2017 Economic Development Annual Report

2017

Annual Report CIT Y

O F

H A MI LTO N

ECO NO MIC

D E V ELO PM ENT

About

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Our mission

Message from the Director

The City of Hamilton Economic Development Department leads activities that retain and create jobs, increase the tax base, and improve the quality of life for the citizens of Hamilton. We work across departmental and organizational lines to help businesses succeed in our community and to promote Hamilton as a place to live, work, and play.

2017 Year in Review Downtown Redevelopment The Hamilton Mill

Who we are

Business & Industry

Located in the heart of the Cincinnati-Dayton metroplex, Hamilton has long been an industrial force in the region and the urban and cultural center of Butler County. The City of Hamilton is home to just over 62,000 residents, three historic neighborhoods, and the 2017 National Small Business Development Center of the Year. Our community has seen more than $400 million of investment and 30 new small businesses opened in the past five years, and we expect that number to top $800 million five years from now.

Arts & Quality of Life Utilities & Infrastructure 5 Year Strategic Plan Meet Our Team 2

3 4 6 8 12 14 18 20 22

Message

FROM THE DIRECTOR Hamilton is experiencing a renaissance like no time in our history.

Our companies have created hundreds of new jobs, and new companies are creating thousands more. Our downtown business districts are more active and vibrant than they have been in decades.

Our historic buildings are being renovated and repurposed while our historic neighborhoods are being rehabilitated and reclaimed.

Over the past five years, Hamilton has completely changed, but this is still only the beginning. We see progress every day on our most exciting projects, the ones that are reshaping Hamilton: The Marcum Apartments. South Hamilton Crossing.

These projects, and countless others, are paving the way for bigger and more impactful projects, like the planned sports complex at the former Champion Paper Mill site.

Whether you’re looking to start, relocate, or expand a business, find a new place to call home, or just spend an evening out with friends, I invite you to come and see why Hamilton is the place to be.

HAMILTON HAS COMPLE TELY CHANGED, BUT THIS IS S TILL ONLY THE BEGINNING -Jody Gunderson, Director of Economic Development, City of Hamilton

3

2017

YEAR IN REVIEW

Darana Hybrid

JAN

Marcum Apartments

The electromechanical firm announced the move of their headquarters to Hamilton. They will build a training facility and create approximately 200 jobs in Hamilton Enterprise Park over the next few years.

Pipeline H2O

The new luxury apartment complex broke ground at its location just south of Marcum Park and RiversEdge. This development will add more than 100 apartment units and four retail spaces.

FEB

Marcum Park

The water technology commercialization platform launched with its inaugural class. These six companies develop technology to address challenges related to clean water throughout the world.

Butler County SBDC

APR

MAY

The premier downtown park was completed and dedicated. It was funded through a $4 million donation from Joe and Sarah Marcum and has a water feature, a great lawn, and wide sidewalks for food trucks.

MAR

StreetSpark Murals

The U.S. Small Business Administration chose the Hamilton Millbased Butler County SBDC as the 2017 Center of the Year. They are the first Center in Ohio to receive this national recognition.

JUN

Three murals were painted honoring Hamilton and its history.

Downtown Hamilton now has five murals through the StreetSpark program. Six native bird murals were also painted in local parks.

4

Barclaycard

JUL

Kaivac

The customer care center renovated the third floor of Vora Technology Park to add an additional 375 seats, bringing their total capacity up to 750 employees. They now employ more than 500 people in Hamilton.

Kirsch CPA Group

The cleaning systems company moved to a new corporate campus consisting of four buildings and including a training center. This move doubles the company’s facility size and will allow for triple the staff.

AUG

Small Business

The accounting firm announced plans to move to the former Fifth Third building in downtown Hamilton after renovation is complete. This will add at least 40 new professional jobs downtown.

The Hamilton Mill

OCT

NOV

The small business districts saw growth this year, with an additional 15 shops opened downtown, in German Village, and on Main Street.

More than 25 new businesses have opened in just the past two years.

SEP

Realtor Tours

The business incubator received a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce. This money will be used to create and expand proof-of-concept and commercialization programs.

