Maine Wants to Reward You for Moving There

Photo by Ilirjan Rrumbullaku on Flickr/Creative Commons

“What if I lived here?” is a dreamy thought that pops into the heads of vacationers everywhere. But if your summer vacation plans include quality time in the great state of Maine, that question should be asked in all seriousness.

A new program in Maine called “Visit For a Week, Stay for a Lifetime” wants you to do just that. More than a dozen companies in the Pine Tree State have joined together and agreed to offer reimbursements for vacation expenses to visitors who end up deciding that Vacationland feels like home. The dollar amounts on reimbursements are up to the individual employers, but the program is intended to draw talented folks to quickly-growing companies in the state.

Ed McKersie, president of Portland-based recruiting firm Pro Search, launched the initiative under a program called “Live + Work in Maine” earlier this year. In an interview with Condé Nast Traveler, he explained there aren’t enough locals to do certain jobs.

“We’ve got a shortage of information tech workers. Doctors and nurses are in short supply, as they are nationally,” he said. “This program is designed to attract people who are hard to recruit.”

Employers ranging from hospitals to farms have listed jobs on the Visit For a Week, Stay for a Lifetime website. Garmin, Wayfair, and other companies boast open positions across a variety of departments. Each company has a profile that also indicates if entry-level positions or internships are available.

Last year, the University of Maine offered out-of-state students the chance to pay the in-state tuition prices of their state’s flagship school. Students from Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania entering college in Fall 2016 were eligible to participate in the program, called the Flagship Match Program.

Maine seems to really be marketing itself to prospective residents—but why should it have to? The state has a jaw-dropping coastline, adorable small cities, and it’s brimming with unspoiled natural beauty. If a lighthouse’s paint job is the worst part of the summer, life up north probably isn’t too bad.