Make My Move pitches state-funded recruitment program to Riley County commissioners

Ben Lehi, a representative of Make My Move, presented the company’s relocation-marketing proposal to the Riley County Commission at its June 2 meeting in the County Commission Chamber. Lehi said the firm would use an online marketplace and targeted marketing to recruit households from out of state and connect them to local employers and housing.

The pitch matters to the county because the program aims to increase population, household spending and local tax revenue by bringing 20 households to the region over 12 months, Lehi said. He described a state treasurer–administered grant that lets communities draw up to $250,000 on an 80/20 state/local split to pay for program administration, marketing and relocation incentives.

Lehi said Make My Move focuses on “conversion marketing” — finding people actively looking to move and guiding them through a vetting and fulfillment process. He described a proposed pilot that targets 20 households, includes a benefits/incentive package, and uses playbooks for local follow‑up. “We are conversion marketers,” Lehi said, and the platform will route applicants to a community dashboard so local partners can document outcomes and measure economic impact.

On costs and timing, Lehi said communities would apply for the state grant through a portal the treasurer’s office plans to open in mid‑to‑late June. He said state awards would likely be made in July and that a successful award would allow a community to go live in August. He described a vendor payment structure of roughly 60% up front and 40% on delivery and said community outlays would be staged so incentive dollars are paid only as households move and meet retention milestones. As an example of the incentive structure, Lehi described a $5,000 relocation stipend paid in two parts: half on arrival and the remainder in year two if the household remains in the county.

Commissioners asked about rural targeting, housing availability, and how the program would coordinate with smaller communities. Lehi said the program can be configured either for a single county or for a regional “Flint Hills” approach that allows multiple towns to participate, and he described working with local partners (chambers, realtors and civic volunteers) to build housing lists and local welcome plans. He also said eligibility for the grant requires that applicants come from outside Kansas and either bring a job or secure one that pays at least $55,000.

Commissioners pressed on two practical concerns: whether rural towns would have sufficient housing and whether the county would have to front money while waiting for state payment tranches. Lehi responded that the state pays awards in two tranches and that Make My Move normally spends some vendor funds before the second tranche arrives; he said his company typically takes on up‑front work and asks for about 60% of its fee at program start and the remainder later. He also said portions of incentive payments are withheld until retention targets are met, reducing risk to local budgets.

Lehi requested a conditional contract to allow Make My Move to apply for grant funds on the county’s behalf; he said the contract would be contingent on receiving state funds. Commissioners did not adopt a contract at the meeting. Several commissioners said they wanted more time to consult rural community leaders about housing and local incentives before committing county funds.

Lehi said he would follow up with local contacts and that Commissioner Ford had already been a point of contact in earlier discussions. The presentation closed without a formal vote, and the commission left next steps to staff and commissioners.

Ending: Commissioners asked Make My Move to continue outreach to rural communities and to return with a refined plan and timing once the treasurer’s portal and award schedule are confirmed.