Incentive programs are drawing remote workers here. Here's how successful they've been
The Purdue graduate, who works as a toxicologist, lived in Washington, D.C. then Cincinnati after getting his PhD. After more than a decade away, Bates returned with his wife and two young sons to Central Indiana.
The family moved into a house on the south side of Westfield in early June. Bates is one of dozens of people to take advantage of a program incentivizing remote workers to move to Central Indiana this year, amid a nationwide increase in remote work following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Westfield, Noblesville, Indianapolis, Avon, Plainfield and cities in eight other Central Indiana counties partner with MakeMyMove, a for-profit tech platform that helps communities design, promote and manage incentive programs tailored to their local goals.
'Hamilton County checks all the boxes with good schools and a safe place to live,' Bates said. 'I would've moved here with or without the incentive program, but it was the cherry on top.'
The Westfield incentive program for remote workers, through Indianapolis-based MakeMyMove, is valued at $8,000. It includes a one-year Westfield Chamber membership, a coffee conversation with Mayor Scott Willis, a kit with local goods and the opportunity to choose from packages that include tickets to family events, sporting events, a gym membership or a local restaurant gift package.
Each community has different incentive packages.
For Indianapolis, the incentive package includes memberships for a coworking space and a gym, tickets for Pacers games and other sports events and tickets for the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, and it's valued at $10,000. Some cities offer cash for relocation as part of their packages, including Avon and Noblesville, which both offer $5,000 in cash with other perks included.
More: What's coming to Westfield?: Sun King, Graeter's Ice Cream, Wawa and Bub's Burgers planned
'Those extra goodies help you figure out where everything is,' Bates said. 'It's a good extra boost to help people get to know the community in a more seamless way.'
Funding for the incentive programs typically comes from cities, local economic development organizations and chambers of commerce, or private foundations, according to MakeMyMove. Westfield pays the costs of their incentive packages, according to the city.
'The goal is to bring in residents who contribute not just economically, through spending and income taxes, but also by engaging in the community,' said the city's director of communications Kayla Arnold. 'Encouraging people to live where they work can help ease infrastructure demands caused by daily commuting, while also supporting local businesses and fostering long-term community investment.'
Since March, Westfield has attracted six remote workers to move to the city through the MakeMyMove program.
Noblesville, Indianapolis, Avon and Plainfield had already participated in the incentive program for remote workers when, earlier this year, MakeMyMove partnered with the Central Indiana Regional Development Authority, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation and Indy Chamber to extend the program to 11 counties in Central Indiana.
The 11 participating counties are Marion, Hamilton, Hancock, Shelby, Johnson, Morgan, Hendricks, Boone, Madison, Brown and Putnam.
So far this year, the programs have brought seven remote workers to Indianapolis, six to Carmel, five to Fishers and 13 to Noblesville. MakeMyMove first partnered with the City of Noblesville in 2022. Overall, 89 new households have moved to Noblesville as part of the remote worker incentive program, with an estimated $37.6 million economic impact, according to the city.
