Cumberland Pays: City Offers $20,000 to New Remote Residents

Cumberland, Maryland, residents who secure a job that allows them to work from home can now receive a total of $20,000 to move to the city. The local government launched the Choose Cumberland pilot program this month to attract up to ten fully employed remote workers. The package includes $10,000 in cash for relocation and another $10,000 for a down payment or approved home renovations. Participants must designate Cumberland as their primary residence for a minimum of five years.

The city is attempting to reverse decades of population decline. Cumberland’s population dropped from over 40,000 to fewer than 19,000 after major manufacturing employers closed their doors beginning in the 1970s. The town sits in the Appalachian Mountains, roughly 130 miles from Washington, D.C. Mayor Ray Morriss stated that the city previously supported a population of over 40,000. He explained that the program targets individuals who bring their jobs with them, rather than those seeking local employment.

Cumberland is one of more than 100 communities advertising cash offers to attract new residents, according to the website Make My Move. Tulsa, Oklahoma, operates one of the largest such programs. Tulsa Remote began before the pandemic and pays remote workers $10,000 to move to the city to rent or buy a home. Justin Harlan, the managing director of Tulsa Remote, described the initiative as an experiment to diversify a labor force historically reliant on oil and gas.

The Tulsa program has expanded from approximately 70 participants in 2019 to more than 3,500. Although the program only requires a one-year residency, it reports a 90% retention rate beyond that period. Seventy-five percent of participants since 2019 still live in Tulsa. Harlan noted that staff meet with each individual within the first 90 days to understand their goals and integrate them into the community.

Faith Langevin moved from Atlanta to Tulsa in 2022, drawn by lower living costs and the financial incentive. Her husband, also a remote worker, received the same payment. Langevin said the social component made the offer stand out. When asked about regrets three years later, she said, “Absolutely not! This is really home!”

Evan Starr, an associate professor at the University of Maryland’s School of Business, studied the Tulsa Remote program. He found the retention rate to be notable, noting that cities do not want residents who arrive solely for the money and leave once restrictions end. Starr believes remote work has opened a new level of geographic mobility because workers are no longer tied to their employer’s location.

In Cumberland, Gino Giatras, whose family has operated a hot dog shop since 1918, said he welcomes new neighbors. He cited the people, weather, and activities as reasons he loves the city. The city is currently accepting applications for the pilot program slots.