The Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development today announced the Remote Worker Grant Program will officially launch on Jan. 1, 2019. The program offers reimbursement grants of up $5,000 per year ($10,000 over two years) to remote workers across the country who move to Vermont.
The application process opens on Jan. 1 and will be overseen by the Vermont Department of Economic Development.
“As we work to expand and strengthen Vermont’s workforce, I appreciate the Legislature’s creative work on this program, aimed at attracting more people to live in Vermont,” said Governor Phil Scott. “We hope it will help recruit workers to our state and serve as a solid building block in developing solutions to the demographic challenges we face.”
During the 2017-2018 legislative session, the Vermont Legislature proposed and passed, and the Governor signed, Act 197, which allocated $500,000 to fund the remote worker grant program.
“Legislators created this incentive to help individuals who can work remotely become Vermonters and bring their employment with them,” said Sen. Michael Sirotkin, chair of the Senate Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs Committee. “We are encouraged by the interest this program has garnered and look forward to seeing the results as people make the decision to move here and enjoy Vermont’s high quality of life.”
To qualify for the grant, an applicant must be a full-time employee of a company with its domicile or primary place of business outside of Vermont. Applicants must move to Vermont on or after Jan. 1, 2019 and perform a majority of their employment duties remotely from a home office or coworking space in the state. Expenses eligible for reimbursement include relocation costs, computer software and hardware, broadband access or upgrade, and membership in coworking or similar spaces.
Those interested in receiving a grant must submit a complete application, including documentation of expenses to be eligible. Grants will be awarded to those newly-relocated remote workers who submit complete applications on a first come, first served basis. Applicants in the first year are eligible to apply again in 2020 for another grant of up to $5,000.
For more information about the program and how to apply starting Jan. 1, 2019 visit the Think Vermont or Vermont ACCD webpages.
