by Paul Gatling (pgatling@nwabj.com)
To encourage entrepreneurs and other technology professionals to relocate to Northwest Arkansas, the Northwest Arkansas Council announced Wednesday (Jan. 12) that it would offer $10,000 in bitcoin as an incentive.
In doing so, Northwest Arkansas will become the first region in the country to offer cryptocurrency to potential transplants, as the region’s growing tech sector — specifically within blockchain-enabled technologies — is looking for talent.
“Northwest Arkansas is one of the fastest-growing regions in the country, and we’re now seeing more explosive growth in our tech sector,” Nelson Peacock, president and CEO of the Northwest Arkansas Council, said in a statement. “This expanded incentive offer — Bitcoin and a Bike — not only embraces the growing trend toward the use of cryptocurrency as a payment option by employers but also helps increase our pipeline of talent to benefit tech employers, startups, cities, local businesses and the region overall.”
