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New Delhi: The <keyword id="20072894" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rural-economy" source="keywords">Rural economy</keyword> of <keyword id="19895063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="India" source="keywords">India</keyword> has emerged as a significant driver of <keyword id="19900794" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="economic-growth" source="keywords">economic growth</keyword>, outpacing urban areas largely due to increased <keyword id="20155204" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="government-spending" source="keywords">government spending</keyword> in the recent quarters, highlighted a report by <keyword id="20548750" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Anand-Rathi" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Anand Rathi" meta.hostid="153" meta.entityid="Anand Rathi">Anand Rathi</keyword>, a financial service company. "<keyword id="20109648" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rural-india" source="keywords">Rural India</keyword> continues to outpace urban areas in growth, largely due to a significant rise in government spending in rural regions in the last quarter," said the report. For the coming months, the report stated that the growth trend in the rural economy is expected to continue, although a moderation in growth may occur. It also added that the favourable monsoon conditions and improved sowing data are anticipated to sustain the upward trajectory in <keyword id="19931574" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rural-demand" source="keywords">rural demand</keyword>, providing a buffer against potential economic uncertainties. "We expect this growth to moderate following the elections, favourable monsoon conditions and improved sowing data should sustain the upward trend in rural demand". The report also highlighted that the government's ambitious capital expenditure plans, amounting to Rs 11.1 trillion, are expected to stimulate infrastructure development, further enhancing rural economic prospects The rural economy plays a crucial role in the development of the country because a majority of the population still resides in rural areas. As per the Economic Survey of 2022-2023 around 65 per cent of India's population lived in rural areas in 2021. The report also highlighted that India stands out among emerging economies due to its strong GDP growth. Last year, India grew by more than 8 per cent, and the <keyword id="19899808" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="RBI" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="RBI" meta.hostid="153" meta.entityid="RBI">RBI</keyword> expects a 7.2 per cent growth rate for FY25. The financial outlook is positive, with efforts to cut the fiscal deficit to 4.5 per cent. The report also noted that India's credit rating may improve because of the strong tax revenue and a large dividend from the RBI which will lead to a lower fiscal deficit than expected. "The fiscal outlook appears promising, with continued focus on reducing the fiscal deficit toward the 4.5 per cent target. Strong tax collections and a substantial RBI dividend may enable the fiscal deficit to come in lower than expected, which could potentially lead to an improved sovereign rating" said the report.

Rural economy is driving India's growth, Govt capex in infra will stimulate it: Anand Rathi report

Economists at the country's largest lender, SBI, today said they see India's Q2 real GDP growth slowing down further to 6.5% in the September quarter of this fiscal year. Amid concerns over the country's economic growth rate and whether it is slowing down, the analysts said they expect FY25 growth to come "closer to" 7%. SBI analysts join a long line of agencies like Fitch, ADB, IMF, Moody, World Bank, S&amp;P, and even RBI in forecasting India's GDP growth for FY25 in the range of 6.8% to 7.2% for FY25, driven by robust consumption and investment. SIP inflows have been at an all-time high, and so has QIP (qualified institutional placement) fundraising. As many as 71 companies raised Rs 88,678 crore this year through QIPs. Activity in Indian primary markets also remained robust, with 78 mainboard IPOs in 2024; this is a 111% rise from just 38 listings in FY23. Between April and June 2024, India's real GDP grew by 6.7%, the lowest growth seen in 15 quarters, pushing experts to believe that India is caught in a cycle of slowdown. "There is some incipient pressure evident on the domestic economy. Based on our analysis of 50 meaningful leading indicators (both consumption and demand-centric), a dip looks plausible across select cohorts of agriculture, industry, and services in Q2," the <keyword id="22337294" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="SBI-economists" source="keywords">SBI economists</keyword> added. Stating that they track 50 indicators to gauge economic activity, SBIs note said the proportion of indicators showing acceleration declined to 69% in Q2 FY25, as against 80% in Q2 FY24 and 78% in Q1 FY25. However, things might be changing now, given that rural demand has started looking up amidst muted urban demand. SBI also explained that the ongoing regulatory tightening on unsecured lending and roadblocks that are hindering rollover/refinancing of debt through unsecured credit are dismantling the unwarranted exuberance that had built up post-pandemic, especially in the urban areas. Madhu Lunawat, CIO &amp; Fund Manager, Bharat Value Fund states that the overall investment environment remains strong due to favorable economic conditions supporting government policies &amp; reforms. "The sustainable inflow from domestic investors is going to support the Indian equity market in any kind of correction. The long-term bullish structure of Indian economy will continue to attract new domestic &amp; global investors to participate in India’s growth story through various Investment avenues.” <h2>Rate cuts not on cards</h2>RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das clarified today that changing the monetary policy stance to 'neutral' does not mean a rate cut is imminent in the central bank's next policy announcement. Notably, RBI MPC is set to meet between December 4 and 6, 2024, to decide if the prevailing repo rate of 6.5%, which has stayed unchanged for the last 2 years, should be brought down or not. In its last meeting, The <keyword id="20501100" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="RBI-monetary-policy" source="keywords">RBI monetary policy</keyword> committee had shifted its stance to 'neutral' indicating that it is open to adjusting interest rates based on economic conditions. "It should not be assumed that we have done this, so therefore the next step is a rate cut. A change in stance doesn't mean that the next step is a rate cut in the very next meeting. It's not so," Das said. Das also cautioned that inflation remains a key factor, and inflation and CPI prints for October are expected to stay high.

