Image Credit: TruePointe/Equity Construction Solutions
A case study for Economic Development Week
The city of Hilliard was seeking ways to attract and retain a new generation of professionals.
“We had a lot of figuring out to do,” said David Meadows, economic director for the city of Hilliard.
Based on conversations with local employers, the answer became clear: young professionals were increasingly drawn to walkable, live-work-play environments rather than traditional office parks. To be competitive in pulling in this talent, Hilliard needed a solution.
TruePointe Hilliard, a mixed-use development, offered a path forward. The site had sat vacant since Hilliard built Trueman Boulevard in the early 2000s.
TruePointe represented an opportunity to close the gap between the city’s vibrant downtown and its office districts, providing the connected, walkable environment that today’s workforce seeks.
How AEP Ohio Helped Move the Project Forward
AEP Ohio employees had been involved in Hilliard’s economic development long before TruePointe took shape. One AEP Ohio economic development team member who lived in Hilliard served on the city’s Community Improvement Corporation. She was already an established, civically engaged community member with direct line of sight into the city’s development priorities.
That longtime community involvement translated into quick action when the opportunity emerged. With an economic development grant from AEP Ohio, the developer funded background research, including soil borings and wetlands delineation, to confirm that the site was a good fit.
“It was great to be able to partner with a local company to accomplish something that had very important local objectives,” David said.
For Hilliard, the partnership with AEP Ohio is defined by exactly that kind of collaborative spirit. Both teams share the same priorities: local jobs, investment in our community and a commitment to development that gives residents a reason to stay.
“We’re grateful to have AEP Ohio side by side with us,” David said.
The Numbers Tell the Story
TruePointe now represents a roughly $250 million investment. The development includes more than 100,000 square feet of office space, two public parking garages, restaurants, 350 housing units and a hotel. Employers are committed to bringing at least 500 employees to the site.
The project has driven opportunity in the broader community, too: thanks in part to the development, Hilliard retained its largest corporate employer, which went on to expand its headquarters and build a local research and development facility.
Hilliard’s Next Chapter
For Hilliard, TruePointe has become both a milestone and a template.
“These projects have been a catalyst for repositioning what Hilliard is within the region,” David said.
The same collaborative model is being applied across the city’s broader portfolio, including the Hilliard City Lab initiative, positioning the city as a real-world test bed for emerging technology.
The approach depends on early, proactive investment from each partner. AEP Ohio brings resources and an active community presence; the city commits to infrastructure planning ahead of confirmed deals; and local developers share those same priorities from the start.
Interested in partnering with AEP Ohio’s economic development team? Email us.
Image Credit: TruePointe/Equity Construction Solutions
