US locales put out 'help wanted' signs

North Platte, Nebraska — population 23,814 — has a basic problem: recruiting and retaining workers to live in the small prairie town perhaps best known for having the nation's largest railroad switchyard yard nearby.

The solution: $10,000 in cash.

North Platte, which lies 281 miles west of Omaha, isn't alone. Among the US locations offering cash and other incentives to attract new residents: the state of Vermont and the cities of Tulsa, Oklahoma; New Haven, Connecticut; and Lincoln, Kansas.

Vermont offers up to $20,000, New Haven $80,000, and Tulsa, $10,000. Lincoln, Kansas, offers lots of free land for a new house. Each offer comes with a catch, and some places have had little or no responses, but not North Platte.

"We've had an enormous amount of inquiries," Gary Person, president of the Chamber of Commerce and the North Platte Development Corp, told China Daily. "About 400 have asked about the program. We've recruited four attorneys, a physical therapist, an accountant, a brew master, a minister, an auto-dealership manager and healthcare professionals."

To qualify for the North Platte program, dubbed WorkNP, a prospective resident must agree to live in the city for at least three years and work at a job that pays at least $20 an hour. To avoid tax complications, the money is paid through the employer in staggered amounts after the recruit provides invoices documenting expenses. The bonus is prorated if the worker doesn't stay at least three years.

The North Platte Development Corp matches $5,000 put up by the employer. It then offers networking and social events to help recruits make friends and become part of the community. The program now seeks to recruit four diesel mechanics.

"If we can get someone to put down roots, there's a good chance they'll stay," Person said. "You can get anywhere you want to go in North Platte in 15 minutes. We have all the amenities of a larger community in a safe, rural environment, where people feel good about raising their families."

Vermont has a different problem. With a median age of 43, the New England state's population is the third oldest in the nation. An influx of young people would diversify the economy and keep the population from dwindling.

To attract out-of-state workers who can perform tasks remotely for established companies, Vermont offers up to $10,000 over two years. The program has been a success and is no longer accepting applications for 2020.

The state's Remote Worker Grant Program pays new residents $5,000 a year for two years to be spent on qualifying expenses, including relocation costs, computer equipment, software, internet access and membership in a co-working space.

Two years ago, Vermont launched its "Stay-to-Stay" program — a weekend visit to selected towns to enjoy the scenery and scout the area. In 2018, the program attracted 140 participants; 10 have relocated, and 36 were seeking employment, according to the Department of Tourism and Marketing. 

The downside: Vermont's property taxes are high, and the long winters drive up heating costs. But the state is within a half-day's drive of New York City or Montreal and the cultural amenities that Burlington — Vermont's largest city with a population around 43,000 — can't match.

Tulsa lacks Vermont's scenery but hopes to lure people to move there with a $10,000 bonus provided by the George Kaiser Family Foundation. To qualify, new arrivals must live and work within the city limits and must relocate from another state. The money is available after living in town for one year. The program also offers discounted rent on a furnished apartment and membership in a co-working space.

After an initial screening, finalists are selected for video interviews. A person who has never visited Tulsa may be invited for an in-person visit. Individuals must be at least 18 to apply. Participants have ranged in age from 22 to 64. Noncitizens are eligible if they can work legally in the US.

"The ideal candidate for Tulsa Remote is a fully-employed individual with the flexibility to work anywhere, and is looking for a community to call home," the program's website said.

New Haven, home to Yale University, offers up to $80,000 in incentives for new homeowners, including $10,000 interest free to use as a down payment or for closing costs when buying a house. It also offers up to $30,000 for renovations and energy-saving upgrades and $40,000 for college tuition.

City employees, teachers, firefighters, police officers and members of the military are eligible for another $2,500. The city also guarantees in-state college tuition for students graduating from New Haven public schools. However, income can't exceed 120 percent of the city's median family income of $37,508 a year, according to the program's website.

Lincoln — population 1,200 — offers free lots ranging from 12,000 to 36,000 square feet to those who will build a new house. Like everything else, the lots are close to downtown.

"We get a lot of calls, but no takers," a city spokeswoman said.

Major cities like New York don't have public recruitment programs, knowing that workers will be enticed to move by high salaries. Last year, New York offered Amazon $3.4 billion in tax incentives to establish its second headquarters across the East River from Manhattan in the borough of Queens, but the deal fell apart when activists objected to the potential cost.

In North Platte, the Union Pacific Railroad often hires independently of the city's recruitment program. But for many, the WorkNP program has helped advance careers in the small town.

"The program doesn't just bring skilled workers into the community," lawyer Audrey Bellew told WorkNP after accepting a recruitment offer from one of the city's law firms. "It brings people who are willing to live and engage in our community."