Hillsboro, Ohio

Balancing Growth and Tradition in a Thriving Community

Strategically located with an eye to future development

Positioned midway between Cincinnati, Columbus, and Dayton, Hillsboro, Ohio, is a growing city that proudly preserves its small-town charm, while welcoming modern progress. Hillsboro’s location is one of its most defining attributes, offering a balance between accessibility and a sense of community away from the hustle of major highways. Prioritizing economic development, infrastructure revitalization, and community vibrancy, the city is positioning itself as a live-here, work-here, and play-here destination.

“We love our city. Our location is very unique,”  says Mayor Justin Harsha, highlighting the city’s historical role as a crossroads, with Route 50 once spanning coast to coast and Route 62 connecting the northern and southern borders of the country. “I know that there’s some other cities that have claimed they’re the crossroads of America, but our location is very important, especially with all the new plants and factories that are being built up north. It makes us very unique and not too far away for commuters.”

A Multigenerational Legacy

Harsha, a sixth-generation Hillsboro resident, embodies the city’s deep historical roots. With a family business dating back to 1854, the mayor’s commitment to Hillsboro’s future stems from a personal desire to make the city a place where future generations will thrive.

“I want to make sure that Hillsboro is going in the right direction, and make sure it is a place that my children would want to come back to, to make their lifetime home,” he shares. “In the last five years we’ve had more growth than I’ve seen in a long time, but we still hold that small town feel, where you feel like you know a lot of the people that you see. It’s very important to keep that, even though there’s lots of  development going on.”

Parks, Community Projects, and Downtown Revival

At the heart of Hillsboro’s transformation is the Crossroads Park project, a $5 million investment that includes an amphitheater, splash pad, walking trails, and natural green spaces. “We’re trying to highlight our downtown, and get people out walking, which will help businesses,” explains Harsha. “All of our city events will be down there. We are hoping to have concerts and plays throughout the summer, early spring and fall.”

Complementing this is Railroad Street Park, home to new pickleball courts, which have revitalized a once neglected area of the community. In addition, Hillsboro has recently reclaimed Shaffer Park after years of external management, marking a renewed focus on community spaces. “We’re always looking to build our parks up,” details the mayor. “ So, we have hired our first parks director, and that’s been working out great. A huge focus is  getting people out and active and just enjoying being outside.” Along with these, the Rails to Trails project, funded by a $1.4 million ODOT TAP grant and slated for construction in early 2026, will connect key city landmarks, including Railroad Street Park, Crossroads Park, and even a local restaurant.

The city’s downtown revitalization is driven by public-private partnerships like the Vibrant Communities Grant, a $1.5 million investment that helped to transform three historic buildings into mixed-use spaces. “These grants are available from Jobs Ohio, which is our state Economic Development partner,” reports Economic Development Coordinator Lauren Walker. “That project  holds multiple businesses, a co-working space, podcast studio, conference room and shared workspace. You see a lot more investment in the downtown since this project has happened.”

Economic Development and Workforce Initiatives

Hillsboro boasts a diverse industrial portfolio which includes aerospace, manufacturing, food, retail, engineering and healthcare sectors. “Those industries not only attract people to the area, but also keep people here with the jobs that are available,” notes Walker. To ensure continued growth, the city’s economic development team meets with these industries several times a year to assess their progress and explore opportunities for expansion. Additionally, Hillsboro is hoping to bring some light industrial and commercial  to land in the city that is zoned for this type of development.

Maintaining a skilled workforce is top of mind, and a collaboration between Highland County, Southern State Community College and five local school districts provides students with internships, certifications, and pathways to careers in their hometown. “There’s also a local Workforce Development Center that gives students/adults access to programs or certificates”, Walker elaborates. “There are programs in place to make sure that when those students walk across that stage, they know whether they’re going to stay to work here, and what industry they would like to go in, or if they’re going away to college, what options they have when they come back.”

Infrastructure and Residential Growth

Infrastructure improvements have been a priority for Hillsboro, Harsha says, “When I took office, I really thought it was going to be the boring years of the city of Hillsboro, because we had so much critical infrastructure that needed to be replaced,” Harsha admits. “But it’s been really refreshing to see all the things we’ve actually been able to accomplish. The largest project being the Roberts Lane Extension project which included water, sewer, streets, lights, and sidewalks was an over $10 million investment made by the city.” Along with these efforts, Brianne Abbott, Hillsboro Safety and Service Director, relays that in early 2025 a private company will be installing fiber to every home in the city, another advantage for residential and business attraction.

On the housing side, the Roberts Lane extension has quickly spurred a private residential development project which has been a major investment in our community, and a step forward for meeting Hillsboro’s needs. Plans include 12 single-family homes with space for an additional 41 condos or 21 single-family units.

Safety, Collaboration and Community Engagement

Hillsboro’s commitment to public safety is evident in its collaborative approach to fire, paramedic, and police services. “We utilize Paint Creek Fire District, and they’re continuously looking for ways to grow and protect the community,” Abbott conveys. “We do have an in-house Police Department, and we continue to try to find incentives to keep our officers and include more onto our team.”

Beyond traditional safety services, Hillsboro encourages a team effort across departments to support community events and initiatives. “Everyone here in the city wears a lot of hats,” acknowledges Abbott. “When you think about community events, everyone kind of pulls together to ensure these events happen for the benefit of our citizens, and to attract people from other towns as well. We all very much work together as a team to ensure that those events are a success.”

Partnerships with local organizations are key to Hillsboro’s growth, helping to maximize the city’s potential. One such relationship is with the Community Improvement Corporation (CIC). Walker imparts, “Our CIC is an arm of the city for economic development purposes. The Roberts Lane extension surrounding land is now in the hands of the CIC. So, we’ll be looking to attract new development to that land.”

Hillsboro also has a thriving Chamber of Commerce, and Walker actively serves as one of its ambassadors. Collaboration extends beyond city borders, with Hillsboro also working closely with the county’s economic development board. “I sit on the county board for economic development and we have a really good relationship with the County Economic Development Coordinator, as well as with the county commissioners,” Abbott remarks.

 A Forward Thinking Vision

Looking ahead, the city of Hillsboro and its leaders are focused on continued growth, community engagement, and revitalization. Mayor Harsha underscores the importance of Crossroads Park as a key project for the city’s future. “We’ve been talking about it for years and years and years. So, it’s going to be very nice to see the project start and what that’s going to bring to our community,” he asserts. Walker outlines the city’s commitment to completing ongoing projects, including the completion of a ninja playground funded by local donors. “Finishing up our community projects that we have slated for the next couple years is definitely a priority,” she says. Abbott notes the significance of seeing these long-term projects come to fruition. “We’ve been working on these projects. They’ve been on paper for five years, and probably an idea prior to that. So, it’s really nice to see all of it come together.”

AT A GLANCE

Hillsboro, Ohio

What: A growing city with much to look forward to

Where: Highland County, Ohio

Website: www.hillsboroohio.net