Pittsburgh Wants To Pay You $100K To Move There

FADE IN: A 50-yr-old beatnick heads west from New York City, hobo stick slung over shoulder, humming Tom Petty's "Last Dance With Mary Jane" while the lyrics run through his head. "Well, I don't know, but I've been told, You never slow down, you never grow old. I'm tired of screwin' up, tired of going down, Tired of myself, tired of this town." It's looking bleak. Enter: Pittsburgh!

Are you an older creative struggling to make rent in New York City? Are you tired of those kids in Williamsburg you read about and also James Franco getting all the attention from the art world? Are you ready to retire to a river city? Pittsburgh might be willing to embrace you with open arms and a cool $100,000 cash.

The city is seeking folks over 45 (they call this demographic "Experienced Dreamers") who still want to "realize [their] dream." With that in mind, they're offering $100K to the right person, and all you have to do is... move to Pittsburgh. Actually, Pittsburgh is pretty great, and as Brokelyn points out, the unemployment rate is consistently below the national average and the beer is really cheap. Leaving the only real catch to be: half of the money you receive if you win has to go to charity. So, would you move to Pittsburgh for... $50,000?

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Carlson in Arts & Entertainment on October 31, 2011 4:27 PM

Comments [rss]

LICnative

It isn't called the "Venice of Pa." for nothing!

chee1rs

"Experienced Dreamers " = OWS slackers

mikecherepko

Pittsburgh is well known as the most beautiful city in North America, if not the world. It is known as that to such an extent that it's actually more common to see that description capitalized as more of a title than a description. The Most Beautiful City in North America If Not the World.

Google the phrase. Some people say Vancouver, but most say Pittsburgh.

speakeasies

Pittsburgh is way underrated, and I doubt that most people who bash on it have spent any time there. Yeah, it's little, but most U.S. cities are.

kevd

All the sports teams are the SAME colors!
Yellow and Black.
So you're 50,000 goes further, since a jersey for any 1 professional sports team works for the other 2! So clever, so thrifty!

mikecherepko

and that jersey is workplace appropriate, further saving you on your clothing budget.

robingee

Pittsburgh is a great city; industrial and artsy at the same time. Strong sports connection for those into that. The annual Furry Convention. Andy Warhol museum. Just the right amount of weird. I loved it.

jibbly

You know it really is a nice little city, but the key word is "little". I was there for 2 nights on a tour once and it felt like I had seen half the city by the time I left. Surprisingly nice art scene though and not as decrepit as Cleveland.

robingee

I think, being used to NYC, anything seems little. No matter what city I visit, I feel like I know my way around in one day. And that's both comforting and potentially boring.

theevilerone

They'd need to add a couple more zero's to convince me that Pittsburgh was a good idea.

SeasTooFarToReach

I would accept 100K to leave NYC. No strings attached though! I like it here but my ties are not that strong.

Trustafarian

and after taxes on that 50k you're left with maybe enough to get a car, hire movers/buy new furniture and move into a new apartment.

CurmudgeonNYC

And have just enough to purchase a rope to hang yourself with after you realize that you now live in Pittsburgh and no one wants to visit you.