Shara Gaona didn’t know much about Topeka when the pandemic struck. But the remote-working United Airlines analyst, untethered from her Chicago office, decided to move to the Kansas capital and collect $10,000 in local government incentives. Topeka is on a growing list of locations—from Bemidji, Minn., to the state of West Virginia—dangling incentives to entice remote workers. Many companies are offering office-free jobs, and some workers are willing to relocate for cash, cheaper housing or other perks. “I’ve had a lot of people ask me, ‘What the hell are you doing in Topeka?’ ” Ms. Gaona said. “Well, they’re giving me $10,000.” The 41-year-old sold her Chicago condo early this year, and she and her fiancé, Matt Gordon, are renovating a house in Topeka they plan to move to soon. The couple, who had office-based jobs at United Airlines Holdings Inc. before the pandemic, can continue working remotely, Ms. Gaona said.
Source: Wall Street Journal

Dodge City Commissioners passed a resolution in support of extending the Amtrak rail system through the Southwest Chief line with the Heartland Flyer rail line which goes into Oklahoma and other parts of Kansas. According to city officials, the city supports the continuation of Amtrak passenger rail service along the Southwest Chief line, which operates between Chicago and Los Angeles. By approving the resolution, the city feels the Heartland Flyer extension complements the Southwest Chief line as it will likely increase passengers.
Source: Dodge Globe