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Discover Southwest Michigan: get paid to move to Berrien, Cass and Van Buren counties

Berrien, Cass and Van Buren counties, Michigan offers $5,000 cash. Status: taking applications.

$5,000CashAs published by the program$5,000 down payment assistance for first-time buyers or $2,500 rental assistance; $11,000 total package

Taking applicationsOpen when we checked on October 30, 2026Apply on the official site

Who it's for: People taking a local job
What you commit to: Stay 12 months, Income $40,000+
Visit before you move: Not mentioned
How we checked: News report

By Sol Lakein, founder of Slower Sundays.Checked October 30, 2026.How we check programs

$11,000Total valueCash plus perks
$409,450Typical home for saleMetro

Who qualifies

A remote job is not required
A track for people who take a local job
Household income of at least $40,000
Staying at least 12 months

In the program's words

Must live outside Michigan and take a full-time job in Berrien, Cass or Van Buren County paying at least $40,000; remote, gig and self-employed workers are ineligible; live in the area at least one year.

Perks: Personal community tour; free Lake Michigan College tuition for eligible students; school enrollment help; career support for a partner

Run by: Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber / Discover Southwest Michigan; Michigan Growth Office (Make MI Home)

Read the official rules and apply

Confirmed by a 2025 or 2026 news report; the program has no current official page we could read. Programs change often: confirm the amount and deadline with the program before you plan a move.

Is it worth it?

The grant is the headline. The bigger number is usually what you stop paying every month.

Buying a home$21,930 a year less
The typical home in the Southwest Michigan metro costs $409,450, against $742,000 in New York. That's about $21,930 a year less on the mortgage^1,2.
Renting instead$1,063 a month
A 2-bedroom runs $1,063 a month in Southwest Michigan, against $1,997 in New York, utilities included³.
Program cash$5,000
The program adds $5,000 in cash, $11,000 in total value.
Same lifestyle, smaller salary$123,091
A $150,000 New York salary buys the same as $123,091 in Southwest Michigan⁴.

Full cost of living in Southwest Michigan

Is it worth it?

The grant is the headline. The bigger number is usually what you stop paying every month.

Buying a home$21,930 a year less
The typical home in the Southwest Michigan metro costs $409,450, against $742,000 in New York. That's about $21,930 a year less on the mortgage^1,2.
Renting instead$1,063 a month
A 2-bedroom runs $1,063 a month in Southwest Michigan, against $1,997 in New York, utilities included³.
Program cash$5,000
The program adds $5,000 in cash, $11,000 in total value.
Same lifestyle, smaller salary$123,091
A $150,000 New York salary buys the same as $123,091 in Southwest Michigan⁴.

Full cost of living in Southwest Michigan

Living in Southwest Michigan

Home values, rent, local jobs, things to do and remote jobs you can bring: our guide to moving to Southwest Michigan.

Other Michigan programs

4 programs in Michigan were active when we checked on October 30, 2026.

Get paid to move to Michigan: every program

Programs in other states

Questions people ask

How much does Discover Southwest Michigan pay?

$5,000 cash: $5,000 down payment assistance for first-time buyers or $2,500 rental assistance; $11,000 total package. Source: https://www.makemymove.com/get-paid/southwest-michigan-jobs (accessed 2026-10-30; site (C) 2026; Bridge Michigan 2025-09-26).

Who can apply to Discover Southwest Michigan?

Is Discover Southwest Michigan still open?

Open when we checked on October 30, 2026. MakeMyMove listing shows 'Recruiting Now' and 'Apply Now' (site (C) 2026, accessed 2026-10-30). Bridge Michigan 2025-09-26: applications opened spring 2025, 700+ applicants, leaders fundraising to continue past the one-year state pilot. Confirm with the program before you plan a move.

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Notes on the numbers

1Home prices: the typical home is the median listing price, Realtor.com via FRED, Southwest Michigan metro.
2Mortgage: Principal and interest on the median listed home with 20% down, 30-year fixed at 7.32% (Freddie Mac 30-year fixed average, week of October 22, 2026). Excludes taxes, insurance and HOA. Rate source
3Rent: Census ACS 2025 1-year, median gross rent for 2-bedroom units (rent plus utilities). Census table
4Everyday prices and the matching salary: BEA regional price parities, 2024.

Sources for this page

$5,000 cashTaking applications · Berrien, Cass and Van Buren counties

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