Longtime county economic development chief to retire

Mike Meidel, longtime head of Pinellas County’s economic development efforts, has announced plans to retire at the end of next month.

Meidel has been director of Pinellas County Economic Development since August 2004 and worked in the economic development field for nearly four decades, according to a statement. His last day at the county will be April 30.

During his tenure in Pinellas County, Meidel has focused on redevelopment, entrepreneurship, job creation, employer retention, business recruitment and workforce development issues and worked to implement the “Penny for Pinellas IV” for economic development. 

“Mike’s leadership at Pinellas County Economic Development has helped local companies during the pandemic, brought new employers to our community, assisted with local business expansions and positioned Pinellas County as a destination for growing companies and innovation,” Pinellas County Administrator Barry Burton says in a statement. “His work has diversified our economy, advanced redevelopment and strengthened community partnerships to focus on collaborative economic development efforts. On behalf of Pinellas County, I’d like to thank Mike for his service.”

Prior to taking the top job at Pinellas County Economic Development, Meidel worked at Florida Power Corp., which is now Duke Energy, and the Clearwater Regional Chamber, where he was president.

“Economic development is a team sport; our accomplishments are the result of strong collaboration among colleagues here at the county and in our cities, our partners in educational institutions and at CareerSource, as well as the staff and active members of our chambers of commerce and industry associations,” Meidel says, in a statement.

Pinellas County intends to begin a national search for Meidel’s successor in the coming weeks. The Next Move Group has been selected to manage the recruitment and selection process.