Pretty Appalachian city is offering $20,000 to 10 people willing to move there

A breath-taking city in western Maryland is offering $20,000 to 10 homeowners who agree to relocate there, with the only catch being that they're willing to invest in their property and become a part of the community. 

Cumberland, once known as the state's 'Queen City,' features brick-paved streets, and its horizon bristles with church steeples.

Nestled along the north branch of the Potomac River, the Appalachian wonderland was at one time a hub of industry and boasted a population of 40,000 residents in 1940.

But after the glass and tire factories shuttered, and the railroad became obsolete, the number of inhabitant plummeted to just 19,000 people. Another troubling trend is that a fifth of its residents live in poverty.

In order to save the city from oblivion, Mayor Raymond Morris and other officials  have launched the 'Choose Cumberland Relocation Program.'

Through this initiative, 10 people who agree to move to this picturesque paradise will be given $20,000 for their trouble.

'It's really to attract people who will benefit your community,' Laurie Marchini, a Cumberland City Council member, told the Washington Post.

'It's not a social services program. It's to bring people in who are employed,' she added.

As part of the program, the city will be proving the new homeowners with $10,000 in cash.

An additional $10,000 in matching funds will be available for renovations and down payments. This money will come from a $100,000 grant from Maryland's Community Legacy program, which supports efforts to revitalize decaying cities.

Last week, the application window opened, and it will close after Tuesday. 

In order to qualify, individuals must agree to invest in their homes and participate in the broader community.

Additionally, the 10 people must commit to remaining in Cumberland for five years. On the application, individuals are asked about their work, their interests, hobbies, and most importantly, why they have chosen the city.

While some critics have argued that the money should be spent on current Cumberland residents, Mayor Morris has said that the city already offers funded benefits to inhabitants.

Across the country, similar financial inducements are being offered to people willing to relocate to a certain town or urban location.

In Oklahoma, a program in Tulsa hopes to attract out-of-state residents by offering $10,000 to renters and home-owners with full-time remote work. A similar initiative in Rochester, New York, tempts prospective movers with grants of up to $9,000.   

By launching their relocation program, Cumberland officials hope to stem the pernicious issue of population loss. 

They aim to do so by harnessing the exodus of remote-workers from cities, a trend that was enabled by the pandemic, one that Mayor Morris referred to as a 'silver lining.'

'A lot of people were kind of leaving the rat race and coming out to enjoy the outdoor recreation and the lifestyle that's available out here,' he told the Washington Post. 

'We were looking at ways that we can continue that,' the mayor added. 

They have undertaken other efforts to revitalize their community, too. They have fostered growth along the brick-paved Baltimore Street, where new businesses like taco restaurants and ice cream shops have cropped up. 

Along the Potomac, a new River Park is being planned that will feature a white-water course, boating access, and a walking trail. Millions of dollars in local, state, and federal funds will finance the project. 

Julia McCoy, the president and CEO of the Allegany County Chamber of Commerce, told the Washington Post that the city is on the brink of a renaissance. 

'I've worked downtown for 20 years, and this is the most exciting it's ever been,' she said.