Hilliard landed the highest life sciences readiness rating in a statewide program that steers biotech and healthcare investment toward Ohio communities.
Ohio Life Sciences, the state's life sciences trade group, designated Hilliard a Level 3 Premier Life Sciences Ready Community, the city announced Monday, Oct. 12. The Premier tier is the top of three levels in a scoring system that grades communities on zoning flexibility, site readiness and workforce capacity, with a maximum of 40 points. Communities scoring at least 30 earn the top Premier tier.
"This designation reinforces what we already know about Hilliard," Economic Development Director David Meadows said. "We have the resources, infrastructure and business environment to support life sciences companies."
The program, launched in September 2025 and modeled after Massachusetts' BioReady Community Program, gives formal recognition to cities, townships and counties positioned to attract life sciences firms. Ohio Life Sciences promotes designated communities to national site selectors and industry leaders through its website and outreach channels.
Thirteen Ohio communities hold a designation so far. That list includes central Ohio neighbors Dublin, New Albany, Westerville and Reynoldsburg.
To reach Premier status, a community must show exceptional zoning policies that allow three or more life sciences developments without special-use restrictions, high-capacity infrastructure tied to state site-certification programs, and strong workforce availability with at least two dedicated training programs or active biotech facilities.
Hilliard officials pointed to the city's Hilliard City Lab initiative as a key piece of that foundation. City Lab offers Hilliard-based companies grants of up to $25,000, access to the city's HiFiO fiber optic network and an AI sandbox for testing emerging technologies. A tech incubator on Lyman Drive anchors the program.
Hilliard says its Innovation Grant projects, including City Lab projects, support more than 1,100 jobs and $87 million in private investment, Ohio Tech News reported earlier this year.
The designation aligns with Hilliard's broader economic development strategy, which identifies healthcare services and applied technologies as one of six target sectors. The city's five-year plan, known as Opportunity Hilliard, cites the region's proximity to institutions including the Abigail Wexner Research Center at Nationwide Children's Hospital and Forge Biologics, a Columbus-based gene therapy manufacturer.
Meadows said June 8, when City Lab launched a high school tech internship program, that the effort "connects education, innovation and workforce development right here in Hilliard." Workforce development is one of three scoring categories in the life sciences designation.
The next meeting of the Life Science Ready Community Designation Review Committee is Dec. 10, with applications due by Dec. 4 for that quarter's review.
