Embrace Remote Workers

COVID-19 had a number of wide-ranging impacts on the world. One of the biggest long-term impacts is on the mobility of our workforce. We were quickly forced to figure out which jobs could be remote as the virus pushed many of us to work from home. Businesses quickly figured this out and realized significant cost savings could be had at the same time. With less demand for office space, overhead costs could come down as businesses downsized their physical presence.

For many of the workers in the new remote working world, they found a new freedom never seen before. As long as they had a reliable internet connection, they could work from essentially anywhere. No longer were they confined to multi-hour daily commutes. Now they were able to work from home and be with their families more throughout the day.

Yet others found this new-found freedom as a way to get away from the city entirely. Quite a few have packed up their belongings into an RV and have embodied the word “remote” as mobile data connections have provided the ability to travel on a daily basis, while still being able to work a viable job.

Not Just a COVID Trend

The remote working trend isn’t dying off as we move further and further away from COVID. According to Notta, 16% of companies are fully remote. Additionally, since 2021, the number of workers choosing to work remotely increased by 24%.

The desire is there amongst the workers as well. This same report states that 83% of the global workforce considers hybrid work as “ideal”. 

Broadband Internet – Not Just for Commercial Areas

One of the biggest problems facing rural communities in this remote new world is the lack of viable high-speed internet availability. While some communities are fortunate enough to have fiber connections running through their commercial areas, others don’t have high-speed internet at all.

Yet access to high-speed internet needs to be everywhere in your community. This especially includes the residential areas. If you want to lure remote workers to settle in your community, this is a must. Zoom meetings over a 5MB internet connection are simply not going to go well. Especially with a growing family under the same roof.

Promote the Creation of Coworking Spaces

Coworking spaces are growing in popularity. There are even a few chain businesses creating a series of coworking sites in multiple cities throughout the United States. But it is also a concept that is bleeding into smaller Midwestern communities. Codefi in Cape Girardeau, Missouri is an excellent example of the success of coworking in rural towns.

So start looking for potential alternative workspaces in your community. Whether in an existing business, an empty storefront, a hotel, or the public library.

Offer Incentives

Some communities are starting to offer incentives to remote workers. Communities are willing to offer incentives to draw in remote workers rather than pay the massive figures that corporations are demanding to come to town.

Larger cities like Tulsa, Oklahoma, have already implemented an incentive program for remote workers. In the first three years of the Tulsa Remote program, they believe that at least 1,200 residents have moved to the community due to the incentive program.

But smaller, rural communities are also latching on to this idea. Communities like Greensburg, Indiana, are experimenting with their own programs. Greensburg’s MakeMyMove program provides a $5,000 relocation incentive, a free year of YMCA membership, a free year at Studebaker Studio Coworking, gift cards at the local farmers’ market, and the first year of membership with Grandparents on Demand amongst other offerings. Grandparents on Demand you ask? It’s a program that allows older couples to step in to act as grandparents at events or event babysit.

RV Parking

Parking for recreational vehicles is one aspect that is often overlooked by communities looking to lure in remote workers. A growing portion of the remote workforce is mobile. They are jumping in RVs and setting off for adventure in their off hours, setting up their workspace wherever the road takes them.

Without viable RV parking, how can these travelers really experience your town? Due to their large size, RVs aren’t the easiest vehicles to find parking for. Without set-aside parking available for RVs, your community can quickly turn into a drive-through community as they move down the road to a town more welcoming to their vehicle size.

Although in its simplest form, an RV parking area is enough for short-term visits. But some of these remote workers may stay overnight, or even a few days in a town that draws their interest. Towns like Regent, North Dakota, that offer RV pads for tourists and remote workers benefit from the overnight visits.

The on-the-road experience may not last long for RV-based remote workers. So making an impression in the short time you have them in town can pay dividends when they sell the RV and decide to settle down in the community of their liking.

Wayfinding

First impressions are important when selling a home and selling people on your community is no different. Trusting Google Maps doesn’t always work, especially when the “navigator” in your car is flipping between TikToks and the maps. Having effective wayfinding through town not only gets people to where they want to go but informs visitors of other destinations throughout town.

Making it easy to get around in an informative and eye-catching manner jump-starts that relationship with those who are visiting. The increased ease of getting around and finding the destinations you want helps to create comfort for those visiting and helps to increase chances for a return visit. That, or a long-term residency.

Focus Community Marketing with Remote Workers in Mind

There are thousands of cities, towns, and villages throughout the country for remote workers to choose from. If you don’t make your community stand out to remote workers they aren’t that likely to find your community as a destination. Targeted marketing to lure remote workers increases your chances of being seen by those in search of a landing spot.

In addition to the traditional marketing of amenities, the efforts should include the aforementioned remote worker-oriented community enhancements. But marketing efforts should also highlight favorable cost of living differences. To get paid the salaries offered by a job rooted in Los Angeles, but to live in small-town America offers a significant margin when considering the difference in cost of living.

Start Now

Put down that TV remote and start conceiving ways to get remote workers in your community. Take advantage of this growing sector of employment.