Relocate to Dubois or Orange County and get $5,000 under new program
A new relocation incentive program, Choose Southern Indiana, is offering qualified applicants a $5,000 incentive to move to Dubois or Orange counties.
Radius Indiana, in coordination with Dubois Strong and the Orange County Economic Development Partnership, is offering the pilot program to qualified out-of-state individuals or families who are willing to relocate and remain in the area of at least two years.
Such incentive programs are being used by numerous states and communities throughout the country to attract talent. Though not the first attraction program in Indiana, the Radius program is the first rural regional approach.
Dubois County is offering this program to entice remote workers to relocate, while Orange County has set its focus on finding veterans to move to its county. Other counties are expected to join the regional program as well.
“We believe the rich variety of recreational opportunities and the quality of life and safety in our small cities and towns are going to appeal to any number of people when they discover this chance for an introduction to southern Indiana,” said Jeff Quyle, president and CEO of Radius Indiana. “We’re excited to help people learn more about our communities with the Choose Southern Indiana program.”
According to Dubois Strong Executive Director Ed Cole, they are offering the incentive to eleven individuals willing to relocate to Dubois County. Local funding is being provided through a $33,000 grant from Radius and a $22,000 grant from the Dubois County Community Foundation.
Individuals will sign an agreement to remain residents for a minimum of two years and be required to pay back a prorated amount if they do not.
Cole explained the program is not targeting a specific group of professions. “We are targeting mid-income folks making between $30,000 to $50,000,” he said adding that is the range for a single wage earner.
Talent attraction and workforce development are now two of the most important aspects of economic development. Talent attraction focuses on recruitment from the talent pipeline outside of a given community, while workforce development aims to further an individual’s ability to grow their skills and develop the tools they need for business success in their community. The Radius program has specified that it is targeting attraction of talent from outside the state of Indiana, in order to avoid depleting talent in other Indiana communities.
Radius partnered with Indianapolis-based MakeMyMove, the first and only marketplace for move-ready talent. MakeMyMove’s platform and marketing services help communities pitch their wares and attract new residents.
“Southern Indiana is a hidden gem,” Evan Hock, Co-Founder of MakeMyMove, said. “Movers looking for the great outdoors, affordable cost-of-living, and a tight-knit community should look no further. We’re proud to partner with Radius to help recruit some fresh faces to the region.”
The Radius region has a workforce of over 108,000 people, and many communities are finding that their companies have additional vacant positions that need to be filled. Attracting talent to the region is a critical part of growing the local workforce, which stimulates economic growth and prosperity in communities.
