After seeing an estimated 20:1 return on its investment to recruit workers, Economic Development Corp. of Wayne County will spend another $100,000 on the Make My Move program.
Ryan Pike, senior sales executive for MMM, told EDC’s board that the 50 households MMM attracted over the past approximately four years generate an estimated total new annual economic output of $4.2 million, according to IMPLAN economic modeling software. They also contribute $518,600 in annual state and local taxes.
Wayne County has invested $201,000 in the program to date, so every $1 invested has yielded $20.89 in new annual economic output, Pike said.
EDC’s board approved the new $100,000 funding at its Sept. 14 meeting, and county commissioners approved it Sept. 16.
Indiana EDC is to contribute a $160,000 match, with $80,000 of that coming after Wayne County successfully recruits 13 of the 25 new movers.
Incoming movers have an average household income of $118,000, which is higher than Wayne County’s 2024 median income of $71,000, according to Indiana government statistics.
Wayne County’s program has yielded 5,500 applications, 1.8 million online impressions and 11,900 likes. Pike said that was a great investment for that many impressions.
Indiana Economic Development Corp. initially offered a state match to solely recruit remote workers, but later expanded the opportunity to in-person employment.
Wayne County’s number of applicants is significantly higher than the number of movers who commit. Some focus on a region and apply for multiple similar communities, such as Henry County and Muncie, while others don’t meet the current minimum annual salary requirement of $55,000 and are disqualified.
One recent Wayne County MMM campaign quickly recruited an additional 20 movers for in-person professional and administrative positions, at least some of which didn’t have local applicants with the needed skill set, plus some remote workers. Pike credited the EDC staff’s efforts for much of the local success.
Wayne County currently offers a $5,000 cash incentive plus several benefits to help connect movers to the community.
MMM began in Indiana, but it has since expanded to Kentucky and Kansas, and those states now cover 80% of costs. MMM has begun approaching Indiana legislators, hoping to request an increase in the state’s share, and pursuing potential ways for the program to pay for itself with revenues from previous movers.
EDC President Valerie Shaffer had recently suggested pausing MMM incentives because of concerns about a lack of available local housing while construction and renovation projects are taking place, and how much time EDC’s small team spends connecting with prospects, especially on housing.
However, Shaffer said commissioners were highly in favor of proceeding with so many movers in the pipeline awaiting additional incentives.
Shaffer hopes that new housing, such as 6Main apartments downtown becoming available soon, will reduce candidates’ housing concerns.
A version of this article will appear in the September 23 2026 print edition of the Western Wayne News.
