Topeka, the capital of Kansas, offers incentives of up to US$15,000 for workers willing to move to the city. The benefit is part of Choose Topeka, a program created in 2019 to attract professionals and stimulate the local economy.
The amount varies depending on the housing choice. Those who buy a home receive up to US$15,000, while the incentive for renters reaches up to US$10,000 (approximately R$ 50,000). Payment depends on compliance with the program rules and the employer’s participation.
The initiative returned to international headlines this week, amid the competition among American cities for new residents. In addition to financial assistance, Topeka bets on the cost of living as an attractor for professionals seeking alternatives to large urban centers.
U.S. City Pays to Live: Who Can Receive the Incentive?
To participate, the applicant must have a full-time job at a company linked to the program, as well as legal authorization to work in the United States.
It is also necessary to establish primary residence in Shawnee County, where Topeka is located, and to prove the purchase or rental of the property. The employer participates in financing the incentive, according to the conditions set by the initiative.
According to data from the real estate platform Zillow, the typical value of a residence in the region is approximately US$195,000, while the average monthly rent is US$1,249.
The program emerged after a survey identified that about 40% of the people who worked in Topeka lived outside the county. The proposal is to encourage these professionals and other workers to establish residence in the region.
More than 50 companies have already participated in the initiative, according to Choose Topeka. Participation is voluntary, and the incentives are usually offered for hard-to-fill positions that require experience or specific qualifications. There is no fixed deadline for enrollment.
The payment also follows the conditions defined by each employer. Some companies advance the money, while others disburse it after a certain period of work. The program reimburses the company up to 50% of the incentive, provided the employee remains employed and residing in the region for a year.
