Can you get paid to move to Columbus? Here’s how much is up for grabs & what to know
Reality Check is a Ledger-Enquirer series holding those in power to account and shining a light on their decisions. Have a suggestion for a future story? Email mynews@ledger-enquirer.com.
The organizations of Columbus 2025 and Make My Move are, indeed, paying people to move to Columbus, Georgia, and it’s not as suspicious as it seems. With so much misinformation floating around, now is the time to clear the air and make sure the right information makes it to Columbus’ citizens and beyond. I recently spoke with a representative of the organizations responsible, Columbus 2025 and Make My Move, plus a city council member to clear up the rumors and get the answers you need to the most pressing questions.
Is this real?
In short, yes; it is decidedly a real thing. Local organization, Columbus 2025, has partnered with Make My Move to incentivize “top talent” in order to “change [the city’s] trajectory from stagnant to dynamic,” says Columbus 2025 spokesperson, Tabetha Getz. She goes on to say that in the short time since the program has been announced, they have seen an overwhelming response, with hundreds of interested applicants already throwing their hat in the ring. Although she was reluctant to give an official stop date to the application process, she says that interest has been overwhelmingly positive.
What are the details?
The intent of the program is to create a win/win scenario for Georgia’s economic development and “attract seven to 10 movers of remote work annually.” Getz explains the cash award, $5,000 in total, will be distributed in two installments, half being awarded upon initial selection and the remaining distributed when the applicant has lived here for 12 months.
To qualify, applicants must have a minimum salary of $75,000/year, have an existing remote job, and live a minimum of 75 miles away from the city limit prior to submission of application. Once selected, participants will be able to decide what part of town they want to live in, whether they want to lease, rent or buy a house, and how they want to spend the other $2,000, which is made up of a “tailored list of soft incentives.” These perks can range from “rafting and zip lining to coffee with the mayor to trips to Fetch dog park.”
Why Columbus? Why now?
Columbus is the only current Georgia city to participate in a program like this, however, Savannah had a pretty successful turn at it. Make My Move features a program with dozens of other cities across the country. Tulsa, Oklahoma; Frankfort, Kentucky; Abilene, Texas; and Jackson, Mississippi are all participants in the incentive program, offering cash compensation, and similar “soft incentives.”
Getz says it will be useful for Columbus’ economic and population development to participate in a program that is getting so much positive feedback and is part of a trending topic. She estimates the seven to 10 annual movers will bring approximately $600,000 in positive economic impact and could result in a population growth of 4% by 2026. This program is proving extremely timely, as the population of Muscogee County is down by 2.4% in the last few years as younger people move away from Columbus for college or after graduation.
Who is paying for this?
One of the major points of contention with the program is that it will pull from city money and divert resources from other public works projects. Councilperson Toyia Tucker assured me this is not the case. She reiterated that Columbus 2025 (and any of its partners in this endeavor) “has not drawn down from the $3 million pledge the city offered Columbus 2025 back in 2022,” and that the funds are from private investors. Getz confirmed this, saying the initiative uses “no city money” and that they are using discretionary funds from said investors.
What makes people so mad?
If you’ve scrolled the Facebook comments of any of the posts related to this topic, you’ve likely seen reactions range from mildly skeptical, to cautiously optimistic, to downright vitriolic, and it’s not for no good reason. Citizens are very worried about spending taxpayers’ money on experiential programs that won’t directly impact local residents. But Getz is confident that attracting talented young people who have the disposable income to pour into the local economy will work towards everyone’s best interests. Especially as the program grows into larger and more ambitious concepts.
Even though the money isn’t coming from any public funds, and isn’t funneling support from other projects, critics suggest that the effort should focus on programs for existing residents of Columbus and Muscogee County. Councilperson Tucker addressed this, suggesting that the $50,000 Columbus 2025 is spending on the movers is a far cry from the millions of dollars for a swimming pool, or say, a new ball park. The implication is that it’s well worth the money spent to reap the rewards it’s anticipated to reap.
It is important to remember that this is a pilot program, and seeks to open a dialogue about the positive attributes of calling Columbus home. Getz, and the people at Columbus 2025 are hoping this program provides the long term benefits projected, and therefore will bring the big bucket ideas of “jobs, talent, and place” to make Columbus one of the most prosperous Georgia cities.
This story was originally published March 19, 2024 at 5:00 AM.
