Madison County to offer economic development director job to Savannah Allen

Madison County commissioners said they will offer the position of economic development director to Savannah Allen after an extensive interview process, according to remarks recorded during the meeting.

An unidentified county official who led the hiring discussion (Speaker 2) described Allen as having spent several years working in Union County and currently consulting for private partners. The official said Allen—rings knowledge of regional economic-development tools and relationships in Central Ohio — including Port Authority, Land Bank, JEDS, TIFs and CRA — that the panel judged would allow her to "hit the ground running." The panel, which the speaker said included "Chris" and other members, was unanimous in recommending Allen.

The speaker said an offer letter would be sent the same day; Allen was expected to tender her resignation to her current employer and coordinate a start date, which the speaker estimated could be two to three weeks depending on ongoing projects at her present firm. The timetable for onboarding was described as flexible to allow the completion of large projects at her current job.

The hiring discussion was followed by a routine budget-review schedule: the speaker said a draft budget would be circulated this week, with half to be reviewed the following Tuesday and the remainder the next week, and that elected officials might be asked to appear for questions. The speaker said the goal was to have the budget approved by December, though no firm deadline was recorded.

The meeting record did not include a direct statement from Allen and did not specify a formal appointment vote; the transcript records only the hiring-panel recommendation and the plan to send an offer.