Discover Southwest Michigan
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I have to do to qualify for relocation incentives?
To qualify for relocation incentives, participants must:
- Be relocating from outside the state of Michigan
- Secure a job earning at least $40,000 from an employer located in Berrien, Cass, or Van Buren County
- Secure housing in Berrien, Cass, or Van Buren County.
Do only employers on the Discover Southwest Michigan website qualify for the program?
The jobs listed on our website are with reputable employers who are frequently hiring, but they are not the only positions that qualify. Any job located in Berrien, Cass, or Van Buren County earning at least $40,000 a year (roughly $19 an hour if you are working full time) qualifies for the program. You are welcome to find jobs on other platforms including Indeed, LinkedIn, or directly through company sites.
Which communities are eligible?
For our program, we define Southwest Michigan as Berrien, Cass, and Van Buren Counties. This includes the following communities:
Berrien County
Baroda, Buchanan, Coloma, Eau Claire, Benton Harbor, Berrien Springs, Galien, New Buffalo, Niles, Bridgman, Sawyer, St. Joseph, Stevensville, Three Oaks, Union Pier, Watervliet
Cass County
Cassopolis, Dowagiac, Edwardsburg, Marcelus, Vandalia
Van Buren County
Bloomingdale, Breedsville, Covert, Decatur, Gobles, Hartford, Lawrence, Lawton, Mattawan, Paw Paw, South Haven
What financial support does Discover Southwest Michigan offer participants?
Discover Southwest Michigan offers two different forms of financial assistance to participants:
- $5,000 of downpayment assistance for first time homebuyers
- $2,500 in rental assistance
Downpayment assistance is structured as a no-interest lien that is forgiven after a period of three years, paid directly to the lender at closing. Rental assistance is structured as $200 a month toward rent, paid directly to the property owner or property management company.
Financial assistance is paid directly to participants.
Discover Southwest Michigan does not cover:
- Application fees for rental properties
- Security deposit
- Home inspections
- Early termination of existing lease
Can Discover Southwest Michigan help me find employment?
Discover Southwest Michigan partners with Express Employment and the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber to help match candidates with open positions in the community that align with their skillsets. Hiring decisions are ultimately made by individual employers, and Discover Southwest Michigan does not guarantee there will be a position for every candidate.
Participants interested in receiving assistance finding employment are welcome to send an updated resume to Molly McFadden, Program Manager mmcfadden@smrchamber.com
Will Discover Southwest Michigan provide housing?
The Discover team is happy to help connect participants with local realtors, lenders, and lists of available rental properties, but Discover Southwest Michigan does not provide participants with housing.
Decisions regarding rental applications and mortgage approvals are ultimately made by property management companies and lenders, respectively, and participants may be denied due to issues regarding credit or rental history.
Book a tour with us
Fill out our short questionnaire, and our team will contact you in a couple days to discuss the details.
