West Virginia’s Ascend programme, launched during the pandemic to attract remote workers, appears to be retaining many of the people it recruited. The scheme matters because it is intended to counter long-term population decline and economic hardship by bringing higher-earning residents and spending into smaller communities.

Successful applicants received $12,000 over two years, alongside coworking access and outdoor recreation benefits. Since 2021, the privately funded programme has drawn more than 700 participants and over 1,500 residents including families; officials say 96% remain after their commitment, while estimates put their economic contribution at up to $750 million. Remote-working incentives elsewhere have had mixed durability, often ending when funding ran out, and some participants now face longer commutes as employers require office attendance.