West Virginia's innovative program to attract remote workers, Ascend West Virginia, has expanded to a fifth location: the picturesque New River Gorge region, home to the nation's newest national park. This area, featuring the iconic New River Gorge Bridge, is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts.

The program offers a compelling incentive package for successful applicants, including a $12,000 cash award and complimentary access to a range of outdoor activities. Participants can enjoy whitewater rafting, golfing, rock climbing, horseback riding, skiing, and ziplining, with the total relocation package exceeding $20,000 in value.

Ascend West Virginia has already proven successful, welcoming nearly 300 remote workers with an impressive 98% retention rate. The program aims to attract over 1,000 remote workers to the state within the next six years, bolstering its population and economy.

In addition to the New River Gorge region, the program is open to applicants interested in four other West Virginia locations: Morgantown, the Greenbrier Valley, the Elkins area, and the Eastern Panhandle. This diverse range of options caters to various preferences and lifestyles.

West Virginia experienced a significant population decline between 2010 and 2020, losing a larger percentage of residents than any other state. The Ascend West Virginia program is part of a broader effort to reverse this trend by highlighting the state's natural beauty and appealing to remote workers seeking a high quality of life.

The program, funded by a $25 million gift to West Virginia University from program founder and current Marshall University President Brad D. Smith and his wife, Alys, has received over 20,000 applications since its inception. This enthusiastic response underscores the growing interest in West Virginia as a desirable place to live and work.

The New River Gorge bridge spans across the New River, April 6, 2021, outside of Fayetteville, West Virginia.  (Photo by Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis via Getty Images)