After years of vacationing in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom, John Serlis and his family made the recreation haven their permanent home.

“Settling into the area was a dream of ours for a long time,” he said. Serlis recalls enjoying the open spaces, rolling farms and hospitable people on trips from his childhood home in Montreal, Canada.

As an adult, he sought to escape the congestion of Massachusetts’ north shore and, in the peak of summer, the family of four traded in city life for cool mountain air. “Moving was a great choice for me and my family because of all the outdoor activities we can enjoy here. We fish the nearby lakes, mountain bike, and enjoy our powersports toys right on our property,” he said, but the journey wasn’t without its challenges.

While establishing his residence in Vermont and securing a new sales position at a local farm equipment dealer, Serlis applied for the Worker Relocation Grant Program to assist with some of the costs and make the family’s move a little easier. He said, “the program definitely helped us with the expense so we could make it work.”

Serlis’s family is enjoying their peaceful new environment and making connections in their community. Not only is he even closer to family members still across the border in Montreal, but he also feels “blessed with the great people we’ve met over the years who are helping us move forward up here in the NEK.”

Serlis plans to give back to the community, too. “As an outdoor family with a powersports background, we’re hoping to set up a training facility for off-road bikes for the younger kids in the region.”

But for now, “it’s wintertime up here and we’re indoors staying warm.”