SBI economists see Q2 GDP growth slowing down to 6.5%; FY25 growth to be closer to 7%

<ul><li>FMCG giant HUL’s shares reported a decline of over 6% on Thursday.</li><li>This comes a day after the company reported a 2.33% decline in consolidated net profit in Q2.</li><li>The stock tanked 6.59% to ₹2,483.95 on the NSE.</li></ul>Shares of FMCG major <keyword id="20002610" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Hindustan-Unilever" source="keywords">Hindustan Unilever</keyword> Ltd (HUL) on Thursday tumbled over 6% after the firm reported a 2.33% decline in consolidated net profit for the second quarter ended in September. The stock tanked 6.59% to ₹2,483.95 on the NSE. The stock emerged as the biggest laggard among the Sensex and Nifty firms during the morning trade. Hindustan Unilever Ltd on Wednesday reported a 2.33% decline in consolidated net profit at ₹2,595 crore for the second quarter ended in September 2024, impacted by moderation in demand from the urban market. The company had logged a net profit of ₹2,657 crore in the July-September quarter a year ago, HUL said in a regulatory filing. However, revenue from product sales was up 2.36% at ₹15,703 crore in the September quarter, from ₹15,340 crore in the year-ago period, HUL which owns power brands such as Surf, Rin, Lux, Pond's, Lifebuoy, Lakme, Brooke Bond, Lipton and Horlicks said. "In the September quarter, <keyword id="21419477" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="FMCG-demand" source="keywords">FMCG demand</keyword> witnessed moderating growth in urban markets, while rural continued to recover gradually. In this context, we delivered a competitive and profitable performance," HUL CEO and Managing Director Rohit Jawa said. HUL reported an underlying sales growth of 2% and underlying volume growth of 3%. Total expenses were at ₹12,581 crore in the September quarter, up 3.03% year-on-year. HUL's total income, which includes other income, was up 2.14% to ₹16,145 crore in the September quarter of FY25. Addressing an earnings call, HUL CFO Ritesh Tiwari said, "Two thirds of our business we do in urban areas, and one-third we do in rural areas … we are seeing growth in the urban market moderating. We are seeing rural growth recovery is gradual … it impacts all the categories that we have." On the outlook, he said, "In the near term, we expect demand trends to be stable with no further acceleration in pace of growth." In this context, Tiwari said, "Our focus remains on driving competitive volume-led growth, while continuing investments behind our brands and strategy priorities … If commodity prices remain where they are, we expect a low single digit price growth in the near-term." With inputs from PTI. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/webstories/afcons-infrastructure-ipo-gmp-risk-factors-and-all-you-need-to-know/slidelist/114490954.cms">Afcons Infrastructure IPO – GMP, risk factors and all you need to know</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/upi-refund-scam-to-digital-arrest-scam-here-are-most-common-online-scams-in-india/articleshow/114428011.cms">UPI refund to digital arrest scam, here are some online scams you need to be aware of</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/waaree-energies-ipo-allotment-how-to-check-allotment-ipo-gmp-listing-date-and-more/articleshow/114508632.cms">Waaree Energies IPO allotment – How to check allotment, IPO GMP, listing date and more</a>

