Cities Need Labor So Badly They'll Pay You to Move There

Some cities are employing a "modern-day Homestead Act" to attract new residents.

1 minute read

May 4, 2018, 11:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


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David Harrison and Shayndi Raice report [paywall] that tight labor markets in cities around the country are sparking an individual approach to economic development—that is, cities will pay individuals to attract workers.

Brit Morse follows up on the article with a list of five towns that are paying people to live there. "The incentives come in all forms from student loan help and home buying grants, to gifted parcels of land and even town-wide ceremonies in your honor," according to Morse.

Morse's list includes North Platte, Nebraska; St. Clair County, Michigan; Grant County, Indiana; Hamilton, Ohio; and Marne, Iowa.

Thursday, May 3, 2018 in The Wall Street Journal

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