Small cities and rural areas have discovered they can trade dollars for citizens to revitalize their economies. Dozens of American towns facing population loss now offer up to $15,000 to those who move there and stay for one year. Most offer around $10,000. In a world where many people work remotely, this inducement—plus lower taxes, wider spaces, and other local amenities—gives small towns a large advantage in attracting people, said Bob Ross, the spokesman for Choose Topeka Initiative in Topeka, Kansas. “The economic impact far exceeds the $10,000,” said Ross. “If you really think about it, $10,000 isn’t a huge amount when you consider the fact that you’re coming here to purchase a home.” The Topeka initiative pays people up to $15,000 to move to the city—nearly a fourth of the area’s average salary. The city chose this number because it was the estimated cost of moving from the coast …
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