Ascend W.Va. Selects Capitol City As Its Next Site

Charleston has been selected as the newest community to host the Ascend West Virginia program – which pays workers to move to the state. 

The brainchild of Marshall University President Brad Smith and his wife Alys, the program provides financial incentive to remote workers who move to the state:  

• $12,000 paid out over two years
• Discovery Passes that grants free access to a suite of curated outdoor adventures throughout the state
• Access to free coworking space 
• Social events to help connect with neighbors and other participants

“On April 12, 2021, the 50th anniversary of John Denver’s release of ‘Country Roads,’ we unveiled to the world Ascend West Virginia,” Smith said at a celebratory Capitol Market event to make the announcement. 

“Fast forward to now, more than 1-million visits to the website. 65,000 applicants wanting to move to West Virginia,” he added. 

Friday’s announcement makes the capitol city the sixth Ascend community in the state, and the newest addition to a network Smith said is 509 and growing. 

“They bring family members, 951 total, New West Virginians. 13 new babies, and I’ve been informed today of 14th on the way,” Smith said “Thirty-six percent of them have purchased a home. They’re engaged in our communities. They shop at our small businesses. And it’s over a half a billion dollars of economic impact already.”

Smith said the program is funded for 1,000 participants, almost double the number it currently has. He anticipates the economic impact will reach over $1 billion annually for the state.