Fond du Lac is putting cash on the table for new neighbors, offering up to $9,500 in payments and local perks to help fill open jobs and slow an aging population. The deal pairs a $5,500 relocation stipend with roughly $4,000 worth of memberships, tickets and curated welcome experiences. The campaign is being run through the MakeMyMove platform in partnership with Envision Greater Fond du Lac and is backed by state economic development funds. Organizers say they are targeting move-ready workers and families who will both live and work in the county.
According to Envision Greater Fond du Lac, the nonprofit landed a $346,000 state talent-attraction grant and has committed another $120,000 of its own money to recruit about 32 households to the area. The community listing on MakeMyMove confirms the $5,500 cash stipend and details the perk bundle, which includes YMCA memberships, Dock Spiders baseball experiences, golf packages and dining credits. MakeMyMove is handling applications along with the personalized welcome packages for households that are accepted.
Wisconsin Public Radio reports that the total package is valued at $9,500 and that eligibility is limited to people currently living outside Wisconsin who are at least 18, earn a household income of $55,000 or more, and agree to establish primary residency in Fond du Lac County for at least one year. Wisconsin Public Radio also quotes MakeMyMove co-founder Evan Hock, who describes these programs as "retail economic development" meant to turn one-time movers into long-term residents.
How Employers Are Using Relocation Incentives
Separate from the new offer, Fond du Lac County already runs an employer-focused relocation incentive that can provide up to $15,000 to help recruit staff, with the county reimbursing employers for half the incentive after 12 months, according to reporting by NBC26. The station notes that both small businesses and larger employers have tapped the program, including a local funeral home that used a $4,000 relocation package to hire a director from out of state.
Local Reaction and Misinformation
Not everyone is thrilled about paying people to move in. Some residents quickly took to social media to question whether public money should be used to "buy" new neighbors. County Executive Sam Kaufman responded in a Facebook post, clarifying that the incentives do not come from city or county operating budgets. Instead, the money is drawn from a state grant awarded to Envision, KFIZ reports. KFIZ adds that Envision is running the MakeMyMove campaign and plans to host an informational roundtable for community stakeholders in July.
How To Apply and What Comes Next
People who want in on the deal can create a profile and apply through the Fond du Lac County page on MakeMyMove. Employers that are looking for relocation candidates can join Envision's Talent Network to browse applicant profiles, according to Envision Greater Fond du Lac. Both sites outline who qualifies, what the timelines look like and what is included in the local-experience packages once someone is accepted.
The campaign is part of a broader post-pandemic trend of smaller cities using modest cash and lifestyle bundles to woo workers, a strategy that helped Tulsa's remote-worker program attract thousands of participants. Whether Fond du Lac can turn its $9,500 welcome mat into lasting population growth and steady hires for local employers will be the real test, Wisconsin Public Radio notes.
