from Hacker News

A $10k stipend is available for anyone moving to Cumberland, MD

by vxxzy on 8/24/24, 1:46 PM with 176 comments

by j_m_b on 8/24/24, 2:03 PM
I just got back from a visit with family in Cumberland. It's the epitome of rust belt. What used to be a thriving manufacturing area has become an abandoned service-sector economy with low-wage jobs. Property values are dirt cheap, even for nice houses. There isn't much nearby, you have to travel hours from Pittsburgh to even get there by plane. Tales of theft of items like power tools from relatively remote farms are common. It doesn't look quite as bad as videos I've seen of poorer parts of Appalachia, but it's pretty close. I don't know how they will be able to afford this as the tax base has all but left and Cumberland is trying to pinch every penny they can to afford their over-compensated government staff. It's a pretty sad state of affairs, this seems more like a last-ditch marketing effort.
by radpanda on 8/24/24, 2:23 PM
As a native Marylander I always find myself forgetting about Cumberland, which is a shame. As someone who has mostly lived in and around Baltimore, you head west to Frederick (aka Fredneck) for the small city in the middle of rural farmland. If you keep heading west you get to Hagerstown which feels way out there in farm country. And if you keep heading west you eventually move from farms to mountains and you hit Cumberland, which looks like a city that time forgot.
As other folks have commented, there’s some beautiful architecture and the old part of the city seems like it could be a bustling place. There’s a train station and easy access to the great outdoors. But the jobs have long gone and drug addiction has taken root for so many there. I don’t know the best way to revive a place like that but I hope something eventually works.
by tonymet on 8/24/24, 6:35 PM
Extrinsic monetary incentives are among the worst ways to stimulate growth. Anyone who would uproot their life for $10k is likely not the right personality to restore prosperity.
Other strategies have worked to gentrify depressed neighborhoods, like attracting bohemians or entrepreneurs with lower rents and tax relief, based on a strict qualification process.
by ckcheng on 8/24/24, 2:08 PM
From the linked page:
> The package, offering up to $20,000 is comprised of $10,000 in relocation cash, PLUS up to $10,000, dollar for dollar match, for approved renovations on an existing home, OR for a down payment on a newly constructed home within City limits.
Not “A $10k stipend is available for anyone moving to Cumberland, MD” as the submission title says currently , which sounded like a basic income.
by Nifty3929 on 8/24/24, 2:30 PM
Sounds like a gift to current residents who want to leave: "...receive $10,000.00 (“Program Incentive”) payable at closing of a home or upon proof closing has occurred... " Meaning that it will help prop up prices for those selling.
AND/OR a gift for their local construction workers: "... receive up to $10,000, dollar for dollar match, for approved renovations ... on an existing home ... or for a down payment on a newly constructed home ..."
by khuey on 8/24/24, 1:57 PM
One of the program requirements is that you buy a house there and live in it for five years.
by billsmithaustin on 8/24/24, 1:52 PM
For you cyclists, the Great Allegheny Pass trail and the Chesapeake & Ohio towpath meet there.
by jt2190 on 8/24/24, 2:30 PM
I've created a Google Sheet to list these programs. Got three so far. Please feel free to add any that you know of. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ahY6cI0CJVbK9PRNIkjh...
by solid_fuel on 8/24/24, 8:12 PM
I suspect these programs are mostly an attempt to claw back some people lost to the brain-drain that the region has been experiencing for decades. $10k over 5 years is not enough to seriously convince most people with no ties to the area to relocate there.
I have family roots in Cumberland and the nearby areas of West Virginia and MD and I still wouldn't consider moving back. But, if you still have a good relationship with family in the city and were already considering the move, this offer might look more compelling.
I believe Vermont also had a similar program for several years - offering a similar amount of money for people to move and work there in VT.
by lizknope on 8/24/24, 10:07 PM
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cumberland,_Maryland#Demograph...
Historical population
peak was
1940 39,483
2020 19,076
It is still dropping
The racial makeup of the city was 89.4% White, 6.4% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.9% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.3% from other races, and 2.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 1.2% of the population.
I wish them luck but I don't want to live there.
by Aspos on 8/24/24, 7:18 PM
There is a dedicated bicycle road connecting Cumberland with the National Mall in D.C. and which promises no cars, no pedestrians. Ten hours of pedaling mostly downhill.
by AndrewHampton on 8/24/24, 2:09 PM
A similar program exists for 4 towns in West Virginia: https://ascendwv.com
by nunobrito on 8/24/24, 8:09 PM
I've personally enjoyed that kind of offer. My work is remote, my family isn't.
Not living in the US myself, but done similar in EU.
Living outside large cities is a plus factor these days. You can afford a house, commodities tend to be cheaper or you just grow them yourself. Kids go to a local school where you know everyone else, they make strong friendships and grow healthy in nature.
by KennyBlanken on 8/24/24, 10:38 PM
You could not pay me to live in a city whose staff write the phrase "before the time of Christ" in the "about us" for the city's website.
by jeffbee on 8/24/24, 2:22 PM
Similar long-standing program in Tulsa. https://www.tulsaremote.com/
by xyst on 8/24/24, 7:32 PM
Have to live in Cumberland, MD for 5 years though.
Borders West Virginia and a key city in the Appalachian area. Some would say this region was day 0 of the opioid epidemic. As of 2020 census, population is largely (~89%) identified as Caucasian. Diversity is lacking. Median income reported at $45K.
Don’t know much besides what’s on paper, but I highly doubt most people on HN would integrate well here.
by brucelidl on 8/25/24, 1:21 AM
Wow, this is fascinating, my family is originally from Cumberland (actually Frostburg, but...). My mom was born and raised there, but left as soon as she could. Everybody did, and I don't think anyone from my family has been back there since my grandmother died decades ago.
