It costs money to pick up stakes and move, but a Maryland city has dangled up to $20,000 to lure prospective residents.
The “Choose Cumberland Relocation Package Program” hopes to land new denizens to this city of 19,000 through a pilot program that includes $10,000 in relocation cash and a dollar-for-dollar match of up to $10,000 for approved home renovations or newly constructed home down payments. The median sale price of a home in the local market stands at $150,000, according to Redfin.
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But before you look up the trendy spots in Cumberland, note that the application period is closed. More hopefuls have stepped up than the local coffers can handle, as only 10 relocation packages were made available, per the city’s website. It appears, however, the city hopes to secure additional funding to extend the program.
Why would Cumberland, once known as the “Queen City,” make such a move to spur people to move? Several reasons may explain the strategy, which other U.S. cities are employing as well.
‘We’re losing our population’
Moving costs vary widely, especially if you’re relocating across long distances, but can easily reach thousands of dollars. Still, a Choose Cumberland grant could leave you plenty to foot that bill and throw a massive block party for your new neighbors.
But while you pass out those ribs on paper plates, you’ll want to ask the locals what life in Cumberland is like. The reality betrays a sleepy rural town steeped in poverty and struggling to revitalize.
“We are losing our population,” Ruth Davis-Rogers, the city’s historic planning and preservation specialist, told the Cumberland Times-News in June 2023, around the time the program was being conceived. “Our population is aging.”
Census figures show a median household income of $46,000 in Cumberland compared to the nationwide median of $80,600. The median age of city residents is also around 42 years.
Yet, the success of the program offers hope for a city founded in 1787 that boasts a picturesque Appalachian setting that’s within striking distance of major metros Baltimore and Pittsburgh. A revitalization of the city’s housing and labor markets are among Cumberland’s long-term goals. Successful applicants must reside in Cumberland for at least five years in order to keep the funding they receive.
Here are three other American cities with similar relocation programs.
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Topeka, Kansas (pop. 127,000)
Topeka has aimed its “Choose Topeka” effort squarely at Shawnee County businesses. It’s an employer match program that offers to reimburse companies up to $15,000 to bring an employee to the city. Topeka’s cost of living is a bargain at 13.8% below the U.S. average, according to Kiplinger.
Little Rock, Arkansas (pop. 203,000)
Little Rock is a household name as U.S. cities go — where the median sale price of a home is around $252,000, according to Redfin. The city ran a program called “Love, Little Rock,” which ended on Dec. 31, 2023. It offered a $10,000 incentive for out-of-staters to move and find work in a participating business, while locals who recruited outside talent could earn $501, a number picked for the local area code.
Newton, Iowa (pop. 16,000)
You can almost fit the entire population of Newton twice in its local car racing track, the Iowa Speedway. This Jasper County city has been running a housing initiative since 2014. For newly built homes valued at $240,000 or more, homebuyers can receive $10,000 cash and a “Get to Know Newton” welcome package. Via Interstate 80, Des Moines is 30 miles west and Iowa City 80 miles east.
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