The article from the **National Association of Counties (NACo)**, titled "Moving incentives draw remote workers," highlights how counties are adapting relocation incentive programs to attract remote/teleworking professionals, especially following shifts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The main focus is on **Shawnee County, Kansas** (home to Topeka), which modified its existing **Choose Topeka** incentive program. Originally launched in 2019 by **Go Topeka** (an economic development agency under the Joint Economic Development Organization, or JEDO, funded partly by a county sales tax), the program aimed to help local employers recruit and retain talent. It addressed the issue that about **40%** of Topeka workers earning over $40,000 lived outside Shawnee County.
Post-pandemic adaptations targeted remote workers employed by out-of-area companies:
- Incentives include up to **$10,000** for home purchases or **$5,000** for renting (adjusted from the original employer-shared model of up to $16,000 for purchases/$10,000 for rentals).
- The program remains performance-based, with requirements like proof of full-time remote employment, authorization from the employer, residency validation, an application, and an interview with a JEDO review committee.
The original setup involved shared costs (50/50 between Go Topeka/JEDO and employers), with potential reimbursement for employers if employees stayed beyond one year.
Key context includes national trends: Per the Bureau of Labor Statistics' October jobs report (around the article's timeframe), **21%** (1 in 5) of employed Americans were teleworking due to the pandemic, enabling greater relocation flexibility.
Outcomes for Shawnee County:
- The original program saw strong initial interest (over **4,000** inquiries/resumes at launch).
- After pandemic adaptations (around September onward), it received **40 applications**, with **5** remote workers completing the interview process as an early group.
Benefits emphasized include attracting higher-wage jobs to fill local gaps, boosting the overall economy, and appealing to remote workers with Midwest advantages like lower cost of living and lower COVID-19 infection rates at the time.
Quotes from officials:
- Barbara Stapleton (Go Topeka's VP of Talent Attraction) noted the pandemic's shift in work patterns and the goal of encouraging employees to live in the communities where they contribute.
- Shawnee County Commissioner Kevin Cook (JEDO chair) highlighted the adaptation's success in attracting remote talent to support economic growth and fill otherwise hard-to-fill positions.
Overall, the piece portrays this as a proactive strategy for rural/mid-sized counties to leverage remote work trends for economic development through targeted incentives and public-private partnerships.
(Note: The article appears to date from late 2020, with some NACo site references showing November 19/23, 2020 timestamps, though the content reflects pandemic-era adaptations.)
