Image: Mark Leger/Huddle file photo.
The community and business partners behind a program that’s looking to bring remote workers to Saint John says it’s seeing early signs of success.
Workcation, the remote worker attraction program, was launched back in January by the Saint John Region Chamber of Commerce, in collaboration with USTATION, Envision Saint John, Uptown Saint John, and the provincial government.
Since the program was announced, it has received 81 applications from remote workers across Canada. The program hoped to attract 20 individuals or families to participate in the first year.
Saint John Region Chamber of Commerce CEO David Duplisea says they received more applications than they initially expected. He said they have already secured 17 “top tier” applicants, meaning, applicants that fit all their criteria.
“Our goal was to have 20 people that have been vetted to our region and experience what it’s like here and work and we’re already at 17,” said Duplisea. “The overwhelming response was exciting and a little bit surprising. We knew there would be response and interest. We didn’t expect it to be so qualified initially.”
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The Workcation pilot program aims to attract workers with remote jobs to the region. It offers remote workers the experience of living in Saint John with the hopes of convincing them to stay in the area. The program offers a tailored lived experience to participants based on their individual tastes and lifestyles.
The program is divided into two cohorts: one which 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 will last four to six weeks.
Duplisea said the other surprising thing about the applicants so far was their ages. The original target was people between the ages of 25 and 35-years-old, but about 40 percent of applicants so far are between the ages of 35 and 45.
“We know the market is a little bit broader. We know what messages are resonating and we know what kinds of things people are looking for now,” said Duplisea. “It does allow us to tailor our offerings to try to increase the effectiveness of the program.”
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Right now Workcation program manager John Simon, is working to put together the tailored experience for successful applicants. Duplisea said the plan is to start having some of the remote workers arrive this summer, with others arriving next winter.
“Some of the groups of people expressed more desire for winter because they like skiing. There’s interest in trying some of the more organic sports like ice fishing and stuff like that we’re finding,” he said, “Some will be coming in the summer, some will be coming in the winter and we’re starting to define that now.”
Cherise Letson is the associate editor of Huddle, an Acadia Broadcasting content partner.