Hindustan Unilever shares tumble over 6% post Q2 results

<keyword id="20021345" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="TVS-Motor-Company" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="TVS Motor Company" meta.hostid="153" meta.entityid="TVS Motor Company">TVS Motor Company</keyword> expects to grow faster than the competition across domestic and <keyword id="20108266" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="international-markets" source="keywords">international markets</keyword> this fiscal, riding on the back of new <keyword id="22697277" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="product-launches" source="keywords">product launches</keyword> and strengthening of operations across key regions, according to CEO KN Radhakrishnan. He noted that in the <keyword id="20046426" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="domestic-market" source="keywords">domestic market</keyword>, the company expects growth momentum to continue with normal monsoons likely to add strength to the <keyword id="19929089" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rural-markets" source="keywords">rural markets</keyword>. In international markets, Radhakrishnan exuded hope to perform better in key markets like Africa this year while expanding operations in other regions like the Middle East and Latin America. "Our strong product portfolio; our unwavering focus on the consumers, quality, new products and attractive quality and technology, we are confident that we will outperform the industry both in the domestic and international markets," Radhakrishnan said in an analyst call. He noted that the growth momentum is likely to be maintained with the budget focusing on employment generation, continued higher commitment to infrastructure and rural economy. "We are expecting rural markets to recover. With the expected normal monsoon, we could witness robust growth in Q2," Radhakrishnan stated. He noted that for the first time the company is witnessing that the rural areas were doing slightly better than the urban markets. The improving road infrastructure and economic environment will drive the demand for two-wheeler mobility, he added. The <keyword id="21048623" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="two-wheeler-segment" source="keywords">two-wheeler segment</keyword> has got a huge opportunity in the medium and the long term given the challenges in mobility as well as also investments from the government on the infrastructure and road development, he said. The company, which has earmarked over Rs 1,000 crore capex this year, is gearing up to introduce one product each in the electric and internal combustion engine segments in the ongoing quarter. A significant proportion of the earmarked capital is expected to go towards the design and development of new products, Radhakrishnan stated. "I want to highlight that the company will be launching one product in ICE and one product in EV in this quarter and that will further strengthen our range of product portfolio," he said. Commenting on international business, Radhakrishnan said that the Red Sea issue has led to challenges in terms of enhanced transit periods for overseas dispatches. He noted that <keyword id="62356" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="TVS" source="Orion">TVS</keyword> has taken enough countermeasures to mitigate these challenges and the situation is likely to improve in the ongoing quarter. Certain select African markets are facing challenges due to currency devaluation and persistent inflation, he said. "However, considering the base effect in our assessment, the possibility of further decline in Africa is low. We feel that we will be doing better in Africa this year," he added. He further said: "Besides, Latin America gives us a huge opportunity. We have started exporting to LATAM. In Asia, we are seeing some challenges in Bangladesh, but we are hopeful that things will settle down soon." The Middle East is also a huge opportunity for TVS and the company is strengthening its operations in the region, he stated. For the April-June quarter this fiscal, <keyword id="46156" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="TVS-Motor" source="Orion">TVS Motor</keyword> Company reported a 6 per cent year-on-year increase in consolidated net profit at Rs 461 crore. Total income rose to Rs 10,448 crore for the period under review as compared to Rs 9,142 crore in the year-ago period.

