Cities Need Labor So Badly They'll Pay You to Move There

Some cities are employing a "modern-day Homestead Act" to attract new residents.

1 minute read

May 4, 2018, 11:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Uhaul Trucks

WestportWiki / Wikimedia Commons

David Harrison and Shayndi Raice report [paywall] that tight labor markets in cities around the country are sparking an individual approach to economic development—that is, cities will pay individuals to attract workers.

Brit Morse follows up on the article with a list of five towns that are paying people to live there. "The incentives come in all forms from student loan help and home buying grants, to gifted parcels of land and even town-wide ceremonies in your honor," according to Morse.

Morse's list includes North Platte, Nebraska; St. Clair County, Michigan; Grant County, Indiana; Hamilton, Ohio; and Marne, Iowa.

Thursday, May 3, 2018 in The Wall Street Journal

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

June 11, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Rendering of Shirley Chisholm Village four-story housing development with person biking in front.

San Francisco's School District Spent $105M To Build Affordable Housing for Teachers — And That's Just the Beginning

SFUSD joins a growing list of school districts using their land holdings to address housing affordability challenges faced by their own employees.

June 8, 2025 - Fast Company

Yellow single-seat Japanese electric vehicle drivign down road.

The Tiny, Adorable $7,000 Car Turning Japan Onto EVs

The single seat Mibot charges from a regular plug as quickly as an iPad, and is about half the price of an average EV.

June 6, 2025 - PC Magazine

Large tower under construction with crane with American and Texas flags in downtown Austin, Texas against sunset sky.

Texas Legislature’s Surprising Pro-Housing Swing

Smaller homes on smaller lots, office to apartment conversions, and 40% less say for NIMBYs, vote state lawmakers.

15 minutes ago - The Texas Tribune

Red brick five-story multifamily housing building in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Even Edmonton Wants Single Staircase Buildings

Canada's second most affordable major city joins those angling to nix the requirement for two staircases in multi-family buildings.

1 hour ago - Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC)

Group protesting during May Day 2017 holding sign that reads "Sanctuary for all" in San Francisco, California.

Duffy Threatens to Cut DOT Funds to “Sanctuary Cities”

“Follow the law or forfeit the funding” says US Secretary of Transportation.

2 hours ago - New York Post