Gritty Hammond, Ind., and 80 other cities in decline have a novel approach to economic development: They're attracting new residents by offering to pay for their children to attend college. But is a promise to pay tuition a growth strategy — or welfare for the middle class?
The government provides billions of dollars in child care subsidies to help move welfare recipients into the work force. Here's the catch: To get the subsidies, people transitioning off welfare need to have a job already.