It's really the eastern edge of Appalachia, but also very much a rust belt relic that depended on industries that are long, long gone (at least from that region). I think Kelly tires had a plant there when my mom was younger.
I've always wanted to go back and see it, just to compare it with my memories. It was in pretty steep decline already in the 70s and 80s, as even a kid could tell. I remember reading that they built a number of prisons nearby, also some across the border in Pennsylvania, but clearly that has not done enough to revitalize things.
by khaki54 on 8/24/24, 2:10 PM
It's a nice place, especially if you are outdoorsy, due to proximity to so much woodland and trail. I was very surprised with the architecture there. I've only stayed a couple nights (Trailhead for the Ragnar relay series)
by kkfx on 8/24/24, 2:48 PM
I honestly do not get such programs, I'm from EU where equivalent programs exists in slightly different form (1€ old and abandoned homes for sale) and that's a total stupid initiative because people face MUCH bigger costs and still have no potential development in place.
Instead of proposing such gifts state a complete development programs: how do you count to augment the population enough to create room for a local bustling economy? A possible timeline and the current state of things? Tell me about local climate, hydro-geological stability, pollution and so on. You want people, convince them to be part of you project do not "buy them with candies". Convincing people to be part of a project means finding (if you succeed, of course) active people who can bring value to your community, otherwise you might collect some fool who will go soon or will remain as a burden to the community.
by bcx on 8/25/24, 2:29 AM
Cumberland also happens to be where the Chesapeake and Ohio canal tow path terminates, and is a really nice 168 mile mostly off road dirt bike ride all the way to Washington DC. It has been extended all the way to Pittsburgh. So if you were into biking, Cumberland could be kind of a cool place to hang out.
by ChrisMarshallNY on 8/24/24, 9:25 PM
> Average summer temperature 72.6 degrees Fahrenheit
Must be different, out there. I lived in MD for over ten years, and the average was ... slightly higher ...
It is real purdy, out there, though.
by angellonunez on 8/24/24, 2:21 PM
It looks like a nice place. I know about a few similar programs in some towns in Europe. It is interesting to see something like this in some towns and cities in the US.
by ApolloFortyNine on 8/24/24, 9:45 PM
Great camping in this area, and it's a stop on the 300 some mile trail between DC and Pittsburgh (being extended to Erie, eventually).
by francisofascii on 8/24/24, 7:18 PM
Work from home. Commute into a DC metro based office once a month. You could even drive to Martinsburg and take the Marc. Sounds doable.
by PLenz on 8/24/24, 9:41 PM
Most significant for being the home of Dr. McNinja
by spacemadness on 8/24/24, 4:29 PM
It seems like Zillow is full of people selling houses at 2x to 3x the estimate in Cumberland hoping to sell and run to whoever takes advantage of the relocation program. I see houses assessed at $90,000 in 2023 selling for $300,000. Give me a break.
by calmbonsai on 8/25/24, 5:42 PM
In the post WW2 era, have any of these direct stipend programs been successful?
by kragen on 8/24/24, 10:26 PM
one-time payment, not a yearly stipend forever
by throwaway984393 on 8/24/24, 2:10 PM
It is a gorgeous area. Not a bad deal if you live in the region and are looking to buy a $120k home
by samstave on 8/24/24, 2:16 PM
WTH marketing much?
Read the fn offer:
They will give you $10,000 cash, plus another $10,000 toward a renovation to a house you buy, or to a down-payment on a house you are required to buy, with a value of >$150K that you are required to live in for 5 years.
And you have to apply, and be approved, and undergo a casual interview by the city council.
And you have to be ready to move in within 6 months of approval.
And you have to be fully remote, have a local job, or be moving to cumberland in acceptance of a job...
----
They GIVE YOU NO FN REASON WHY you would want to move there.
The municipal website is a "Parks & Rec Fisher Price" as it comes, where the first link on "Populat links" is "Pay utilities"
There are no posted bid offereings (meaning no active project cumberland is seeking RFPs on)
And community events is barren...
So, why is this on HN?
It doesnt even give a nice GPT synpsis of what the heck cumberland is even about - Here, I GPTd it for them:
https://i.imgur.com/mueJp1W.png
https://i.imgur.com/scpNTid.png
Is my math wrong or something? Did anyone actually look at the image?
---
Back when Detroit was doing super bad, and lots for huge Victorian and other nice architecture homes were going for ~$5,000 - there was a lot of chatter of a bunch of millenial-ish techies buy up a bunch of plots and start a tech-commune sort of adventure out there. (turned out the person organizing that effort was pulling a huge grift)
Maybe try to do a YC startup fund where "Hey heres free housing internet and utilities for your startup if you can prove "XYZ" -- like what about a visa program if some Hackers can come in and do a startup there and raise the economy where the city is invested in the startups? But have the program vetted by some panel of experts the city recruits
by whalesalad on 8/24/24, 6:12 PM
Maryland is so bad they need to pay you 10k to move there. I used to live in Nova and crossing into Maryland was always a drag.
by Almondsetat on 8/24/24, 2:30 PM
Mining towns are one of the examples of human hubris and stupidity I can't get my head around. If you build something in a shitty place just because there is a single resource you can sell, and everything else you have to import, then what do you expect will happen when said resource dries up? These places were meant for people to go temporarily, make serious money, and then go back to the city or countryside to build a life there, just like people who go to oil rigs do. Instead people brought their families and created an entire town or city in the middle of nowhere.
Now, the past is past and what's done is done. Can't we just acknowledge this basic reality and let these places die and move to better ones? Maybe thanks to the internet one day they will be repopulated by small tech companies operating from a single building with 100 computers and a fiber network, but until then why bullshit ourselves?