Mover Spotlight: Elio Finds Acceptance and a Better Quality Life in South Bend

For Elio, a professional from Seattle, the path to achieving his dreams of homeownership and building a socially conscious media business led him on an unexpected journey to South Bend, Indiana. Elio's past experiences had been a mixed bag. Seattle, with its bustling energy, had been exhilarating at first. Yet, the high living cost left him priced out of the housing market. “Even if you make six figures in Seattle, there are a lot of dual-income households that make twice as much and I knew that I wouldn’t be able to afford a home there.”

One evening, scrolling through social media, an ad paused his browsing. It spoke of a different kind of opportunity through MakeMyMove, a company that helps connect remote workers with communities that offer incentives for relocation. Intrigued, Elio clicked. MakeMyMove’s website offered a glimpse into smaller communities, each with its unique character and a promise of genuine connection. Elio, admittedly unfamiliar with the Midwest, started exploring. Cities like South Bend, Indiana, piqued his curiosity. The company’s website offered profiles, highlighting the city's friendly atmosphere, thriving small businesses, lush green spaces and $5,000 cash incentive to relocate there - Elio decided to apply.

He was quickly connected with Lauren Thomas, his program coordinator. Lauren, who serves as the Talent Initiatives Manager for the South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership was warm, informative and genuinely interested in Elio's story. She answered his questions about South Bend, painting a picture of a welcoming community with a rich history and a vibrant art scene. Elio also learned about South Bend's proximity to Chicago, offering the perfect blend of small-town charm with easy access to a metropolitan center. “Lauren's infectious enthusiasm, coupled with the city's potential, convinced me to take a leap of faith,” Elio recalled.

Since relocating in March, Elio has already begun forging connections within South Bend's diverse communities. He's volunteered with local LGTBQ and Latino youth organizations, laying the groundwork for future storytelling and advocacy projects through his company URL Media, which is focused on amplifying underrepresented voices. "Being able to do something that aligns with your values just makes it a lot more fun," he says of integrating his personal passions with his professional pursuits.

He’s also developed a whole new social circle simply by being out and about patronizing local businesses. "I think with me being a person of color moving to South Bend, a lot of people really didn't know, or they're not educated on how great the Midwest is and how accepting it is towards people of color. I want to buy a house here. I'm at the age where my priorities are totally different, and moving to a small town like this means being able to look at houses and not feel like I'm going to go into debt for the rest of my life to own something."

But achieving that dream of homeownership was only one factor that drew Elio to the South Bend area, it was also the additional incentives that the community offers through MakeMyMove. “Not only has Lauren helped me find housing she also checks in regularly to let me know which incentives I should take advantage of each month such as my Potawatomi Zoo passes or tickets to the local baseball team that came with my incentive package and is another way I ‘ve been able to acclimate to the community and meet people.”

That tight-knit, embracing community vibe is exactly what attracted Elio to the MakeMyMove program in the first place. "Through its partnership with communities MakeMyMove, is empowering people of color by helping them relocate to communities with a lower cost of living and giving them a little bit of a push through financial incentives to try it out."

From the affordable housing prospects to the engaged community of entrepreneurs and inclusivity when it comes to diversity, South Bend is proving to be the ideal place for Elio to achieve his personal and professional dreams. All it took was that first leap through MakeMyMove.