The Swiss village where you can earn money to live

A tiny Swiss village threatened with extinction after an exodus of residents has come up with a novel way of turning around its fortunes. Albinen, a picturesque village near Leukerbad in Valais, has seen its population shrink to just 240. The local school has been forced to close and many of the houses in the village are used as holiday homes, laying empty for much of the year. As a result, local residents have demanded that the council do something to help reverse the decline and ensure the village’s future. 
 
And this is their plan – families or individuals from elsewhere who decide to buy or build a house in Albinen would be eligible, under certain conditions, for a grant of 25,000 francs per adult and 10,000 francs per child, according to information published in the commune’s newsletter. 

The center of the village boasts narrow cobbled streets, a shop and old houses. Newcomers would have to speak German, the region’s first language. Albinen is four miles away from Leukerbad, which hosts one of Europe’s largest health spa complexes, famed for its calcium- and sulphate-rich thermal waters.

Now residents are set to vote on a proposal that would offer new families cash to settle there in a bid to revitalize the village. Adults can expect to be offered 25,000 francs each (21,500 euros) while children would receive 10,000 francs (8,500 euros), a total of 60,000 euros for a family of four.

There are conditions attached to the deal. Prospective residents must be under the age of 45 and be prepared to stay for at least ten years. The property they buy, or build, must also be worth at least 200,000 francs (171,500 euros), and is required to be their primary residence.

The village authorities behind the plan are convinced the policy is affordable and that it represents a real investment in the future of Albinen, despite the initial outlay.

The Swiss town is just one of the few communities that have entertained the idea of enticing immigrants with financial rewards.
Only about six months ago, the mayor of the Italian town of Bormida created quite a stir when he suggested in social media that a €2,000 reward should be granted to those who move there. No law has yet to be passed to this effect.