WEST LAFAYETTE— Since May 2021, 28 people have taken part in the "Work From Purdue" (WFP) stipend program which offers cash stipends or dining credits to remote workers who move to the Discovery Park District at Purdue.
According to Purdue, this program "...invites and incentivizes remote workers to move to Discovery Park District at Purdue, a live/work community that unites the collaborative, invigorating energy of a campus with the flexibility of remote work."
Gwendolyn Price, founder and CEO of a tech startup company who moved to West Lafayette in January, spoke on behalf of the positives she has experienced from the WFP program.
“Relocation through the Work From Purdue program has been nothing but positive and rewarding,” Price said. "The campus is beautiful, my workspace is close to home and they keep me informed about events in the community. I’ve been to a football game, attended professional and social dinners, seen lectures. I've even attended a barbeque at President Mitch Daniels’ campus home.”
Not every West Lafayette citizen approves of this program. Dr. David Sanders, a member of the West Lafayette City Council, voiced his apprehension at Monday night's City Council meeting.
"...I'm quite concerned," Sanders said earlier this week, "about paying people to relocate to West Lafayette to do remote work. And so I'm trying to understand how that originated and why exactly we're doing that...I'm philosophically opposed to paying people to come here. And especially since we're paying people who we expect to have high incomes.
"...I would think that West Lafayette can attract people on its own merits. Right? I think that the idea that we need to attract people on the basis of providing them some stipend is, it's actually, I think, detrimental to the image of West Lafayette."
Erin Easter, director of development for West Lafayette, responded to Sanders' concerns at the same meeting.
"...the Indiana Economic Development Corporation and the Purdue Research Foundation are also participating in (the 'Work from Home' program)," Easter said. "IEDC to the tune of $500,000 and I believe PRF may be... $250,000. Compared to our $50,000, and it's a very small stipend on our part of things.
"...The partnership is mainly for the Discovery Park District. There are some small instances where we have those who would like to relocate to this community but for whatever reason weren't able to find the housing that met their needs in the Discovery Park District or wanted to live in a different neighborhood in West Lafayette. And that small stipend is to (ensure) that attraction piece for potential new residents."
Some of the requirements to be eligible for the WFP program include: working remotely full time; currently an out-of-state resident; committing to live in West Lafayette for one year and being approved and selected by PRF. Full requirements and applications are available here.
Incentive stipends will depend where applicants choose to live in West Lafayette, according to Purdue. Relocation packages can include up to $4,000 in cash stipends, $1,000 in dining credits at the PMU's Atlas Family Marketplace among other housing discounts and benefits such as free public transportation and discounted gym memberships.
“With pandemic-induced remote work giving people more freedom and control over where they can do their jobs," David Broecker, chief innovation and collaboration officer at PRF said, "we’ve created a community to welcome newly mobile talent to the Purdue campus, where we aim to provide life-enhancing amenities and boundless opportunities for professional success."
WFP is being directed by PRF and administered by MakeMyMove, according to Purdue. MMM is an Indianapolis-based marketing platform for communities and was cofounded by Evan Hock and Bill Oesterle.
Since May 2021, 28 people have relocated to West Lafayette as part of MMM's pilot and case study, according to Purdue.
“Building off of our successful pilot last year, we are thrilled to scale the program and offer more remote workers the opportunity to immerse themselves in the legendary Boilermaker community,” Hock said. “Emerging as a leader in remote worker recruitment, this affordable, Midwest tech hub is a must-see for builders of all types."
Ethan Braden, executive vice president and chief marketing and communications officer for Purdue University and Purdue University Global, also spoke on behalf of what WFP has been doing for its new residents.
“This program welcomes participants from day one with all of the advantages and experiences that Purdue is known for: top notch facilities for learning, researching, dining and exercising; Big Ten athletics; high-quality, low-cost living; a pervading spirit of innovation and a welcoming Boilermaker community powered by some of the smartest students, faculty and researchers in the world," Braden said.