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Elkins added to Ascend program

ELKINS — One of the nation’s premier talent attraction and retention programs added the greater Elkins community Tuesday as its fourth West Virginia destination where out-of-state workers can apply to live.

Ascend, which offers more than $20,000 in incentives to those wishing to relocate and make West Virginia their new home, made the announcement via a Zoom meeting Tuesday afternoon,, and will immediately begin accepting applications for the Elkins area.

Applicants who are chosen for the remote worker program will receive $12,000, along with free passes to some of the state’s top outdoor destinations, which include areas of whitewater rafting, golf, rock climbing, horseback riding, skiing and more.

Brad D. Smith, the program’s founder and current president of Marshall University, said the Elkins area was chosen because of everything it has to offer to someone wishing to relocate to the state, including its close proximity to the Monongahela National Forest, as well as two of the state’s top ski resorts.

“When we launched the program just over a year ago, no one could have predicted its immense success,” said Smith. “We have recruited a tremendous amount of talent to our mountains, and the applications continue to roll in. We are thrilled to be expanding the program to a fourth location for those seeking a better work-life balance.”

Elkins Mayor Jerry Marco took part in the Zoom meeting and said he was thrilled that Elkins was chosen.

“I’m thrilled for the city of Elkins and the greater Elkins area to join the Ascend family,” said Marco. “The opportunities that this presents for us and to be able to share our little piece of heaven we have here is just paramount. We couldn’t be more honored to be of the Ascend family.”

Randolph County Development Authority Executive Director Robbie Morris echoed the sentiments of Marco, saying that the Elkins area is proud to be the newest member of Ascend.

“I could not be more thrilled and it’s just phenomenal that the greater Elkins area gets to become a part of the premier talent attraction program in the country,” said Morris. “Elkins and this entire region has a tremendous amount to offer for remote workers, families, and a wide array of businesses and industry.

“It’s just a phenomenal place to live and to have a family. We could not be more proud than to be a part of Ascend and we look forward to welcoming new residents.”

The Morgantown area, the Greenbrier Valley and the Eastern Panhandle close to Washington D.C. are the other three areas of the state where the program is available and accepting applications. There have been more than 20,000 applicants to the program, with the Morgantown area accepting the most new residents with 87.

Ascend hopes to bring in more than 1,000 new remote workers from across the country in the next five years.

Starting at $3.92/week.

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