DEC

The Chamber of Commerce and the City of Hamilton partnered to host realtor tours to help local realtors become familiar with Hamilton neighborhoods. Tours were held in June and December 2017.

5

Downtown

REDEVELOPMENT Spooky Nook Sports

Kirsch CPA Group

A group of Hamilton’s civic and community leaders took a trip to Spooky Nook Sports complex in Manheim, Pennsylvania to tour the country’s largest indoor sports facility in January 2017. Spooky Nook is working with the City of Hamilton to secure financing for Champion Mill Redevelopment Project, a $150 million project that would turn the old Champion Paper Mill into the largest sports facility in the region. The redevelopment project is expected to break ground in 2018 and, once completed, draw over a million visitors to Hamilton per year.

The former Fifth Third building at the corner of High and 3rd Streets is now being redeveloped into Class A commercial office space with the use of state Historic Tax Credits. This building was constructed in 1956 and has been vacant since 2012, when Fifth Third closed its downtown Hamilton offices. Kirsch CPA Group LLC announced in fall 2017 that it would be moving its headquarters into the top two floors with plans to expand their 30-employee team. The building is being renovated by the same developers who previously worked on Hamilton’s Historic Mercantile Lofts, the former Journal-News building, and the Robinson-Schwenn building.

While much of it may not yet be visible to those passing by the site, a lot of behind-the-scenes activity is taking place to move the Spooky Nook Sports at the Champion Mill project forward. In 2017, the Spooky Nook team was focused on obtaining Historic Registration from the State of Ohio and the National Parks Service.

The City of Hamilton was focused on environmental remediation over the past year, as well as creating a plan for the relocation of B Street. All partners involved are excited and committed to moving the project forward.

Marcum Apartments The Marcum Apartment project broke ground in April 2017 and is moving forward quickly. This $12 million project, being undertaken

by CMC Properties of Blue Ash, is located in the heart of downtown Hamilton between Marcum Park & RiversEdge Amphitheater, the Courtyard by Marriott, Municipal Brew Works, and the YMCA. It is the first major downtown development in over 20 years. Once completed, The Marcum will add 100+ luxury apartment units and four commercial spaces. Two restaurants have already been announced to go into the Marcum: Loveland-based Tano’s Bistro & Catering, which focuses on wholesome food and seasonal menus, and The Casual Pint, a craft beer market with a limited food menu.

Spooky Nook was recognized several times in 2017 for their outstanding facilities and commitment to community engagement.

In May, they were chosen by SportsEvents Magazine as one of the top ten Multi-Use Sports Facilities in the nation, and in November they received the Building the Community award at the Central Penn Business Journal’s Business of the Year Awards.

THERE ARE LOTS OF INTERESTING THINGS HAPPENING IN HAMILTON... WE WANTED TO B E P A R T O F T H A T -John Kirsch, CPA & Partner, Kirsch CPA Group 6

Marcum Park Marcum Park was completed in May 2017. This park expands and completes RiversEdge Amphitheater, which was opened in 2013 after a $2 million redevelopment of the former Mercy Hospital site. Marcum Park was made possible through a nearly $4 million

donation by the Marcum family, the largest private donation made for a park in Hamilton’s history. Amenities at the park include a water feature and children’s playscape, a wide sidewalk accessible to food trucks, and a great lawn.

Municipal Brew Works

Courtyard by Marriott

Municipal Brew Works announced in March 2017 that it had signed a distribution agreement with Monroe-based Ohio Eagle Distributing, a wholesale distributor of domestic, imported, and craft beers. The brewery opened in June 2016 in the back of the former municipal building at 20 High Street and has seen enormous success as a focal point of downtown activity. This agreement will distribute the Municipal Brew Works’ beers throughout Butler, Warren, and Preble counties and will help them grow.

In 2009, a $5 million renovation of the former Hamiltonian Hotel became the first major redevelopment project undertaken in downtown Hamilton and spurred other investment in Hamilton, including the Mercantile Lofts and the planned Marcum Apartments.

In March 2017, the Courtyard by Marriott Hamilton completed a $1 million update to its lobby, ballroom, fitness area, swimming pool, outside patio, and guest rooms.

