- Ashley Eklin moved from Chicago to West Virginia after an MS diagnosis, participating in Ascend West Virginia's relocation program without ever visiting the state first.
- The program offers $12,000 over two years, free outdoor recreation, coworking spaces, and has a 96% retention rate among participants.
- Ascend West Virginia is privately funded by the Wing 2 Wing Foundation, not taxpayer money, and has received over 88,000 applications.
- Similar programs like Tulsa Remote and others in various states emerged during COVID, but some have ended due to limited funding.
- The economic impact of Ascend West Virginia is estimated at $750 million, with participants averaging $100,000 income, nearly three times the state's per capita.