary source before you rent a U-Haul. This is a list of some of the most established and interesting programs out there right now.
1. Ascend West Virginia
This is, in my opinion, the gold standard. It's not just cash; it's a full-on lifestyle package.
- The Offer: $12,000 cash ($10k paid over the first year, $2k at the end of year two) + an "Outdoor Recreation Package" valued at over $2,500 (free gear rentals, park passes, etc.).
- The Catch: You must have a full-time remote job (or be self-employed) outside of WV. You have to move to one of their participating communities (like Morgantown, Greenbrier Valley, etc.). This program is highly competitive.
- Founder's Angle: This is the one you use to poach talent. The marketing is slick, the perks are tangible, and it screams "work-life balance." It’s a phenomenal recruiting chip.
2. Tulsa Remote (Oklahoma)
The one that started it all. Tulsa Remote is a legend in this space, and they've built an entire community around it.
- The Offer: $10,000 cash, typically given as a lump sum after you've moved and secured housing. They also provide a membership to a fantastic co-working space and host tons of community events.
- The Catch: You must move to Tulsa within 12 months of approval. Like Ascend, you must have full-time remote employment or be self-employed outside of Oklahoma.
- Founder's Angle: This is less about escaping and more about integrating. The co-working space and built-in network are invaluable for a solo founder or small team looking for immediate community.
3. The Shoals (Alabama)
This program (called "Remote Shoals") is focused on a specific cluster of towns in Northwest Alabama known for their music history (FAME Studios, Muscle Shoals Sound Studio).
- The Offer: Up to $10,000 paid in increments: 25% upfront, 25% after 6 months, and the final 50% after your first year.
- The Catch: This one has an income requirement. You must make $52,000+ per year. This is their way of ensuring you're bringing a high-value job to the community.
- Founder's Angle: The $52k+ requirement acts as a filter. It's great for creators and established professionals. If you're pre-revenue and paying yourself $30k, this one isn't for you.
4. Choose Topeka (Kansas)
Topeka's program is interesting because it partners directly with employers, but it also has a track for solo remote workers.
- The Offer: Up to $15,000 if you buy a home, or up to $10,000 if you rent (paid over two years).
- The Catch: The full $15k often requires an employer match, but the "self-employed" track is still robust. You're committing to Shawnee County.
- Founder's Angle: The home-buying incentive is the key. If you're a founder looking to put down roots and build equity instead of burning cash on rent, this is a powerful wealth-building accelerant.
5. Greater Rochester (New York)
Don't sleep on Upstate New York. Rochester is a major tech and education hub (RIT, U of R) with a surprisingly low cost of living compared to NYC.
- The Offer: Up to $19,000 ($10k in relocation incentives + up to $9k in home-buying grants).
- The Catch: You must live outside the designated region to apply. You also must engage with the community and can't be a student.
- Founder's Angle: This is for the founder who doesn't want total isolation. You get the low cost, but you still have access to a major airport, venture capital circles, and a deep talent pool from the local universities.
6. Newton, Iowa (Newton's Home Initiative)
This one is hyper-focused on a single goal: building new housing. It's less about your remote job and more about your willingness to build.
- The Offer: A $10,000 cash bonus... if you build a new single-family home valued at $190,000 or more.
- The Catch: You have to build a new house. This isn't for renters or quick-movers. This is a major commitment.
- Founder's Angle: This is the "build your dream compound" play. For the established founder who wants to custom-build a live/work space exactly to their spec, $10k is a nice cherry on top of a very low-cost-of-building state.
7. West Lafayette, Indiana (Work from Purdue)
A fascinating, hyper-niche program. They don't just want any remote worker; they want remote workers who will engage with the Purdue University ecosystem.
- The Offer: A $5,000 cash stipend, access to campus amenities (like libraries and gyms), networking opps with faculty, and co-working space access.
- The Catch: The cash is lower, but the access is the real value. You have to be selected and genuinely participate.
- Founder's Angle: This is 100% for the deep-tech, R&D, or academic-minded founder. Getting to network with Purdue's world-class engineering and ag-tech faculty? That's worth way more than $5,000.
8. Poplar Bluff, Missouri
A smaller-town play with a big incentive, Poplar Bluff is looking for skilled workers to embed in their community.