7

The

H A M I LT O N M I L L Pipeline H2O

Grants

The Hamilton Mill announced the inaugural class of Pipeline H2O in January 2017 - six startups from around the country that will change the world. Pipeline H2O is a commercialization program for water technology companies supported by a coalition of regional cities, utilities, universities, and startup organizations throughout the Greater Cincinnati region. The goal of the program is to identify and accelerate companies working on water technologies that address the world’s water challenges, including infrastructure improvements, water reuse, and wastewater treatment and monitoring. The Mill received 66 applications from 14 countries for the 2017 class. Six companies were chosen for the inaugural class in 2017 and eight will be chosen for the 2018 class.

The Hamilton Mill and the University of Cincinnati (UC) were awarded a $500,000 grant from the Department of Commerce to create and expand cluster-focused proof-of-concept and commercialization programs through the Economic Development Administration’s Regional Innovation Strategies program. The grant includes a collaborative approach with UC that will focus on four main programs: “City as a Lab” concept, Industrialist-inResident program, Industrialist xChange Portal, and Pipeline H2O. The Mill also received a $50,000 grant from the Greater Cincinnati Foundation to bolster its array of entrepreneurial support programs.

The culmination of the Pipeline program was a Demo Day in May 2017, during which each company presented their breakthrough technologies and potential impacts to an audience of over 100 investors, innovators, university representatives, and members of the #StartupCincy community. After the presentations, two companies were selected by their peer companies in the program to receive $25,000 investments: PowerTech Water and Searen.

2017 Pipeline H2O Inaugural Class Members

PowerTech has been making waves in other areas of the industry, as well. On May 9, 2017, they were selected to receive a $200,000 investment from Clean Energy Trust, a nonprofit cleantech accelerator based in Chicago.

AguaClara

Ithaca, NY

ANDalyze

Champaign, IL

kW River Hydroelectric

Hamilton, OH

PowerTech Water

Lexington, KY

Searen

Cincinnati, OH

WaterStep

Louisville, KY

THEY WILL CHANGE THE WORLD -Rahul Bawa, Chairman, Pipeline H2O, speaking of the inaugural Pipeline class

8

FA S T FAC T S: $3M capital infusion through the SBDC $550,000 in grants received by the Mill Butler County SBDC The Butler County Small Business Development Center (SBDC), based out of the Hamilton Mill, was chosen as the SBDC of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration in 2017. This annual recognition is awarded based on excellence in categories including business starts, capital infusion, jobs created, and jobs retained. In 2017, the SBDC oversaw 58 business starts and $3 million capital infusion while providing guidance that created 183 jobs and generated more than $3.1 million in new sales. The Butler County SBDC was chosen out of over 1,000 Centers nationwide and is the first in the state of Ohio to receive the recognition.

Additionally, the SBDC added a new business advisor to its team in 2017. Sangmi Kim is dedicated to serving entrepreneurs and small business owners, with a specialty in developing business strategies, formulating financial projections, and providing training to new business owners. Kim graduated with a Finance/Strategy MBA and Juris Doctor degree from The Ohio State University, has worked as a research scientist with the University of Cincinnati, and provides pro bono legal counseling for selected cases.

NewKnowledgeUnited The Hamilton Mill was proud to announce the first successful exit of a member company in February 2017. NewKnowledgeUnited (NKU), founded in 2014 by Jack Calhoun and Dr. Danny Hoyt, merged with TiER1 Performance Solutions to help them strengthen their core talent base and expand their national reach. This event signifies a major accomplishment for both NKU and the Hamilton Mill, as exits are widely considered to be the ultimate goal of incubators and accelerators throughout the startup ecosystem.

58 business starts through the SBDC 6 inaugural Pipeline H2O participants ST 1 SBDC in Ohio to be chosen as

the national Small Business Development Center of the Year

ST 1 successful exit of a member company

SUCCESS STORY ODW Logistics & Transportation In 2009, John Guggenbiller partnered with Mike Guggenbiller, Dave Giblin, Brian Karwisch, Brian Woods, and John Weber to start ODW Logistics & Transportation Services (LTS) out of the Hamilton Mill (then known as BizTech). They quickly outgrew their offices at 20 High Street, and were soon looking for a new location. Their initial plans were to move closer to Cincinnati, but after hearing about the City’s plans to revitalizae the downtown area, they chose to stay in Hamilton.

