Around New England

Vermont To Pay People To Move There

December 31, 2019

In 2020, Vermont will have a new approach to attract people to move to the state:  Pay them.

As of November 2019, the state had a mere 2.3 percent unemployment rate, making it difficult for employers in the state to find qualified job applicants. To combat this, legislation signed earlier this year means that those who move to the state to work and live in it full-time could receive up to $7,500 in grants to help cover the cost of moving, as NBC 5 Burlington reports. Independent contractors are ineligible for the program.

The program will cover relocation expenses such as “Closing costs for a primary residence, lease deposits, first month’s rent, hiring a moving company, renting moving equipment, shipping, and the cost of moving supplies.”

The web site for the program also states it covers “Expenses necessary for a new worker to perform his or her employment duties that are not provided by the employer, including:  connectivity; specialized tools and equipment; and, coworking space membership fees. The employer must certify these are necessary to perform required job duties.”

“Our hope is this is a catalyst,” Lindsay Kurrle, the secretary of the Vermont Agency of Commerce & Community Development, told NBC 5 Burlington. 

The program has $1.2 million in funding to start. Its focus is on getting people to work in traditional jobs. Vermont has another unrelated grant program to attract remote workers to expand their tax base. 

Although American citizens are free to move to Vermont — as they are with any other state — there is a one relocation grant per household limit.

Additional information, including how one can apply for it, can be found on the Think Vermont web site.

At about 626,000 people, Vermont ranks 49^th of the 50 states in population. Its lead over 50^th-ranking Wyoming has shrunk during the past decade, as Vermont has experienced a slight population decrease while Wyoming’s population has increased.