'It is an innovative tool to attract a talented and diverse workforce,' said Lexie Rock, communication director for Noblesville. 'This program helps grow the local talent pool in high-wage and high-skilled jobs, and it is not only achieved through the relocation of remote workers but also their spouses and families.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
9 minutes ago
- USA Today
Could this California company challenge SpaceX's Falcon 9? What to know about Rocket Lab
Rocket Lab has increasingly been in the news over mounting anticipation for the first launch of its upcoming Neutron rocket. Rocket Lab, a spaceflight company based in California, has spent years building up a reputation as a reliable launch service provider for small satellites. Now, though, the venture has its sights set on bigger targets: Procuring some of those lucrative government and commercial contracts that have long been the domain of Elon Musk's Texas-based SpaceX. Maybe you've heard about Rocket Lab's diminutive Electron launch vehicle, which the company bills as the second-most active rocket in the U.S. Or maybe you've heard about its next-generation Neutron spacecraft, which could soon be making its inaugural flight from Virginia. Whichever may be the case, here's everything to know for those interested in Rocket Lab and its future plans for spaceflight. What is Rocket Lab? Rocket Lab is a launch service provider and spaceflight company founded in 2006 and based in Long Beach, California. The company operates out of three launch pads at two launch sites, including one in New Zealand and two in Virginia at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport within NASA's Wallops Flight Facility. Rocket Lab Neutron launch date Rocket Lab has increasingly been in the news over mounting anticipation for the first launch of its upcoming Neutron rocket. The satellite launch vehicle is central to Rocket Lab's plans to shift from small satellite deployments to missions with heavier payloads. But when exactly the Neutron rocket could make its orbital debut has yet to be determined. Rocket Lab continues to work through a checklist of requirements before Neutron can get off the ground for its maiden flight. That includes integrating – or stacking – the rocket stages and getting its commercial launch license from the Federal Aviation Administration, according to the company's first-quarter earnings presentation provided to the USA TODAY Network. The good news? Construction on infrastructure at the launch pad is on schedule, according to the report. Earlier in July, Rocket Lab also announced that the company had awarded a contract to shipbuilder Bollinger Shipyards to support the build of a 400-foot ocean landing platform named "Return On Investment." But the challenge for Rocket Lab will be in transporting the components of the Neutron to the facility, according to the website TechCrunch. The vehicle must be shipped in segments to Rocket Lab's Launch Complex 3 in Virginia, where it will be fully mated as a rocket. Could Neutron challenge SpaceX, Falcon 9? Many space industry analysts have said that Neutron could emerge as a credible challenger to SpaceX's Falcon 9 in the medium-lift launch market. Rocket Lab is developing the Neutron rocket – which already has contracts with the Department of Defense – for commercial, civil and military space operations. That includes satellite constellation deployments, cargo resupply missions to the International Space Station and interplanetary missions. The arena is one that SpaceX, founded by billionaire Elon Musk in 2002, has dominated for years with its Falcon 9 rocket – one of the most active rockets in the world. The Falcon 9 is routinely the rocket of choice to launch NASA astronaut missions to the International Space Station and is the exclusive launch provider for Musk's Starlink satellite deliveries. At 141-feet-tall, Neutron is smaller in stature than SpaceX's two-stage, 230-foot Falcon 9. But like the Falcon 9, Neutron is designed to be reusable so that it can launch more frequently. Its design features an integrated system that brings Neutron's first stage and payload fairings back to Earth as a single stage. Capable of delivering about a 14-ton (more than 28,600 pounds) payload to low-Earth before landing, Neutron is powered by Rocket Lab's newly developed Archimedes engine. Rocket Lab's emergence also comes at a time of mounting public discord between Musk and President Donald Trump. What is Rocket Lab's Electron rocket? Rocket Lab has already spent years reliably launching its smaller Electron rocket to deliver small satellites and other payloads to orbit for civil and commercial contractors. At 59 feet tall, Electron is capable of carrying just 661 pounds of cargo to space, according to Rocket Lab. A version of the rocket is also tailored for Rocket Lab's hypersonic HASTE launches. One of the two launch complexes where Electron can launch is right next door to the Neutron's new launch complex. Since its first orbital launch in January 2018, the Electron has delivered more than 200 satellites to orbit and become one of the most frequently launched U.S. rockets, second only to the Falcon 9, according to Rocket Lab. In June alone, the Electron launched four times on both government and commercial missions, according to Rocket Lab. The most recent mission came June 28 when the Electron launched a single satellite to space for "a confidential commercial customer," Rocket Lab announced in a press release. The mission was the second of two launches from the same launch site in less than 48 hours, a new launch record for the company. Is Rocket Lab a good stock to buy? Whether to invest Unlike SpaceX, Rocket Lab is publicly traded. While Rocket Lab's stock is up 800% over the past year, according to Forbes, the company is not yet profitable. "A lot hinges on Rocket Lab's ability to evolve its revenue model and reach sustained profitability," Sasirekha Subramanian, an equity research content expert, wrote for Forbes. Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at elagatta@
