What if we told you you could get thousands of dollars just to move to a new city?
It's happening across the country. Places are offering big cash and support for families or individuals who work remotely to relocate. And there's one local incentive program just like that right here in North Alabama, making a big impact on the community.
The Shoals offers beautiful southern living right on the Tennessee River. Music, art, and culture—people across the country are packing up everything to start their lives right here. And they are getting paid to do so. You can receive up to $10,000 if you're chosen through the selection process.
Qualifying for the Remote Shoals program is pretty straightforward: you must work remotely, make at least $52,000 a year, and be willing to take a leap of faith within a six-month period. Roughly 130 people have cashed in on the opportunity since 2019.
But after the big move, the $10,000 incentive is put to use, do people actually stay and plant roots long-term? The answer is yes. Mackenzie Cottles, with the Shoals Economic Development Authority, says 90 percent of participants remain in the Shoals area, and their families have added a big boost to the local economy.
Cottles said, "Since its launch in June of 2019, we've actually had over 130 remote workers that have relocated through the program. Including their spouses, their children, and any partners they brought: there were 260 new residents in the Shoals area. And even there, if you want to count and look at the income of the remote workers alone, it's about 16.9 million annually, so it adds about that much to the economy here in the States. "
Brittany Coursey said, "We wanted a small town feel but with enough happenings where we could really integrate into the community and have those friendships and hobbies that we really missed when we were so remote all the way in Montana."
Coursey relocated her family last year. She said, "We were really looking for a home somewhere we could plug in and be a part of a community."
She says they've found just what they were looking for, adding, "For us, it was checking the boxes for everything we knew we wanted and having the best opportunity to fill them. Things like lightning bugs, summer thunderstorms, and just friendly people. We've been so pleasantly surprised and grateful. It was just what we needed, and the timing of it was fantastic."
This year's application for the Remote Shoals program opens Sept. 1. The link to the website where you can apply is right here: https://remoteshoals.com/
