Neodesha, a small Kansas town, is combating a significant population decline caused by the closure of its main oil refinery in 1971. Mayor Devin Johnson highlights the town's struggle as it lost half its population overnight. To revitalize, Neodesha is launching a relocation initiative in partnership with MakeMyMove, offering financial perks like tax exemptions and student loan relief to attract new families. Community leader Ben Cutler is expanding scholarship opportunities to support local students. Since launching in 2024, the town has attracted over 30 new residents and is improving local infrastructure to support growth.
"The thing with small communities is, if you are not growing, you are dying." - Mayor Devin Johnson.
"We've awarded over $1 million in scholarships, and I feel like we are helping the community and making some real progress," said Ben Cutler.
"One of my key focuses was helping build the community, to help in any way I could to make Neodesha a more attractive community for young families," Ben Cutler.
"The gambit's paying off fast - since launching in 2024, more than 30 newcomers are already in the pipeline," says Evan Hock.
#community-development #population-decline #relocation-incentives #rural-revitalization #scholarships
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