Boomerang Greensboro offers a high-touch, personalized approach to helping former residents return home. We’re not recruiters — we’re connectors. We meet one-on-one with prospective returnees to understand their goals and how we can support their move.
From job leads and introductions to local professionals, to curated lists of schools, daycares, and realtors, we provide tailored resources to make the transition seamless. We also offer information about Greensboro’s neighborhoods, culture, and quality of life — helping you feel at home before you even arrive.
Two decades ago, Greensboro was in a period of transition – shifting from a legacy of traditional industry toward a more diverse and modern vision of work and life. Like many mid-sized cities, we faced challenges: a declining young population, job losses, and questions about what the future could look like. But beneath that uncertainty, new momentum was quietly building. By 2019, companies were investing, creative spaces were expanding, and a fresh energy was beginning to emerge.
That’s when Action Greensboro asked a simple question: What if we helped people come back?
Our goal was to inspire 25 former residents each year to return. But what we found was even more powerful – people were already coming back, ready to lead, create, and grow. These returning locals – our “Boomerangs”– weren’t just moving home. They were shaping the future of the city.
Then the pandemic shifted everything. People began rethinking what mattered: space, affordability, connection, and quality of life. Greensboro had all of it – and more.
In 2020, we officially launched Boomerang Greensboro to help people see what a different version of success could look like. Not a reset, but a return – with purpose. We mailed personalized “Boomerang Boxes,” ran digital campaigns, and offered concierge support to those exploring a move. Our message was simple: You don’t have to start over. You can start better.
Boomerang Greensboro is here to help you reconnect not just with your hometown, but with a new chapter that fits. We believe your next move should feel more like you – and we’re here to help you make it happen.
The results speak for themselves:
While she’s not technically a Boomerang, Cecelia Thompson is a Greensboro convert in the best way. She moved here in 2005 after falling in love with a city that genuinely welcomes young people to the table and encourages them to help shape its future — and that’s exactly what she’s been doing ever since.
As Executive Director of Action Greensboro, Cecelia leads the charge on big-picture efforts to make Greensboro thrive — from talent and workforce development to public school advocacy, urban livability and city marketing. She’s had a hand in some of the city’s most impactful projects, including the creation of LeBauer Park, collaborations with local colleges and universities, co-led an effort to secure $2 billion to improve public school infrastructure and the launch and growth of Boomerang Greensboro.
When she’s not connecting people to the city she loves, you’ll likely find Cecelia running along the Downtown Greenway or grabbing pizza at Sticks and Stones — two of her favorite Greensboro spots. She’s all-in on Greensboro — and excited to help others find their way home here, too.
Candace Martin is the wizard behind the scenes at Boomerang Greensboro — managing everything from advertising and content creation to photography and videography. She has a gift for capturing fresh perspectives of the city and telling the stories of the incredible people returning home.
Beyond her work at Action Greensboro, Candace is a dedicated community leader. She serves on the board of Ready for School, Ready for Life and is the chair of the UNCG Alumni Leadership Board, helping shape the future of education and engagement in the city she loves. A proud advocate for Greensboro’s growth, Candace brings her creativity and passion to every project she touches.
Her favorite ways to soak up the city? Grabbing breakfast at Biscuitville, walking through Gateway Gardens, and browsing local goods at the Greensboro Farmers Curb Market.
Boomerang Greensboro has received both national and international recognition for its approach to talent return and place-based storytelling.
In 2024, the campaign earned top honors at the City Nation Place Global Awards in London, winning Best Communications Strategy in Economic Development. Competing alongside global finalists from Estonia, Copenhagen, Michigan and Moldova, Boomerang Greensboro was celebrated for its authentic storytelling, measurable outcomes and its ability to build community pride while addressing workforce needs.
The campaign has been featured in a range of respected media outlets and publications, such as:
Contact us now to experience firsthand all that Boomerang has to offer.
