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OTTUMWA,IOWA -- Ottumwans got a chance to meet the man who will try to bring more businesses to the city.

City leaders hired David Barajas Jr. as the new Executive Director of the Ottumwa Economic Development Corporation. He replaces Interim Director Cindy Woodbury.

Barajas was at the Bridgeview Center Saturday morning to meet the public as well as other city leaders. He will be in charge of retaining and expanding current businesses in Ottumwa and assisting business owners. He will also work on bringing in new businesses to the city's economy.

Barajas is a native of Sterling, Illinois, where he worked in economic development for the last seven and a half years. Barajas helped revitalize Sterling after the city lost many businesses and manufacturing. That experience is what brought him to Ottumwa.

"During that time period, we were also able to reach out and work on bringing in new development to the community. We were able to bring a Wal-Mart distribution center to the Sterling area that now provides 1,000 jobs to the community."

"It took a while to get that done. But by working with city hall, by working with all the different organizations in town, we were able to get that done."

Barajas has many short and long term goals he hopes to accomplish. His first day on the job is January 31.