TVS confident of outperforming industry in domestic, global markets following new product launches, ops strengthening

<ul><li>Inflation has been eating into the purchasing power of lower and middle income groups with many essentials’ sales falling.</li><li>Majority of the upper and upper middle class respondents saw their household incomes go up more than inflation.</li><li>There is a dichotomy seen in online festive sales too as premium products are bought with discounts and purchase options say experts. </li></ul>There are two Indias within the great sub-continent. One where the day-breaking drink of tea has become dearer for many this year and the other half is doubling down on wine purchases. Neither of them are affected by the base effect of last year. <keyword id="2653343" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="tea-sales" source="Orion">Tea sales</keyword> were down last year too, and <keyword id="806378" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="wine-sales" source="Orion">wine sales</keyword> were up — darkening the ‘K’ line on economic recovery charts. Madan Sabnavis, the chief economist of Bank of Baroda calls it a schizophrenic pattern of consumption. “Sales are doing better in categories where price does not matter,” he tells Business Insider India. <div type="image" title="grocery demand" msid="104810160" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Source: Pixabay &amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> It’s discretion not price The categories of goods where price matters are seeing low growth in output – a reflection of demand. Some of the casualties are detergent powders, groundnut oils, shampoos and hair dyes. Their output fell between April to August 2023, compared to the year before, as per BoB economics research. Inflation has a more indirect effect on these purchases. For example, tea and shampoo saw moderate inflation but their demand fell. Inflation was high in coffee, toothpaste and soaps but their demand grew. “The generalized inflation factor has been at work where real income has come down thus leading to lower purchasing power,” said BoB. In a survey conducted by UBS, about 46% of respondents said that they’re buying less personal care and packaged food compared to last year. For purchase of home care products, the respondents were largely neutral versus last year, it added. India’s largest FMCG player Hindustan Unilever with a large presence across rural and urban India has seen a direct impact of it in the quarter that ended in September 2023. Its overall urban volumes grew 3% and rural volumes fell 1%. “Rural recovery is likely to remain gradual,” the company said in its investor presentation indicating that the situation might not see any dramatic recovery in the coming months. Rural India saw reverse migration during the pandemic, but not all of them have gone back, opines Sabnavis. A chunk of downtrading is also being seen in urban areas amongst income groups that are facing the heat of inflation, experts add. At the other end This is, however, only one half of the story. At the other end, many Indians are not blinking while making discretionary purchases. A majority of the upper and middle class respondents – 65% – surveyed by UBS, saw their household incomes go up more than inflation. “The top 20% of the population account for the bulk of discretionary consumption. The survey results support our view that affluent consumers‘ income levels are holding up, as reflected in corporate wage growth that continues at double digits,” said UBS. Lalit Jhawar, co-founder and CEO, LandCraft Retail says that high-end gourmet products in urban areas have been steadily increasing over the last few years. He owns a luxury gourmet retails store- Food Square in Mumbai, which sells cheeses, truffles, caviar, artisanal breads and all the other international food items. “Affluence in urban areas has grown, resulting in a larger number of consumers with higher discretionary income,” Jhawar tells Business Insider India. Online sales: A story of dichotomy Another sign of higher spending is seen in the e-commerce festival sales. The first week of the many festival discount sales saw ₹47,000 crore worth of goods being sold, which is 19% higher than last year, says Redseer Consulting. Online sales, which now sees a good measure of metro and demand from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, is showing a dichotomy as well, say experts. “Two Indias have come into play where one India is saving up and waiting for prices to come down to clinch a good deal on premium products. On the other hand, there are low-value product sales i.e value-for-money purchases that are being bought more frequently,” said Abhishek Tandon, engagement manager at Redseer Strategy Consultants. The sale season, which is manna for bargain hunters, is also enthused by the number of Buy Now Pay Later and EMI options. “When it comes to big ticket purchases, premiumization is bolstered by financing options and discounts that make it affordable,” adds Tandon. In the pre-festive period between April and August,however, most consumer durable sales were in a negative zone, due to the high-base effect of last year, says Bank of Baroda’s report. Refrigerators, mobiles, readymade garments all showed a negative output – also indicating that discounts play a large role in discretionary purchases. Indian consumers have always been complicated and price has always played a big role in purchase decisions, choice of brands and more. But it’s no longer a linear story. One end of the market, driven by affluence, is veering towards premium purchases. The other end is looking for ways to survive with less in hand as inflation is eating into their purchasing power. SEE ALSO <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/mamaearth-this-fmcg-scion-is-all-set-to-gain-a-windfall-from-honasa-ipo/articleshow/104721052.cms">This FMCG scion is all set to gain a windfall from Honasa Consumer IPO</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/careers/news/genzs-millennials-wants-to-be-back-to-offices-even-as-costs-pinch/articleshow/104700780.cms">GenZs, millennials want to be back to offices even as costs pinch</a>

