Spiritual Forum

In order to reverse falling population trends, fill empty homes and jobs and boost economies there are some places on the planet where local governments will actually pay you or offer other enticing incentives to get you to relocate there. We take a look at the towns and cities where new arrivals receive far more than just a warm welcome.

Saskatchewan in Western Canada is an outdoor lover's paradise. In the summer there is fishing, waterskiing and swimming in the lakes and hiking and biking in the countryside. In the winter there is hockey, skiing, snowmobiling and skating. The extreme weather means that the area has to work hard to encourage people to move there for good though, but it's come up with an innovative scheme to get young people to put down roots there..

Lincoln, Kansas is surrounded by rolling hillsides dotted with buffalo and other farm animals. It bills itself as 'the city that's a size of a dime, with the heart of a dollar.' It has a theatre, an arts centre, a golf course, good schools and a selection of restaurants. All it wants is more people to set up home there and it has developed an innovative scheme to draw them in...

To encourage more people to move in, Lincoln is offering free building lots of between 12,000 and 36,000 square feet. These plots are all within walking distance of shops and medical, educational, recreational and cultural facilities and qualify for the city's 10-year property tax rebate programme too. Lots are available on a first come first served basis and are subject to building plans being approved.

Borgomezzavalle is a tiny Alpine village in the very north of Italy near the Swiss border. In early 2019 its population had declined to only 320 people, largely as a result of its young people leaving to seek their fortunes in the bright lights of the big cities. As a result of this, there are lots of empty homes, some of which have been on the market for only €1 ($1.09/89p) and the local government is even offering further financial incentives to attract new residents...

New Haven, Connecticut is a buzzing metropolis in the heart of New England. It has great museums, art galleries and an endless stream of events, the byproducts of being the site of one of America's most prestigious universities, Yale. The surrounding region is also home to two state parks and has access to fabulous beaches. You'd think this would all be enough to attract people to move to the city, but there are added bonuses too...

New Haven is offering several incentives to attract new residents. There is a down payment assistance programme for first-time home buyers on low incomes of up to $10,000 (£8,130) or 6% of the home's purchase price, whichever is greater. And if you live in your home for more than five years the loan is totally written off. There are also forgivable loans of up to $30,000 (£24,380) for energy-saving home upgrades. Live in your home for more than 10 years and this doesn't need to be repaid. Plus, there are free tuition incentives for in-state colleges. 

Curtis, Nebraska is a small rural community where everyone looks out for each other. Farming and ranching are the mainstays of the economy and when it's time to relax there is a golf course, fishing pond and a scenic trail for walking and hiking along. If you're looking for a close rural community, Curtis is worth taking a look at and there are some enticing offers to make you want to stay for good too...

Curtis is offering free residential building plots for the construction of single-family homes. All lots are on paved concrete streets with all utilities. Some of the plots even overlook a golf course in the Medicine Creek Valley. The free lots are subject to plans being approved and building beginning within a specified timeframe.

How about calling a little Greek island that lies in crystal clear emerald waters home? Antikythera in the Aegean Sea is as picture-perfect as it gets with natural beauty aplenty. Yet as it only has one quaint village, Potamos, it is currently inhabited by just about 20 people. Having suffered from underpopulation for several years, the island is now trying to attract new residents by offering them attractive benefits.

Move to anywhere in the state of Alaska and you'll receive an annual dividend from the Alaska Department of Revenue's Permanent Fund Dividend Division. This dividend is paid to Alaskan residents from investment earnings gained from mineral royalties. The actual amount paid varies and is partly based on the number of eligible Alaskan applicants in a dividend year. Residents must have lived in Alaska for at least a year and not have left the state for more than a specified number of days. In 2019, the dividend was $1,606 (£1,306).

Harmony, Minnesota bills itself as a nice place to visit and an even better place to live. It is a quintessential-looking American town with a charming Main Street, good schools and a strong community feel. It's surrounded by unspoilt Amish countryside and offers over 60 miles of paved bike trails. Desperate to draw in more young people to balance out its largely ageing community, the city is offering great deals on building plots...

Yukon is running a programme to encourage the growth of its agriculture industry called the Canadian Agricultural Partnership. A number of initiatives are available as part of this programme: these include C$3 billion (US$2.26bn/£1.84bn) funding to help return land to agricultural use and support for various project costs. Applicants must meet strict criteria and, most importantly, be able to deal with the harsh Yukon winters.

The region of Molise in the south of Italy offers a sprawling mountainous countryside, picturesque little villages such as Pietracupa (pictured) and 22 miles of sandy coastline along the Adriatic Sea. However, over the past five years more than 9,000 people have moved away in order to find work in other parts of the country. Last year, not a single birth was registered in the nine major towns of the region. So the government of Molise has come up with an ingenious idea.

Detroit was voted the second best city to visit in 2018 by Lonely Planet. There is certainly a lot to see and do here: fantastic architecture, a thriving arts and entertainment scene, innovative and varied restaurants and relaxing parks. With unemployment and poverty levels falling, it's often called 'the comeback city' and now it's doing its best to make you come back or visit for the first time and never want to leave...