Business Insider
10 minutes ago
- Business Insider
Africa's richest man retires as chairman of Dangote Cement
Africa's richest man, Aliko Dangote, has stepped down as Chairman of the Board of Directors at Dangote Cement Plc. Aliko Dangote, Africa's richest man, has resigned as Chairman of Dangote Cement Plc, with Emmanuel Ikazoboh succeeding him. Ikazoboh has extensive experience spanning over 40 years in senior management roles across several African countries. Dangote Cement significantly contributed to Nigeria transitioning from a major global cement importer to Africa's largest exporter. Africa's richest man, Aliko Dangote, has stepped down as Chairman of the Board of Directors at Dangote Cement Plc, marking the end of an era at one of the continent's largest cement producers. In his place, Emmanuel Ikazoboh has been appointed as the new board chairman, according to Premium Times. Ikazoboh, who previously served as an independent non-executive director, brings more than four decades of senior management experience across Nigeria, Côte d'Ivoire, Cameroon, and South Africa. Further details about the leadership change and its implications for the company's strategy are expected in the coming days. In June, Mr. Dangote stepped down as Chairman of Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc, marking the end of two decades of leadership at one of Nigeria's most profitable food companies. The move, according to the company, was 'in line with the principles of good corporate governance and succession planning.' Dangote Cement has played a significant role in transforming Nigeria's economy. In June, Dangote noted that Nigeria, once the second-largest importer of cement globally, now exports more cement than any other African country, thanks to massive local investment in production capacity. Nigerian-based Dangote Cement remains Africa's largest cement producer, with a total installed capacity of 48.6 million metric tonnes per annum (Mt/a) across the continent. Of this, 32.3 Mt/a is located in Nigeria, while the remaining 16.3 Mt/a spans nine other African countries: Tanzania, South Africa, Ethiopia, Cameroon, Republic of Congo, Ghana, Senegal, Zambia, and Sierra Leone.
Yahoo
11 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Storm defense eyes mistrial, citing testimony from Tornado Cash ‘victim'
Attorneys for Tornado Cash co-founder Roman Storm might move for a mistrial after learning prosecutors called a witness with a tenuous connection to the controversial crypto protocol. If the request were granted, Storm's criminal trial would end, though prosecutors could choose to retry the case with a new jury. It is a dramatic turn of events in a closely-watched trial entering its second week. Storm has been charged with conspiracy to launder money, operate an unlicensed money-transmitting business, and violate US sanctions. He faces 45 years in prison. Crypto proponents say a guilty verdict could have a chilling effect on the development of privacy preserving software and decentralised finance. Storm has raised millions for his defence from prominent donors including Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin. On Monday, David Patton, one of the attorneys for Storm, questioned the testimony of the government's first witness: Hanfeng Lin, a Taiwanese woman living in Georgia. Lin recounted falling for a so-called pig butchering scam in 2021. A 'crypto recovery service' she hired in 2022 told her some of the stolen crypto was laundered through Tornado Cash. Prosecutors have said her testimony would prove that illicit funds were deposited in Tornado Cash and explain her decision to reach out to the protocol's co-founders, thereby alerting them to the fact it was being misused. But weekend research from the defence team suggested Lin's money never went to Tornado Cash, Patton said on Monday. 'They called a very sympathetic alleged victim who, from our research over the weekend, we can't find a connection between her funds and Tornado Cash,' he said. If so, 'she has utterly no relevance,' Patton continued. He told Judge Katherine Polk Failla he would ask to strike Lin's testimony and might go so far as to move for a mistrial. Storm's defence raised the issue days after crypto security researcher Taylor Monahan assailed the government's decision to call Lin to the witness stand for the very same reason. Monahan said she was unable to find evidence Lin's crypto ever went to Tornado Cash. On Monday, pseudonymous crypto sleuth ZachXBT endorsed her analysis. But prosecutors are standing by Lin's testimony. On Monday, Assistant US Attorney Than Rehn said the government had just filed evidence demonstrating Lin's crypto did, in fact, end up in Tornado Cash. A forthcoming government witness would help prove that point, he added. Storm's trial began on Monday. It is expected to last three weeks. Aleks Gilbert is DL News' New York-based DeFi correspondent. You can reach him at aleks@ Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