Today, ODW LTS is one of the fastest growing employers in downtown Hamilton, with more than 60 employees at the end of 2017. They were a recipient of the Inc 5000 Award from 2013-2016 and have been a Cincinnati Business Courier Fast 55 Award winner every year since 2012. Over the summer of 2017, they completed renovations on their office space at One Renaissance Center and now have even more room to grow. Their engagement with and contribution to the Hamilton community has made them an important part of the ongoing downtown revitalization.

MEET SANGMI KIM New business advisor at the Butler County SBDC

What’s the best advice you can give business owners today?

Just as Warren Buffett said, delight your customers! If your business has satisfied customers, they will become your best marketing and sales force. A great example is Zappos: its customer service is famous for going to extremes to delight its customers.

Rave reviews written by customers are the best indicator that they will provide repeat business and word-of-mouth advertising.

How will you change Butler County?

As a business advisor, I hope to help existing and future business owners develop essential business skills that will allow them to succeed.

Contact Sangmi through the Butler County SBDC: 513-737-6543 sangmi@butlercountysbdc.com

HAMILTON APPRECIATES THE CHALLENGES OF BUSINESS AND HELPS OVERCOME THOSE CHALLENGES...LEADERSHIP IS A STRONG, SERVICE-ORIENTED TEAM BACKED BY A FORWARD-LOOKING COUNCIL -Sam Beiler, CEO & Owner, Spooky Nook Sports

Major

BUSINESS & INDUSTRY Barclaycard

Darana Hybrid

Barclaycard began renovations on the third floor of Vora Technology Park in spring 2017 to add another 32,000 square feet to its operating space. The company announced plans to open their new 1,500 person call center in Hamilton in 2015, and began operations at the former site of Champion headquarters in early 2016. When this project was announced in 2015, it was the largest job announcement in the Greater Cincinnati region that year and one of the largest job announcements in the state in the past decade. The third floor was completed and opened in June 2017, giving Barclaycard enough space to employ a total of 750 people in a variety of departments including Quality/Learning, Investigations, Disputes, Fraud, and Collections. Currently, Barclaycard employs approximately 500 people at Vora Technology Park.

Darana Hybrid, Inc. announced the relocation of their headquarters to Hamilton, Ohio in January 2017. This company is a 100% native American owned electro-mechanical contractor specializing in industrial, electrical, and mechanical installations. Through a $46 million capital investment project in Hamilton Enterprise Park, Darana Hybrid will create 200 new jobs, a hands-on industrial installation facility, and a training center for electro-mechanical and industrial trades jobs. The center will host between 200-300 students per cohort and provide certificates and a semesterlong training program for electrical, mechanical, and engineering work. Darana Hybrid is providing training sessions at their current location on the fifth floor of One Renaissance Center at 345 High Street with plans to begin construction on their new facility in 2018.

COMPANIES ARE COMING TO HAMILTON -Dayton Daily News

12

ThyssenKrupp Bilstein

80 Acres Farms

ThyssenKrupp Bilstein (TKB) employed 185 people at their Hamilton location in 2011. Today, TKB employs more than 800 people, with plans to employ up to 900 by the end of 2018. As one of Hamilton’s largest and fastest growing employers, TKB has been an important partner in the community. They have invested tens of millions of dollars in their facility off of Symmes Road, were a catalyst in starting up the Butler County Regional Transit Authority’s R6 Job Connector Route, and received the 2017 Employer of the Year Award from the Ohio Governor’s Council on People with Disabilities. TKB currently employs 15 individuals with disabilities through a partnership with the Butler County Board of Developmental Disabilities’ job development program and also runs its own Project LIFE internship program, which assists young adults with disabilities in building foundational skills.

