P
aducah, a small Kentucky city with a population of 27,000, is betting on cash and culture to attract new residents. The city's Remote Workers Incentive Program offers nearly $6,500 in benefits to eligible remote professionals who relocate.

    The program includes reimbursement for moving expenses, waived payroll taxes for a year, a $70 monthly internet stipend, and $1,200 worth of memberships and passes to local cultural institutions. To qualify, participants must live at least 100 miles away from the city, work full-time for a company without a local office, and commit to staying at least one year beyond their program participation.

    The initiative is funded with $100,000 in the city's budget and is part of a broader strategy to attract talent and boost the local economy. Paducah is banking on its quality of life and creative community to make the pitch more compelling, highlighting its walkable downtown, revitalized century-old buildings, and vibrant arts scene.

    The city's average home price hovers around $250,000, with a cost of living well below the national average. Local real estate agent Sara Gipson notes that Paducah is attracting out-of-state buyers seeking a slower pace and lower prices. "People are able to come out here and buy with cash for a house and live a much more simple life," she said.

    Paducah's artistic credentials include its membership in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, home to institutions like the Paducah School of Art and Design, the National Quilt Museum, and dozens of independent galleries and studios. The city boasts a rich cultural history, an active calendar of festivals and performances, and a thriving food scene.

    The Remote Workers Incentive Program is part of a growing trend in US towns and cities using cash and lifestyle perks to attract remote workers. Similar initiatives are underway in Jacksonville, Illinois; Topeka, Kansas; and Tulsa, Oklahoma, each offering varying levels of incentives to woo remote professionals.