- The Offer: Up to $11,000 ($5,000 cash for relocation + a "HomeTown" perks package with free gym memberships, co-working, etc., valued at $6,000).
- The Catch: You must have a remote job (or be self-employed) with a minimum $50,000/year income and relocate to the city proper.
- Founder's Angle: Similar to The Shoals, the income requirement is a filter. This is a solid, all-around package for an established creator or small business owner who wants a quiet, low-cost base of operations.
9. Make My Move (The Aggregator)
This isn't one program, but it's arguably the most important resource. It's a marketplace for these incentive programs.
- The Offer: A searchable database of dozens of programs across the US, from Michigan to Indiana to Kansas.
- The Catch: It's an aggregator, so you still have to do the due diligence on each individual program's site.
- Founder's Angle: This is your sourcing tool. Bookmark it. Check it once a quarter. This is how you find the new, emerging programs before they get hyper-competitive.
Authoritative Resources for Your Own Research
Don't just take my word for it. Your due diligence starts with high-authority sources. These towns are often tapping into larger federal programs to fund this.
How to Find & Vet These Programs: My 5-Step Operator's Process
You won't find the best deals on a billboard. You have to hunt. Here is the exact process I use to find and analyze these opportunities.
- Step 1: Define Your "Why" (The Non-Negotiables). Forget the money for one second. What are you actually solving for? Do you need to be near a good airport? Do you need gigabit internet? Do you need a specific political climate? Do you need great schools? Make a list of your 5 "must-haves" and 5 "nice-to-haves." This is your filter. A $15,000 check isn't worth it if you have 10 Mbps internet.
- Step 2: Use the Aggregators (The Wide Net). Start at a place like MakeMyMove.com. Cast a wide net. Look at states you'd never even considered. This is about data collection.
- Step 3: Go Hyper-Local (The Alpha). This is where the real magic is. The best, newest programs aren't on big sites. Go to Google and search for: "[State Name] county economic development" or "[Small Town Name] chamber of commerce." Look for terms like "remote worker attraction," "talent initiative," or "new resident grant." This is how you find the programs with 10 applicants, not 10,000.
- Step 4: Read the Fine Print (The 3 'R's). Once you find a program, you become a lawyer. Look for the three 'R's:
- Requirements: Income minimums? W-2 only, or are 1099s/S-Corps okay? Must you live outside the state now?
- Residency: How long is the commitment? Is it 12 months? 24? Do you have to buy a home?
- Repayment (The Clawback): This is the big one. If you leave at month 11 of a 12-month contract, do you owe back the entire $10,000? Is it prorated? Get this in writing.
- Step 5: The "Zoom Interview" the Town. Seriously. Before you even visit, email the program coordinator. Get them on a 15-minute Zoom. Ask them: "Who is the ideal person for this? Who fails here?" Their answer will tell you everything. Then, Zoom with a local realtor. A local co-working space manager. A local coffee shop owner. Be an investigative journalist for your own life.
The "Gotchas": 7 Critical Mistakes That Will Cost You (or Your Sanity)
I’ve seen people get burned by this. The dream sours fast if you walk into it blind. Here are the traps to avoid.
A Quick Disclaimer: Your Money, Your Life (YMYL)
I'm an operator and a writer, not a tax professional or a lawyer. The single biggest mistake you can make is not spending a few hundred bucks to have a CPA and a lawyer review your incentive agreement and its tax implications. That $10,000 grant could easily become a $7,000 grant after taxes. Plan accordingly.
1. Ignoring the Tax Man
That $10,000 cash bonus? It's almost always considered taxable income by the IRS. You will get a 1099-MISC form for it. This means you need to set aside $2,000 - $4,000 of it for Uncle Sam. If you spend it all upfront, you'll be in a world of hurt come April.
2. Forgetting About Internet (The One True God)
Do not trust the Zillow listing. Do not trust the program manager. Do not trust anyone. Before you sign anything, you must get the exact address and check it on the websites of every single provider (Comcast, Spectrum, AT&T) and, most importantly, check its eligibility for Starlink. If you can't get high-speed, low-latency internet, the entire "remote work" premise fails.
