Tax breaks, child care and free college: How a Kansas town is enticing people to move there
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With a population of about 2,100, Neodesha, Kansas, is roughly 100 miles from Wichita and Topeka in Kansas and Tulsa, Oklahoma. Its claim to fame is the 65-foot-tall tower that supported the drilling framework for the first commercial oil well west of the Mississippi River, locals say. Limited time: Save 25% on NBC News subscription Get exclusive reporting, live Q&As and ad-free reading. But as an old oil town, Neodesha has struggled with a decreasing population and an aging housing supply for years.
AI Summary
Main Idea: Neodesha, Kansas is using tax breaks, child care help, and free college programs to attract new residents and fight population decline.
Key Points:
- Mayor Devin Johnson says the town needs to grow or it risks slowly dying, as it has lost people for decades.
- MakeMyMove is helping Neodesha recruit newcomers and says more than 30 people are already planning to move there.
- New residents can get state income tax waivers, property tax rebates, day care help, student loan aid, and free college tuition through local programs.
- Kaitlyn Sundberg’s move from Southern California shows how lower housing costs and a family-friendly feel can draw people even without incentives.
Impact on the People
Negative Impact
Tax breaks and rebates can shift costs to local and state budgets, and there is no guarantee that small towns will keep new residents long term.
Positive Impact
MakeMyMove and Neodesha’s housing, child care, and free college perks may help workers and young families find cheaper places to live and build roots.
How did each entity affect people?
Rate how each entity in this article affected the American people.
- Primary:MakeMyMovecompany
- Major:Kaitlyn Sundbergperson
Candidate Entities9 candidates · 5 weighted vote min · 70% decision
- MakeMyMovecompanyPrimaryEvaluated
Relocation marketplace partnering with Neodesha and screening applicants for the move-in incentive program.
Include 0 (0%)Ignore 0 (0%)5 to threshold - Kaitlyn SundbergpersonMajorEvaluated
Relocation example at the center of the human-interest portion of the article, illustrating why people move to Neodesha.
Include 0 (0%)Ignore 0 (0%)5 to threshold - Ben CutlerpersonMajorAI selected
Named funder of the Neodesha scholarship program and a key voice describing the town’s community-building efforts.
Include 0 (0%)Ignore 0 (0%)5 to threshold - Mayor Devin JohnsonpersonMajorAI selected
Named local official explaining Neodesha’s population decline and leading the town’s attraction efforts.
Include 0 (0%)Ignore 0 (0%)5 to threshold - The Shoals Economic Development Authoritygovernment agency or bodyContextCandidate
Named development authority offering cash incentives to relocate, included as a comparison example.
Include 0 (0%)Ignore 0 (0%)5 to threshold - Topeka, KansascityContextCandidate
Cited as a comparison city with its own relocation incentive program.
Include 0 (0%)Ignore 0 (0%)5 to threshold - United Van LinescompanyContextCandidate
Cited for its annual study on migration trends that supports the article’s broader context.
Include 0 (0%)Ignore 0 (0%)5 to threshold
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