City of Hilliard Economic Development Director David Meadows has been recognized as a 2023 “40 Under 40” honoree by Columbus Business First.
Each year, the Columbus business publication chooses 40 professionals under the age of 40 in Central Ohio to be recognized for their remarkable achievements. Business First received nearly 200 nominations this year and selected winners based on their professional work and community volunteerism.
Meadows, 38, has served as the City’s Economic Development Director since 2017, attracting developers, negotiating financial incentives, ensuring compliance, preparing sites, and creating grant programs to guarantee that existing businesses continue to thrive in Hilliard.
“David is a strategic innovator always looking for a way to move an opportunity forward or develop solutions to a challenging roadblock,” said City Manager Michelle Crandall. “When others may have stopped at solution ‘A’ or ‘B,’ David’s creativity often results in ‘C’ through ‘Z’ solutions.”
Specific projects include helping businesses connect on the City’s nearly 40-mile fiber optic cable network, facilitating revitalization in Downtown Hilliard, and executing more than $15 million in real estate sales, including those that led to the purchase of 125 acres for the Hilliard community center, expected to break ground April 14.
Most recently, he helped launch Hilliard City Lab, a one-of-a-kind public-private collaboration that creates a unique technology testbed that leverages City resources to help high-tech businesses create, test, and launch innovative solutions.
Additionally, Meadows has served his country as a veteran of the U.S. Army Reserves. He deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2005 with the 983rd Engineer Battalion. During his military service he received numerous awards, including the Army’s Commendation Medal for meritorious service in ground combat operations.
He is a member of Team Rubicon, a group of veterans who continue their service by helping others prepare, respond, and recover from natural disasters. He is currently in the process of becoming a Big Brother with the Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring program in central Ohio and has volunteered his time boxing food with the Children’s Hunger Alliance, as well as delivering Christmas gifts to inmates’ families.
Meadows is a graduate of The Ohio State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in history and a master’s in public administration from the John Glenn College of Public Affairs.
“One of the City of Hilliard’s core values is Heart for Service,” Crandall noted. “David exemplifies this in his daily work and in his volunteer work, always looking for ways to carry out our City team mantra of Leave it Better Than You Found It!”
Read about the 40 honorees here: https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2023/04/11/business-first-40-under-40-2023-honorees.html
