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West Virginia to pay people $12,000 to move to state, offers other perks

As John Denver sang, “Take Me Home Country Roads” West Virginia state officials want you to call their state home and they could pay you to move there.

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The state is trying to recruit remote workers by offering perks to move there, The Associated Press reported.

They’re looking for people who love the outdoors to relocate to the region and reverse the brain drain.

The state is the only one in the country that has fewer people living there now than it did in the 1950s.

If you are a remote worker and move to West Virginia, you will get $12,000 and a year-long pass to whitewater rafting, golf, rock climbing, horseback riding, skiing, ziplining and other activities offered across the state, the AP reported.

The full benefit is more than $20,000.

There will be workspaces set up that will serve as remote networking hubs for out-of-state companies that will connect the remote workers with entrepreneurs and business leaders.

Applications are being accepted for 50 positions in Morgantown. If successful the applicants could have educational opportunities through West Virginia University which is based in the town, the AP reported.

There will also be positions opening in Shepherdstown and Lewisburg before the program is expanded to other communities.

The program was introduced in October when West Virginia University received a $25 million donation from Intuit’s board of director’s executive chairman, who is originally from West Virginia. The money was donated for the initial funding of a future remote worker program but was officially kicked off this week.

To learn more and to apply, click here.