Wisconsin’s Innovative Incentive Program Aims to Attract New Residents
In an effort to rejuvenate its workforce and attract new residents, Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, has unveiled a unique relocation incentive program valued at approximately $9,500. This initiative is designed to draw younger workers and families to the region by showcasing not only the area’s cultural and living advantages but also offering financial inducements.
The county has partnered with MakeMyMove, an online platform that links job seekers with communities in need of workforce, emphasizing local opportunities and incentives. Fond du Lac is keen to fill essential roles by attracting new talent from outside Wisconsin.
“Like many communities across the Midwest, Fond du Lac is facing an aging population and stalled population growth, prompting leaders to intentionally focus on attracting younger workers and families,” MakeMyMove highlighted.
As outlined on the MakeMyMove webpage for Fond du Lac, participants can receive a $5,500 cash relocation stipend. Additional perks include home TV and appliance upgrades, wine tastings, a welcome dinner, dental savings, bookstore credits, and memberships to the South Hills Golf & Country Club.
The initiative is split into two segments: one aimed at the local workforce and another targeting remote workers. The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation and Envision Greater Fond du Lac are backing both programs.
Eligibility for the program is restricted to individuals currently residing outside of Wisconsin. Eligible participants must be over 18, earn at least $55,000 annually, and commit to living in Fond du Lac County for a minimum of one year. Required documentation includes proof of employment and residency, with the intention to secure full-time employment locally.
Evan Hock, co-founder of MakeMyMove, explained the program’s focus, stating, “What we do is essentially retail economic development. We recruit individual workers, and for that $5,500 or a little bit more in incentives, that gets you a household that makes more than $100,000, and they tend to stick around long term.”
Hock further noted that applicants are often seeking more than just financial gain, emphasizing quality of life and community as key factors. “Movers are looking for quality of life, and they’re looking for places like Wisconsin and Fond du Lac, and it’s the places that will roll out that red carpet and are welcoming that tend to be winners,” he said.
Economic development funds from partner communities support the program, as confirmed by Hock. The Wisconsin Policy Institute’s 2022 research underscored a surge in such incentive programs post-COVID, highlighting Tulsa, Oklahoma, as a notable success story. Tulsa’s program, which offers $10,000 to remote workers relocating for a year, boasts over 4,000 participants since its inception in 2018, according to the Tulsa Remote website.
Envision Greater Fond du Lac is actively promoting the program, connecting local businesses with MakeMyMove, and plans to hold a roundtable on July 9 to discuss strategies for attracting and retaining workers.
