West Virginia paid digital nomads to move there during COVID. Many are staying
West Virginia's 'Ascend' program is successfully attracting remote workers by offering financial incentives to relocate to the state. Participants report improved quality of life and affordability, highlighting a broader national trend of pandemic-era relocation initiatives.
Why it matters
These programs represent a strategic effort by states to reverse population decline and stimulate local economies through the influx of remote-working professionals.
CANAAN VALLEY, W.Va. — When Ashley Eklin received a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis in 2022, her outlook on life changed forever.
"That was my pivotal moment," says Eklin, who was living in the Chicago area at the time. "I decided to take a huge leap of faith and just chase some dreams."
Those dreams included a change of geography. A work colleague knew that Eklin had always wanted to live out East and suggested she look into Ascend West Virginia. If Eklin was willing to relocate to the Mountain State, the program would give her cash and other incentives to build a life there. She was game — and after a lengthy application process, she was accepted.
"I literally had never been to West Virginia. I hadn't even visited, and I bought a house. I didn't even see my house until the day I moved here," she says.
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