Amid Bay Area exodus, more cities offer cash, land, other incentives to attract remote workers

Cities across the country are courting remote workers with incentives more commonly associated with luring companies.

Localities that would have no hope of attracting a corporate expansion, much less a large headquarters, are seeing the value of bringing in talent that can help build local tax bases and economies. As these communities compete, it won't be surprising to see the big winners in corporate relocations jump into the game of luring remote workers.

“For the first time in at least a century, the fundamental deal that most workers had
signed up for — hitching their worklife to where they live — has been decoupled for
millions of people. Suddenly people have the freedom to live and play where they want, independent of their work,” said Evan Hock, co-founder and vice president of product for TMap, a tech recruiter based in Indianapolis. TMap has created a marketplace to match remote workers with states and cities eager to court them.