3. The "Cost of Living" Is Not Just Housing
Yes, the mortgage on a 4-bedroom house might be $1,200. Amazing. But did you check...
- Car Insurance: Sometimes higher in rural areas.
- Groceries: Your nearest "real" grocery store might be 45 minutes away.
- Gas/Commuting: You will be driving. Everywhere. All the time.
- Healthcare: What's the nearest in-network hospital?
4. Falling for the "Golden Handcuffs"
The program requires you to stay for 24 months. You hate it after 6. You are now a prisoner in your new town, held captive by a clawback clause. Never, ever move somewhere just for the money. The money should be the sweetener for a place you already want to be. If you wouldn't move there for $0, you shouldn't move there for $10,000.
5. Ignoring the "Spouse & Kid" Problem
You're a remote worker. Great. Is your partner? What will they do for work? What about community? And if you have kids, the entire decision boils down to one thing: school quality. A great rural school can be the best in the nation, and a bad one can be... not. This is often the single point of failure for family relocations.
6. Visiting in July, Moving in January
That charming mountain town is beautiful in the summer. It's a frozen, isolated, snowed-in nightmare in the winter. Always visit your shortlist of towns in their worst season. If you can still tolerate it (or even love it) in February, you're good to go.
7. Underestimating the Social Lift
In a big city, community is optional and anonymous. In a small town, it is mandatory and visible. You will be "the new person from [Big City]." You have to be willing to join the Chamber of Commerce, go to the high school football game, and shop local. If you're an introvert who just wants to be left alone, you might find the social expectations exhausting.
Is This a Smart Move for Your Business? (The Founder's Calculus)
Okay, let's put our founder/SMB owner hats back on. Using these programs isn't just a personal choice; it can be a core part of your business strategy. But it's not without complexity.
The "Pros" as a Business Strategy
- The Ultimate Hiring Perk: As mentioned, you can "bundle" a $10k incentive into your job offers. This is insanely powerful for attracting talent you otherwise couldn't afford.
- Instant Community & PR: When you or your employee moves via one of these programs, you're a local news story. "Bay Area Tech Worker Moves to Tulsa." The program will feature you. The mayor might meet you. This is free, high-trust PR that money can't buy.
- Lowered State Tax Nexus: This is complex (see CPA!), but moving your S-Corp from California (13.3% income tax) to a state with low or no income tax (like... ahem... West Virginia, which is actively lowering it) can save you five or six figures per year.
The "Cons" and Logistical Headaches
- HR & Payroll Nexus: The second you hire an employee in West Virginia, you now have "nexus" there. This means you have to register your business in that state, pay into their unemployment insurance, and understand their specific labor laws. It's a major administrative lift if you're not already set up for multi-state payroll.
- Diluted Culture (Maybe?): The old argument against remote work. If you move your whole 5-person team to five different rural counties, that "in the trenches" startup vibe is gone. This is solvable with great remote-first culture, but it's not automatic.
- The "Talent Ceiling": If you do want to hire locally to supplement your remote team, the talent pool in a town of 15,000 is just... smaller. That's the trade-off.
The Verdict: As a solo-founder, self-employed creator, or 1099 contractor, this is a massive financial and lifestyle win. As an SMB owner with employees, this is a powerful hiring tool, but one that must be deployed carefully with your finance and HR teams (even if that's just... you) fully aware of the new compliance overhead.
Checklist: Are You Actually Ready to Move?
Run through this list. If you can't check 80% of these, you're not ready.
- [ ] Financial: I have spoken to a CPA about the tax implications of the incentive.
- [ ] Financial: I have a full budget (including moving costs) that proves this move saves me money, even without the incentive.
- [ ] Legal: I have read the entire program agreement, and I am 100% clear on the clawback clause and residency requirements.
- [ ] Logistical: I have personally verified (not "trusted") the specific broadband internet speed and reliability at the address or neighborhood I'm moving to.
- [ ] Logistical: I have mapped the distance to my "non-negotiables" (e.g., nearest major airport, Whole Foods, specialist doctor, etc.).
- [ ] Personal: I have visited the town at least once, preferably in the "bad" season.
- [ ] Personal: My partner/family is 100% on board and has their own plan for community and (if applicable) work.
