JREDC's Make My Move Offers Relocation Incentives for Morgan, Scott Counties

The Jacksonville Regional Economic Development Corporation launched a renewed push with its Make My Move relocation incentive program to draw skilled professionals to Morgan and Scott counties and strengthen the region's workforce. JREDC designed the program to target recruits in engineering, manufacturing, healthcare, legal, accounting and education, offering financial and relocation supports that are conditional on meeting residency and employment requirements.

Previous iterations of Make My Move provided up to $9,000 per participant, and current materials emphasize eligibility criteria such as minimum salary thresholds and proof of out-of-area residence in some program versions. JREDC coordinates participants through employer partnerships and local stakeholders, framing the program as a tool to address employer recruitment challenges and to retain and expand the regional talent base.

For Morgan County residents and employers, the program aims to shorten hiring timelines for technically skilled and licensed positions that often require moving candidates or paying sign-on premiums. Employers in manufacturing and healthcare sectors frequently report vacancies that slow production lines or reduce patient access; targeted relocation incentives can make local job offers more competitive against urban labor markets. For Scott County, attracting educators and legal or accounting professionals could ease staffing pressures in schools, clinics and small businesses, supporting service continuity for residents.

Economically, relocation incentives have direct and indirect effects. Directly, subsidies lower the upfront cost for incoming workers and reduce friction for employers recruiting from outside the region. Indirectly, new residents increase household demand for housing, retail and local services, potentially expanding Morgan County and Scott County tax bases over time. JREDC positions Make My Move as part of a broader strategy to build a stable pipeline of talent for priority industries rather than a one-off hiring subsidy.

Policy considerations include program targeting and accountability. Eligibility rules such as minimum salary thresholds aim to attract middle- and higher-wage jobs, but program managers must track outcomes like retention beyond the residency requirement and net new job creation to justify public-private coordination. Employer and partner coordination described by JREDC will be key to matching incentives to genuine labor shortages and avoiding displacement of local applicants.

For residents, the program could mean faster hiring for specialized roles and expanded services as firms fill critical positions. For employers, Make My Move offers a lever to compete with larger labor markets without substantially raising base wages. The next steps for Morgan County and Scott County will be monitoring enrollment, measuring whether incentive recipients remain in the community after required residency periods, and aligning the program with broader workforce development efforts to ensure long-term gains for the local economy.