Wine vs Tea: India’s consumption trends show a sharp divergence

Finance Minister <keyword id="19916618" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nirmala-Sitharaman" source="keywords">Nirmala Sitharaman</keyword> on Tuesday announced <keyword id="20404375" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="income-tax-relief" source="keywords">income tax relief</keyword> for the <keyword id="20071167" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="middle-class" source="keywords">middle class</keyword>, a Rs 2 lakh crore outlay for <keyword id="22517841" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="job-creation-schemes" source="keywords">job creation schemes</keyword> over the next five years and a spending splurge for states run by her party's new coalition partners as she unveiled <keyword id="20509939" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Modi-3-0" source="keywords">Modi 3.0</keyword> government's first budget after the general elections. With rural distress and unemployment being blamed for BJP losing its majority, Sitharaman in her seventh straight budget provided Rs 2.66 lakh crore for <keyword id="20027688" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rural-development" source="keywords">rural development</keyword> and maintained spending on long-term infrastructure projects at Rs 11.11 lakh crore to boost <keyword id="19900794" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="economic-growth" source="keywords">economic growth</keyword>. She abolished 'angel tax' for all classes of investors in startups, cut customs duty on mobile phones and gold and simplified capital gains tax. She, however, raised the securities transaction tax (STT) on futures and options of securities, which led to tanking of stock markets. "India's economic growth continues to be the shining exception (in a world that is gripped by policy uncertainties) and will remain so in the years ahead," she said. "In this budget, we particularly focus on <keyword id="19898684" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="employment" source="keywords">employment</keyword>, <keyword id="20374219" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="skilling" source="keywords">skilling</keyword>, MSMEs, and the middle class." Besides Rs 2 lakh crore provided over a five year period for schemes and initiatives to facilitate employment, skilling and other opportunities for 4.1 crore youth, "I have made a provision of Rs 1.48 lakh crore for education, employment and skilling," she said. For Bihar, where assembly elections are due next year, the finance minister announced spending of Rs 60,000 crore on infrastructure projects like expressways, power plant, heritage corridors and new airports. The support to Bihar, whose ruling party and BJP's partner JD-U has been demanding an economic package and special category status for the state, is in the form of capital projects but not subsidy or cash dole. Similarly, for Andhra Pradesh, whose ruling TDP recently joined BJP-led NDA, she allocated Rs 15,000 crore in financial aid through multilateral agencies. A similar request for support to Bihar will be expedited, she said. For the middle class, she raised standard deduction -- a flat deduction from total salary earned by an employee in a year before calculating applicable income tax rate -- by 50 per cent to Rs 75,000 and tweaked tax slabs for taxpayers opting for the new income tax regime. This will lead to taxpayers under the new tax regime -- which offers lower rates of taxes but permits limited deductions and exemptions -- saving up to Rs 17,500 in tax annually, she said. To spur employment, the Budget provided for incentives for companies, including paying for one-month salary for first-time employees, incentive at specified sale to both employee and empower with respect to their retirement fund contribution in the first four years of employment and reimbursing employers up to Rs 3,000 per month for 2 years towards EPFO contribution of each additional employee. Also, a programme to improve skills as well internship for students and subsidised loans for higher education will be provided, she said. India's official unemployment rate in urban areas is pegged at 6.7 per cent but private agencies put it at much higher levels. Buoyed by robust tax collections and a higher-than-expected dividend receipt from the Reserve Bank, Sitharaman said the government's fiscal deficit -- the difference between the total revenue earned and total expenditure -- will be trimmed to 4.9 per cent of the GDP in 2024-25, below the 5.1 per cent figure estimated in the interim budget she presented in February. She reduced gross market borrowing marginally to Rs 14.01 lakh crore. The Budget for 2024-25 fiscal (April 2024 to March 2025) allocated Rs 1.52 lakh crore for agriculture and allied sectors, aid for building 3 crore affordable housing units in urban and rural areas, provided credit support to small and medium businesses, raised small loans to Rs 20 lakh for small business, proposed setting up 12 industrial parks, and provided for setting up a Rs 1,000 crore venture capital fund for space sector.

