Eastern Kentucky's Remote Work Revolution: How Counties are Attracting New Residents

Eastern Kentucky's Success in Remote Work Recruitment

FRANKFORT, Ky. (KT) – Four Eastern Kentucky counties have achieved remarkable success in attracting remote workers, prompting additional counties to join this initiative. This effort has already yielded nearly $1 million in economic benefits.

Nearly a year ago, these counties embarked on a new economic development strategy aimed at relocating individuals who can work remotely, along with their families. The initial experiment was so successful that 29 more counties in Eastern Kentucky are now actively recruiting remote workers.

Colby Hall, Executive Director of Shaping Our Appalachian Region (SOAR), expressed excitement over the overwhelming number of applicants received last year. The program attracted interest from other communities eager to participate in this innovative approach.

SOAR, a nonprofit organization, aims to tackle pressing issues related to population retention and growth across 54 Appalachian counties. The original goal was to bring in five remote workers and their families to a designated area, but the target has now expanded to include 75 additional remote workers over the next two years. So far, nine remote workers have successfully relocated under this expanded program.

MakeMyMove Co-Founder and COO Evan Hock emphasized that the success of the SOAR initiative was no coincidence. The program effectively showcased the beauty and welcoming atmosphere of Eastern Kentucky, successfully attracting 14 new households and 21 additional family members who are now settling in the region.

To date, more than 4,000 individuals have expressed interest in relocating to Eastern Kentucky, exploring various subregions such as Country Music Highway, Red River Gorge, Lake Country, Mountain Towns, and University Towns. Hock noted that these new households will contribute approximately $976.8K in annual economic impact and create around six local jobs.

To encourage remote workers to relocate, the program offers $5,000 to assist with moving expenses, plus an additional $2,500 bonus for those who bring a partner willing to work in local education or healthcare roles.

For more detailed information, check the program details here