Move to Vermont incentive program gets 1,800 inquiries

Vermont’s plan to pay people up to $10,000 to move to the state and work remotely might be working a little too well.

The state has received 1,800 inquiries so far, including 500 from international senders, according to a spokeswoman with the Department of Economic Development, the Burlington Free Press reported.   

If the state paid each of those prospects $10,000, the tab would be $18 million–a far cry from the allocated $500,000 it plans to use for the next three years of the program, which takes effect Jan. 1, 2019.

But the program is not fully operational yet. Michael Schirling, secretary of the Agency of Commerce and Community Development, says the incentive has created “significant work” for his staff.

Schirling says they haven’t determined how the program will operate or its eligibility requirements.

Vermont Gov. Phil Scott signed a bill establishing the program into law in May as part of an effort to attract younger people to the state.