WEST MEMPHIS, Ark. — City leadership in West Memphis, Arkansas, has recently announced a new initiative to attract more people to the city and pay them in the process.
According to Mayor Marco McClendon, the new incentive program, which will offer $5,000 to $10,000 stipends to those interested in moving to West Memphis, will create a better and hopefully safer West Memphis.
One of West Memphis' newest initiatives hopes to bring more remote workers to the city.
"This is truly gonna be a hub and tech hub here in the Mid-South, so West Memphis is the place to be," he said. "You know, we have hit our struggles in the past, but we're definitely on the winning streak, we are coming up."
The incentive program would offer $5,000-$10,000, depending on whether a person is renting or looking to buy a home, to anyone interested in moving.
Some of the criteria for that program include having a full-time position, making at least $80,000 a year, and being able to relocate within six months. Mayor Marco McClendon says he thinks this is one of the best ways to increase homeownership in the city.
"It's been successful and great for our community to get those individuals here," McClendon said. "And the goal is to buy a home here in West Memphis, where we are building several new homes, [and there's] more than enough people to become homeowners."
Wauke Goodlow lives across the street from where these new homes will be built and potentially house some of the movers in this program. She said she's excited to be so close to this initiative and hopes that it will make West Memphis a safer community.
"I feel good about it," she said. "I'm just praying that, you know, the new development comes up, and the people that buy or rent, however they're going to do it, we all work together and make this little community just a little safe and nice environment for us and for our children."
According to McClendon, more than 170 applications have been received, and he anticipates several hundred more. He adds that this is just the first step in a series of programs that will help boost homeownership and credit, and he expects to make an announcement about some new technology opportunities in West Memphis.