USTATION co-founder Glen Hicks. Image: Cherise Letson/Huddle Today
The Saint John Region Chamber of Commerce is partnering with USTATION and the provincial government on a pilot program that aims to attract workers with jobs to the region.
The program, named “Workcation,” offers workers with remote jobs to experience living in Saint John with the hopes of convincing them to stay in the area.
“The pandemic has shown everyone how vulnerable we are,” said David Duplisea, CEO of the Chamber. “This is the perfect time for us to get out there. The whole province itself is a wonderful attraction for people trying to get out of the large cities and into the smaller cities that have a somewhat urban lifestyle. We play that card very well in terms of the work-life balance that you can have here in the Saint John region.”
“Workcation” offers a tailored lived experience to participants based on their individual tastes and lifestyles. The program hopes to attract 20 individuals or families to participate in the first year.
“If they like sailing, we partner them with the yacht clubs for example. If they like mountain climbing, rock climbing, whatever their personal experience is for their work-life balance, we customize that visit to Saint John, working with property developers, hotels and things for their stay and having a true experience,” said Duplisea.
The program is divided into two cohorts – one which fully subsidizes the participants’ “workcation”, while the other requires participants to pay. Both cohorts will have a tailored experience in their initial stay in Saint John, which Duplisea says will last 4-6 weeks.
The province has committed $170,000 per year to the pilot project over the first two years, with room to adjust based on whether the pilot project is successful.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has caused great disruption for the business community but has also shown us that many people have the ability to work remotely,” said Trevor Holder, Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour Minister, in a release. “This innovative pilot program will present such people with options they may not have considered otherwise, helping to grow the Saint John region and allowing these people a better work-life balance.”
Workcation is currently seeking an Executive Director who will help run the project and recruit participants through social media marketing and other forms of outreach.
USTATION serves as a partner on the project. Co-Founder & CEO Glen Hicks says it was an idea they brought forth to the Chamber more than a year ago.
“Seeing the work anywhere trend, we thought that if people can work anywhere, why wouldn’t you want to live here in the Maritimes?” said Hicks.
USTATION, whose services include a co-working space, will also host people seeking a workspace during their “Workcation.”
“If people experience what it’s like to live here, they’ll want to stay,” said Hicks. “We know once you try it, you won’t want to leave.”
Both Duplisea and Hicks are aware of the competition to recruit remote workers to their communities, citing the example of Tucson, Arizona, which offers approximately $7,500 in incentives for remote workers to live in their city.
However, they are both confident the program will attract participants from across the country.
“If you take a look at our region alone, our live, work, play balance that we have here in our region is second to none,” said Duplisea. “If we can get them here to experience what it’s like to live in this region in a pandemic or not, this is the place to go.”
Liam Floyd is a reporter for Huddle, an Acadia Broadcasting content partner.
