Have recent social changes left you working from home? Are you a transplanted West Virginian longing more than ever to return to your roots? Ascend West Virginia is a new program that will pay a select few to relocate to the Mountain State, and it might be just the ticket to make your dreams of living in West Virginia a reality. Do you qualify for the $20,000 in cash and perks they’re offering? Here’s all the details.
The internet has been abuzz lately with the news that a company is now paying people big bucks (to the tune of $20,000) to relocate to Wild, Wonderful West Virginia.
Is it really true, or is it just some gimmick? It's really true. Ascend WV will pay select applicants $12,000 by check and offer an additional $8,000 in recreational and work-related perks for relocating to West Virginia. But there are some caveats.
For starters, you can't move to just anywhere in West Virginia. You must pick from one of three cities. The first location on Ascend West Virginia's list is Morgantown. Fifty applicants will be accepted for relocation to this city that boasts both mountains and river.
As such, the recreational opportunities in Morgantown abound. Morgantown is also home to West Virginia University, making it a bustling center of activity and a great landing pad for any West Virginia lover.
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In 2022, Ascend West Virginia will begin taking applicants for a second West Virginia relocation location: Lewisburg.
A quaint mountain town in eastern West Virginia once named "Coolest Small Town In America," Lewisburg's attractions range from historic sites to natural wonders to popular events and more.
The third city on Ascend West Virginia's relocation list is Shepherdstown, which will open for applications in April of 2022. A small town with a small university and plenty of history, Shepherdstown offers big town amenities while maintaining plenty of small town charm.
There are other, perhaps more significant caveats as well. To qualify for the relocation package, you cannot already be a resident of West Virginia, but you must be a U.S. citizen. You must be employed full-time by a business based outside of West Virginia, or be self-employed. You must be able to work remotely.
In addition, you must be able to make the move to the larger area of the city for which you apply within six months upon acceptance into the program. Finally, you won't get the money all at once. Instead, the $12,000 will be distributed in equal-sized payments throughout the first and part of the second year that you reside in your new West Virginia home.
What do you think, are you up for a move to West Virginia? Do you qualify for Ascend WV’s incentive to relocate here? Which city would you apply for? To learn more or start the application process, visit Ascend West Virginia’s website. Even if you don’t qualify, you can still relocate to West Virginia! We might be biased, but we think it’s a great place to live.
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