What is a Certified Retirement Community program?
There are 6 states that have created programs for Certified Retirement Communities. Of these, West Virginia calls them “Designated Retirement Communities”. Tennessee is included because of its “Retire Tennessee” program. The purpose of these retirement community programs and lists is to encourage economic development. The prospect of 76 million baby boomers nearing retirement has caught the attention of many states and communities because the economic benefits to the places where they end up retiring are enormous. States not only want to encourage new residents to retire in their communities because of the “mail box” economy (pension checks arriving by mail), but they also want to keep existing residents. Louisiana estimates that the economic impact of a retiree household is the equivalent of 3.7 factory jobs. Texas estimates that each retiree household who moves to the state creates 1.5 jobs. The 6 states that have publicized their certification programs are: – Texas certified retirem
