Did you know there’s a program that will pay you $12,000 to move to West Virginia? It’s called the Ascend Program. Since its launch in April of 2021, more than 20,000 people have applied, including 2,900 to move to the Eastern Panhandle in 2023.
In addition to the $12,000, recipients receive a generous outdoor recreation package – free access to parks, 2 free equipment rentals, invitations to private government social events and opportunities to network with likeminded people.
The purpose of the Ascend Program – and this is from their website –
” is talent attraction and retention to support remote professionals and their families as they relocate to West Virginia in pursuit of a high quality of life and an outdoor-driven lifestyle”.
So they are looking for people that are currently employed and that can work remotely and that will support and participate in the outdoor activities that come with living in a wildnerness like area. And you are required to live in West Virginia for at least 2 years. If all that sounds appealing, then the Ascend Program may be a great deal for you.
There’s 4 communities that participate in this program. Greenbrier Valley, the Morgantown area, the Eastern Panhandle and Elkins WV. This map gives you an idea of where they are in relationship to Washington DC. And here’s a little bit about each of those locations.
Lewisburg is the county seat of Greenbrier county – it’s a quaint little town – Like a step back in time. But very much alive with restaurants, shopping. And nearby, there’s over 6 10,000 miles of forest, creeks and mountains for all levels of outdoor activities.. The famous 7 Greenbrier Resort is located there and it’s where the 8 West Virginia State fair is held every year. The average cost of a single-family home in Lewisburg, West Virginia in 2022 is $224,709 which is moderate in the United States and high in West Virginia.
Just south of Lewisburg is Fairlea where housing is cheaper — $197,000 on average. And the further you go from Lewisburg, homes tend to drop in price.
Next option is Morgantown. Morgantown is one of the larger cities in West Virginia. It is right on the Monongahela River. – locally referred to as the Mon. The University of West Virginia is located in Morgantown. Like most West Virginia cities, the mountains are nearby along with miles of green areas so there’s plenty of outdoor activities there. There’s a large percentage of renters in Morgantown and that’s probably because of the university. Over 21,000 students are enrolled there. The average cost of a single-family home in Morgantown in 2022 is $244,000 which is moderate in the United States and high in West Virginia.
Next is Elkins West Virginia. That’s another small town with a wilderness area nearby, It borders Monongahela Forest with miles of wilderness area. Liberty University is there so it too has a lot of renters. Elkins is very inexpensive. The average cost of a single-family home in 2022 is $139,000 which is the lowest in the United States.
Last option is the Eastern Panhandle. It’s the closest to Washington DC and Baltimore So if you’d like easy access to those areas, it’s about an hour and a half drive. There’s 3 counties in the Eastern Panhandle. Jefferson, Berkeley and Morgan. There are 3 rivers – the Potomac, the Shenandoah and the Cacapon. The Sleepy Creek State Forest is a 23,000 acre wilderness preservation area -in Hedgesville which is a town in Berkeley County. Shepherdstown in Jefferson County is home to Shepherd University – it’s a charming university town full of history as are all the towns there. Cost of living is higher in this area probably because of it’s proximity to the DC metro area. The median price of a single family home in 2022 is $278,000, We serve this area so if you’d like to see what homes are for sale, visit our website. Meetmeinthepanhandle.com
So those are the participating communities in the program. When you go to th Ascend website and click the Apply link, right off the bat, you’ll be asked some questions about eligibility.
Do you now work remotely or have the ability to work remotely full-time at a business based outside of West Virginia or be self-employed outside of West Virginia
Do you reside full-time outside of West Virginia
Are you a U.S. Citizen or (“Green Card Holder”)
Can you relocate within 6 months of acceptance
Are you 18 years or older.
So if all those answers are yes then the full application opens.
The idea here is to use the resources in West Virginia to rebrand the image. So when you think of the WV mountains instead of picturing backwoods and a poor lifestyle you think of mountain climbing, skiing- beautiful vistas. Because those are what West Virginia offers.
If all that fits what you are looking for this is a great opportunity.
