Fancy moving and taking your job with you? If you're a remote worker looking for a fresh start, Northwest Arkansas will pay you $10,000 to relocate there – and they'll throw a mountain bike into the deal for good measure. The region is renowned for its incredible scenery with the Ozark Mountains right on its doorstep, not to mention craft breweries, world-class museums and charming small towns.
Similar to initiatives in Kansas, Vermont, Maine and Oklahoma, Arkansas is looking to boost its economy and reverse falling population trends by paying remote workers to move there. The Life Works Here initiative from the Northwest Arkansas Council will give you $10,000 if you relocate. To qualify, you must be at least 24 years old, be in full-time employment, have at least two years' work experience, be a US resident, and reside outside of Arkansas. You also must sign a lease for local housing or purchase a house.
The council is looking for all types of workers to apply but is specifically targeting science, technology, engineering and math workers.
In addition to the cash incentive, you'll be gifted a mountain or street bike so that you can explore the 162 miles of paved trails, and the 332 miles of world-class mountain biking trails in Northwest Arkansas. If biking isn't your thing, you can choose a free year-long membership to one of their world-class museums and institutions including the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.
When it comes to finding a place to live, there are four counties, ten cities and plenty of small towns that you can call home. You could try Eureka Springs, which the National Trust for Historic Preservation named as one of its "Dozen Distinctive Destinations"; or Siloam Springs, home to crystal-clear springs and a historic downtown. There's also Fayetville, the third-largest city in the state and home to the University of Arkansas campus. Browse your options here.
Northwest Arkansas council describes the region as having "one of the best costs of living, plentiful outdoor lifestyle perks, nationally-ranked arts, culture and cuisine scenes, and per capita income that’s 14% higher than the national average", making a pretty compelling argument for a move there. To find out more about the Life Works Initiative, see here.
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