Prattville economic development director named among North America’s top 50

Amy Hilliard’s name now carries a regional distinction, but the more important test in Prattville is what her work has already produced on the ground. The city’s economic development director was named one of Consultant Connect’s 2026 Top 50 Economic Developers in North America, a peer-driven honor that comes as Prattville points to a busy pipeline of openings, expansions and infrastructure demands.

Consultant Connect says the award recognizes economic developers across North America for exceptional dedication, innovation and effectiveness in driving growth. Nominations come from peers and site-selection consultants, which gives the list added weight in a field where relationships, responsiveness and coordination often matter as much as a public announcement or ribbon cutting.

Hilliard was hired by Prattville in August 2024 after a 4-2 City Council vote that created the city’s economic development director position. At the time, she said her first priority would be industrial growth, with filling the South Industrial Park at the center of her strategy. The hire drew debate over salary and how quickly the city moved, but supporters argued Prattville needed a dedicated person focused on recruitment.

The results became more visible in 2025. In August, the city said 10 new businesses opened in the second quarter alone, bringing about 115 jobs and nearly $40 million in capital investment. That list included Microtel, Liberty Loans, Awning Solutions, Hometime Solutions, Premier Eye Associates, First Watch Restaurant, New Design for Living, Inner Haven Spiritual Wellness, Central States Bus Sales and an Old World Industries expansion. Later announcements added more momentum, including Owens Corning in September and Rural King in October, along with another Old World Industries expansion announced Aug. 22, 2025.

Hilliard has spent nearly 30 years in economic development and has helped facilitate hundreds of projects across Alabama, contributing to billions of dollars in retail, commercial and industrial investment. Business Alabama reported in January 2026 that she previously served as workforce development and business recruitment director for the City of Auburn and as economic development director for the Prattville Area Chamber of Commerce. It also noted her 2024 Top 20 Under 40 recognition from the chamber.

For Prattville, the award underscores a broader strategy already visible in the city’s own economic development materials: three interstate interchanges, dual rail in the industrial park, airport access and available property built to attract more growth. The city also says it is working with industry and education partners on workforce development, while growth is still forcing attention to paving, wastewater needs and other infrastructure. A future museum and event center, The Pratt, adds another layer to what city leaders see ahead. In Prattville, the recognition is less a finish line than a marker of how much more development is still coming.