Modi 3.0 1st Budget: Tax relief for middle class, Rs 2 lakh cr job scheme

India's largest paint maker <keyword id="20026009" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Asian-Paints" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Asian Paints" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Asian Paints">Asian Paints</keyword>, reported a 24.5% dip in its net profits for the quarter, pushing it down to Rs 1,170 crore from Rs 1,383 crore in the same quarter last year. The company's net sales during the quarter also dipped by over 2% to touch Rs 8,970 crore, compared to Rs 9,182.31 crore in the year-ago period. In a statement, Amit Syngle, MD and CEO of Asian Paints attributed the below-expectation results to tough demand conditions during <keyword id="21159844" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="April-June" source="keywords">April-June</keyword>, which also saw severe heatwaves and general elections. However, he expected the demand to pick up soon, largely on the back of improving <keyword id="22447264" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rural-sentiment" source="keywords">rural sentiment</keyword> and monsoon making headway in the country. The company's international sales also took hit, down to Rs 679.1 crore from Rs 695.1 crore, mainly due to liquidity and forex crises it experienced in the key markets, namely Asia, Nepal, Bangladesh and Egypt. On the other hand, Ethiopia and <keyword id="19931726" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sri-lanka" source="keywords">Sri Lanka</keyword> proved beneficial for the company's international growth during the quarter. In June 2024, the company paid out a final dividend of Rs 28.15 per equity share to its shareholders. The company also reported a 7% volume growth during the previous quarter. But its EBITDA margin during the quarter shrunk from 23.1% in the same quarter last year to 18.1% between April-June 2024. The company's consolidated profits before depreciation, interest, tax, income and exceptional items dipped to Rs 1,694 crore, as compared to Rs 2,121 crore in the year ago period. <h2>Bath fitting sales inch up </h2>The only segment within the business' umbrella that registered growth was the bath fitting segment, which grew by 10%, and <keyword id="6921293" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="kitchen-fittings" source="Orion">kitchen fittings</keyword>, which jumped by 4.6%. The company's industrial business grew by 5.8% due to solid growth in auto original equipment manufacturing (OEM) and the powder coating segments. At close of markets on Tuesday, the paint maker's stock was trading at Rs 2,968.00, up by 0.39%. Over the last year, the company's share has fallen by as much as 14.23%, but it remains a solid catch for long-term investors, jumping up by 116.78% over the last 5 years.

Asian Paints Q1FY25 results: Net profit dips by 25%, revenue also misses market estimates

