Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, has launched a talent attraction initiative through its MakeMyMove program, offering eligible newcomers up to $9,500 in incentives, including a $5,500 cash stipend and memberships and local experience packages worth about $4,000. The ef
By the time you’re packing boxes, the question isn’t just where you’re going—it’s whether the move will actually work out. For some people considering a relocation to Wisconsin, Fond du Lac wants to make that decision easier.
The city. home to about 44. 000 residents on the southern shore of Lake Winnebago. has launched a talent attraction initiative that offers eligible newcomers up to $9. 500 in incentives. The program—part of MakeMyMove—builds relocation packages around cash plus local perks. with the goal of attracting workers and families to communities that are struggling to fill jobs.
Local leaders describe it as a response to workforce shortages, with an emphasis on bringing in younger residents who can help stabilize the region’s labor needs.
The incentives are split into two parts: a $5,500 cash relocation stipend and a package of local experiences and memberships valued at roughly $4,000. The list is designed to feel less like a coupon book and more like a fast track into local life.
Included are memberships to the Fond du Lac Family YMCA. golf benefits. VIP access to arts and cultural attractions. and baseball experiences with the FDL Dock Spiders. New residents can also get library passes and dining-related experiences. Other perks are geared toward local agriculture, family activities, and community events.
Fond du Lac says it’s the first Wisconsin community to participate in the MakeMyMove platform. The initiative places it alongside other U.S. cities that have used similar relocation packages to attract residents.
Eligibility requirements are specific. According to MakeMyMove. applicants must be at least 18 years old and currently live outside Wisconsin. with an annual household income of at least $55. 000. Those approved must relocate their primary residence to Fond du Lac County and commit to living there for at least one year.
Employment rules vary by pathway. People applying through the local worker program must secure full-time employment in Fond du Lac County. Remote workers can apply through the remote-work track, while local employment opportunities are available through a separate relocation pathway.
Local coordinators are part of the pitch as well: they help approved participants navigate the moving process and connect with community resources after arrival.
The city’s incentive program is also tied to broader efforts underway in the region. Envision Greater Fond du Lac. Fond du Lac County. and Fond du Lac County Capital Resources have operated a separate worker relocation incentive program aimed at helping local employers recruit talent from outside the region.
Officials say workforce challenges have been intensified by an aging population and upcoming retirements. creating a need to attract new workers and families to the county. Alongside the money and memberships. Fond du Lac is emphasizing what it says makes the area livable year-round—especially its access to Lake Winnebago.
Residents often refer to the city as “Fondy,” and they point to activities that don’t fade with the seasons: fishing, sailing, windsurfing, ice skating, and the annual Sturgeon Spectacular winter festival.
Taken together. the program’s structure is straightforward: cash to move. memberships and outings to settle in. and a requirement to stay at least a year to justify the investment. It’s an approach built to align incentives with a labor-market problem that has been tightening for reasons the city says are demographic and persistent.
Applications are available through the MakeMyMove platform. Interested applicants can review eligibility requirements and submit relocation requests there. Community representatives then work with selected applicants to verify qualifications and assist with the transition to Fond du Lac.
Reporter Anthony Thompson can be reached at ajthompson@usatodayco.com, or on X @athompsonUSAT.
Fond du Lac MakeMyMove relocation incentive workforce shortages Wisconsin city Lake Winnebago YMCA membership Dock Spiders talent attraction program