Tulsa and Cumberland bid for remote workers with cash incentives

Faith Langevin moved from Atlanta to Tulsa in 2022, drawn by a $10,000 relocation payment and lower housing costs. Her husband, also a remote worker, received the same sum. When asked about regrets three years later, she answered, "Absolutely not! This is really home!"

The offer came through Tulsa Remote, a program that has expanded from about 70 participants in 2019 to more than 3,500. Justin Harlan, managing director of Tulsa Remote, said the initiative began as an experiment to diversify a labor force heavily reliant on oil and gas. The city requires only one year of residency, but the program claims a 90% retention rate beyond that period, with 75% of participants since 2019 still living in Tulsa.

Cumberland, Maryland, is taking a similar approach with its "Choose Cumberland" pilot. The city offers up to 10 people a total of $20,000, split into $10,000 in cash and $10,000 for a down payment or home renovations. Recipients must make Cumberland their primary residence for at least five years. Mayor Ray Morriss said the target demographic consists of people "bringing their jobs with them."

Cumberland’s push comes against a backdrop of long-term population decline. The city, located about 130 miles from Washington D.C., saw its population drop from over 40,000 to less than 19,000 after manufacturing plants and other large employers closed starting in the 1970s.

Evan Starr, an associate professor at the University of Maryland’s School of Business, studied Tulsa Remote to understand if early movers could offer lessons for other localities. He noted that retention rates are key to success, warning that cities do not want residents who come only for the money and leave once restrictions end. Starr believes remote work has opened a new level of geographic mobility, meaning employees are no longer tied to their employer's location.

The website Make My Move lists more than 100 places currently advertising cash offers to potential new residents. In Cumberland, Gino Giatras, whose family has operated a hot dog shop since 1918, said he welcomes the new neighbors, citing the people, weather, and activities as the main draws.

Tulsa Remote staff work to meet with each individual within their first 90 days to understand their goals and integrate them into the community. The program’s growth reflects a national trend where municipalities compete for the spending power and labor of workers who no longer need to be physically present at an office.