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="22159313" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mississippi-County" source="keywords">Mississippi County</keyword> offers up to $50,000 for new home builds or renovations to attract residents.</li><li>The Work Here, Live Here program aims to boost the local economy and grow the population.</li></ul>Mississippi County, Arkansas wants to help residents build their <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/buying-a-home-new-construction-shortage-supply-mortgage-rates-housing-2024-6">dream home</a>, as long as they agree to live in the area for at least four years. To accomplish this goal, it's offering up to $50,000 per household for a new home. The program — called Work Here, Live Here — is the county's effort to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cities-that-pay-people-cash-money-to-move-there-2024-6">boost the local economy and grow the population</a>, which is just under 40,000 people, per the <a target="_blank" href="https://datacommons.org/place/geoId/05093?utm_medium=explore&amp;mprop=count&amp;popt=Person&amp;hl=en">2022 Census</a>. A two-and-a-half hour drive from Little Rock, the county borders Tennessee and includes cities like Blytheville and Osceola. Work Here, Live Here is organized and partially-funded through a group ofMississippi County industries, community groups, and financial institutions like Farmers Bank &amp; Trust. It first started providing resident and mover incentives in the fall of 2022. The county is one of the nation's<a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/x"> top steel-producing areas</a>, President and CEO of Farmers Bank &amp; Trust Randy Scott told Business Insider. And, the incentive program is only available to employees of specific companies, like steel producers River Steel, US Steel, and Atlas Tube. Eight companies have partnered with Work Here, Live Here so far, and Scott expects more to join this month. "We want homeowners that are gonna stay here," Scott said. Mississippi County's incentive program is part of a recent wave of efforts across <keyword id="22159319" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rural-America" source="keywords">rural America</keyword> to increase populations and local businesses. Areas like <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/get-paid-move-work-remotely-cash-stipend-internet-kansas-2024-5">Lincoln County, Kansas</a>, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/left-washington-dc-moved-to-tulsa-remote-program-live-alone-2023-11">Tulsa, Oklahoma</a>, and Columbus, Georgia are paying people to move there, offering perks like discounted gym memberships, internet credits, tax breaks, and up to $10,000 in cash to new residents. Mover incentive programs have become especially popular in the aftermath of the pandemic, as <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/dream-job-in-office-work-full-time-flexibility-benefits-2024-3">more jobs are remote or location flexible</a>. And, as the cost of living continues to rise in US cities — <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-much-food-healthcare-housing-cost-most-expensive-us-cities-2024-2">especially on the coasts</a> — more prospective homebuyers are being priced out. Some are turning to these smaller cities and counties<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/midwest-movers-gen-z-millennials-renters-single-california-texas-2024-2"> in the Midwest or South</a>. For Mississippi County, this growing housing demand has provided an opportunity to build their towns and cities. "They're going to be here for generations to come," Scott said. "They're your future registered voters, future school board members, future enrollments in the schools." <h2>With <keyword id="22159315" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="housing-incentives" source="keywords">housing incentives</keyword>, Mississippi County hopes to see population growth</h2>In the 20 months since Work Here, Live Here launched, the program has drawn 80 new homeowners to Mississippi County. And, according to Scott, the majority of them are <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/house-affordability-crisis-13-young-americans-rely-family-down-payments-2024-3">first-generation homebuyers</a>, young people, and young families. The housing incentive program offers a 10% forgivable loan on a new <keyword id="22159321" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="home-construction" source="keywords">home construction</keyword> with a maximum home cost of $500,000, meaning some families can receive up to a $50,000 housing credit. Existing homes can receive a forgivable loan of up to 5%. Per data provided to BI fromWork Here, Live Here, the program has already led to the construction of 28 homes and 52 existing homes. The average price of homes purchased is $270,253 and the average benefit received is $28,767. "We will have an individual that gets the incentive," Scott said. "And within a week, everyone that works on his shift with him is calling us saying 'hey, how can I participate as well?"' Work Here, Live Here was initially focused on keeping residents who already lived in Mississippi County, but it has also attracted homebuyers from out of state, Scott said. Participants have come from Missouri, Alabama, Mississippi, Wisconsin, Michigan, Colorado, and Ohio. As more families move to or settle in Mississippi County, Scott expects it will have a positive effect on businesses, the school system, and public spaces. Now, he and other northeast Arkansas leaders want to get the word out. "Once we start having population increase — and there's no reason why we shouldn't with other jobs we have created — the quality of life will follow," Scott said. "You'll get the restaurants, you'll get the retail shops, you'll get the amenities." Have you been paid to move? Are you open to sharing your pros and cons of moving to a new city? If so, reach out to this reporter at <a target="_blank" href="mailto:allisonkelly@businessinsider.com">allisonkelly@businessinsider.com</a>. Correction: June 21, 2024 — An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated the incentives for Work Here, Live Here. The program provides funds for the purchase of a home, not home renovations.

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