- [ ] Social: I have spoken to at least one "local" (on Zoom or in person) who is not paid by the incentive program.
- [ ] Social: I am prepared to be "the new person" and actively participate in a new, smaller community.
Frequently Asked Questions (The Quick & Dirty)
1. What is a remote work relocation incentive?
It's a program, typically run by a city, county, or state economic development group, that offers cash, perks, or other benefits to remote workers (or any worker in some cases) who move to their area and stay for a set period. They do this to grow their tax base and import skilled talent.
2. How much money can you really get to move?
The cash component typically ranges from $5,000 to $15,000. Some programs, like Ascend West Virginia, bundle cash with high-value perks (like $2,500+ in gear rentals), bringing the total value closer to $20,000. Home-buying grants can also add to the total stack.
3. Do I have to pay taxes on relocation incentives?
Almost certainly, yes. Most of these incentives are paid as cash and will be reported to the IRS on a Form 1099-MISC (Miscellaneous Income). You should expect to pay federal and state income tax on the full amount. This is not a "grant" in the non-taxable sense. (Again, talk to a CPA!)
4. Can I get an incentive if I'm self-employed (1099)?
Yes, most modern programs are designed for this. They were built for the "laptop class," which includes freelancers, solo-founders, and 1099 contractors. You will simply have to provide different proof of income (like a P&L or bank statements) than a W-2 employee. See how to vet programs for details.
5. What's the "catch" with these rural incentive programs?
There are three main "catches": 1) The Clawback Clause (you have to pay it back if you leave early), 2) The Tax Liability (it's taxable income), and 3) The Social/Logistical Reality (you're moving to a small town, with small-town internet and social dynamics). See the full "Gotchas" section above.
6. Can I apply for multiple relocation programs?
You can apply to as many as you want. However, you can only accept and participate in one. All of them require you to establish full-time residency in their specific location, making it impossible to (legally) claim benefits from two towns at once.
7. What's the difference between a grant and an incentive?
These terms are often used interchangeably, but "incentive" is more accurate. A "grant" often implies non-taxable funds for a specific purpose (like research or art). An "incentive" is a taxable payment made to you in exchange for you doing something (in this case, moving). Treat it like a bonus from a new employer.
8. How long do I have to live there?
The most common requirement is 12 months. However, some programs are now 24 or even 36 months. The payment is often tiered—you get some upfront, some at 6 months, and the final chunk at 12 months. This is their way of making sure you don't just take the money and run.
9. What are the best states for remote work incentives?
There isn't one "best" state, as programs are hyper-local. However, states like West Virginia, Indiana, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Alabama have some of the most numerous and well-funded programs. Start your search there. See our list of programs for examples.
10. Is Starlink good enough for rural remote work?
For most people, yes. Modern Starlink provides high-speed (100+ Mbps) and low-latency (20-40ms) service that is more than capable for Zoom calls, SaaS tools, and large file uploads. The only issue can be brief (a few seconds) drops during heavy storms or if your dish has an obstructed view. It's a game-changer, but always check for a wired option (fiber, cable) first.
My Final Verdict: Is It Worth It?
So, here's the bottom line, from one operator to another. The $10,000 is a headline. It's a nice, flashy number that gets you to click. But it is the least interesting part of this entire conversation.
The real "win" isn't the check. It's the agency. It's the radical act of decoupling your income from your zip code. It's the ability to get off the venture-backed hamster wheel of "growth at all costs" and build a sustainable life and a sustainable business.
Moving from a HCOL hub to a rural or LCOL area is a strategic move that saves you $20k, $30k, or even $50k every single year. It's a move that gives you the mental quiet to actually think. The $10k incentive is just the catalyst. It’s the little nudge from the universe (and a clever economic development board) to finally make the leap you've been daydreaming about.
It is not easy. It's a massive logistical and social undertaking. But for the right founder, creator, or marketer, it's not just a move—it's the single best strategic decision you could ever make.
Your move.
Don't just close this tab. Your CTA is simple: Click one of the links from the list above. Ascend WV. Tulsa Remote. Spend 10 minutes. Just look. Your next great idea might not be a new product, but a new zip code.
remote work relocation incentive, rural counties US, get paid to move, work from home grants, rural economic development
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