WV state Senator Robert Karnes at a Senate Judiciary meeting wearing a mesh dickbag West Virginia is desperate for people. It is the only state in the country that has seen its population decline over the last 70 years. It's about to lose one of its three congressional seats. And it has a particularly difficult time both keeping and attracting young, educated people. Now, the state is trying a new way to get new residents: cash. This week, the state announced a program called Ascend WV, which will give people who agree to move to West Virginia $12,000 cash. It also offers applicants other perks, including a year of passes to public hiking trails, rock climbing, and outdoor space with access to outdoor gear rentals, free access to a co-working space for a year, and continuing ed programs at WVU.