A cash incentive of $10,000.00 — plus either a choice of a street bicycle or a mountain bicycle; or alternatively, participants can choose an annual membership to a choice of arts and cultural institutions — per household is being offered to attract recent graduates, families, career changers, entrepreneurs, artists, and other top talent to move to the region of northwest Arkansas.
Get Paid $10,000 and a Bicycle to Move Here
“The Northwest Arkansas Council is investing more than $1 million over six months to attract top talent to the region through the Life Works Here initiative, which brings to light the lifestyle and career benefits offered by the region”, according to the official Internet web site of what is considered to be a pilot program. “The initiative is sponsored by the Northwest Arkansas Council and made possible by philanthropic support from the Walton Family Foundation at the recommendation of Steuart Walton and Tom Walton.”
Northwest Arkansas currently has greater than 10,000 job openings to fill; but the region has a shortage of talent to fill available STEAM — which is the acronym for the subjects of science, technology, engineering, art, and math — jobs. This initiative is to attract talent who will help build a richer long-term talent pipeline in the region — which includes Benton County and Washington County — that supports its thriving local economy.
Note that this program does not offer employment. In fact, in order to be eligible for this offer, you must:
- Be at least 24 years of age
- Have a minimum of two years of work experience
- Have full-time employment — which includes self-employment
- Currently reside outside of the state of Arkansas
- Be able to relocate to Northwest Arkansas within six months of acceptance
- Be a citizen of the United States — or has the necessary credentials required to work legally in the United States
Summary
Because the Northwest Arkansas region has one of the best costs of living in the United States — a calculator at the aforementioned Internet web site will compare the costs of where you live now to comparable expenses in Northwest Arkansas — your money will likely go further. The official Internet web site also has a plethora of other information available for you to peruse — including business, education, community, the arts, outdoors, food and drink, and other topics and items of interest.
I have been to Northwest Arkansas. It has its own airport near Fayetteville to which I have flown as a passenger; and Bentonville is the city where Wal*Mart is headquartered. I thought it was a nice area which had potential to live if one wanted to do so.
Is $10,000.00 and a free bicycle enough of an incentive for you to consider moving to the region of Northwest Arkansas?
All photographs ©2020 by Brian Cohen.