80 Acres Farms began work on their downtown Hamilton location just south of High Street in 2017. 80 Acres’ mission is to provide the most flavorful, nutritious, fresh, and clean food to local communities. With revolutionary new technology, they grow food pesticide- and GMO-free in more traditionally urban areas, all while using far fewer resources and nearly eliminating food miles. Their $3+ million investment in the old Miami Motor building will convert it into a 26,000 square foot “Plant Paradise”, where an assortment of culinary herbs, leafy greens, microgreens, and vining crops can grow and thrive in the perfect controlled environment.

Kaivac Cleaning Systems In October 2017, Kaivac Cleaning Systems announced its move to a new corporate campus on Van Hook Avenue in Hamilton. The new corporate campus, double the size of their previous Hamilton location, consists of four buildings and includes a training center, where the company can train customers from around the world on how to use and sell its cleaning systems. Kaivac currently employs 90 people, but this move will allow them to triple staffing in the future.

Hamilton’s Top 5 Private Employers (by number of employees) Fort Hamilton Hospital

Healthcare

950

ThyssenKrupp Bilstein

Manufacturing

800

Community First Solutions

Healthcare

625

Barclaycard

Communication Technology

500

STARTEK

Communication Technology

350

Dedicated Logistics Inc. Dedicated Logistics Inc. moved to Hamilton over the summer of 2017. This company employs over 150 drivers and warehouse workers and is located behind iMFLUX at the corner of Symmes Road and Bypass-4.

13

Arts

& QUALITY OF LIFE StreetSpark The StreetSpark program through the Fitton Center for Creative Arts added its second round of murals to downtown Hamilton in summer 2017, for a total of five murals on High and Main Streets.

The first mural to be completed in 2017 was on the side of Clark’s Sporting Goods at 15 S. B Street and depicts Hamilton native Joe Nuxhall, both as a young Cincinnati Reds pitcher in the prime of his career as well as later in life as a philanthropist and popular local figure. The other two murals were added on the old Marshall Electric building at 212 Main Street and on the side of the McDulin Parking Garage overlooking the new Rotary Park at the corner of High and 2nd Streets.

Realtor Tours The Economic Development Department partnered with the Chamber of Commerce for the second year in a row to host the realtor tours, which invite realtors from the Greater Cincinnati region to visit Hamilton and learn more about our community.

Tours were held in June and December of 2017, and included bus tours of a variety of neighborhoods and business districts as well as receptions at Municipal Brew Works and Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park where realtors could mingle with local residents, school officials, and business leaders.

14

Downtown Events

New Small Businesses Opened in 2017

Downtown Hamilton continues to draw tens of thousands of visitors per year through a number of events. Major events in 2017 included: Ice Fest, a bi-annual fundraiser hosted by the City of Sculpture committee; Superhero Saturday, which drew thousands to the Main Street Business District in July; the second annual Dragon Boat Festival hosted by the Great Miami Rowing Center; David Shaw’s Big River Get Down music festival; and Operation Pumpkin, which held its sixth annual event in October. Smaller events such as Alive After 5, the Hamilton Flea, and Main Street shop hops benefit local businesses and help spread the word about what’s going on in Hamilton.

Small Business A total of 15 new small businesses opened in Hamilton in 2017, many in the Main Street Business District. There have been 34 new small businesses opened in Hamilton in the past five years, which has drastically decreased retail vacancy in the urban core.

Having a varied and unique group of small businesses helps make Hamilton a destination spot for shoppers, who can spend a whole day visiting multiple stores as well as our local restaurants, parks, and other amenities.

Aurora Distributing

Brookwood Avenue

Edward Jones (Ashlee Willis office)

German Village

Fleurish Home

Main St Business District

Henry's Candy

Central Business District

Hip Boutique

Main St Business District

Main St. Vinyl

Main St Business District

North 2nd Tap and Bottle Shop

Central Business District

One Love Yoga and Healing Center

Central Business District

Pedal Green Pedicab

German Village

Pet Wants

Main St Business District

R.I.S.E. Fit

Central Business District

Rustic Home

Main St Business District

Steel Magnolia Salon

Main St Business District

The Little Nail Shop

Main St Business District

Unsung Salvage

Main St Business District

WE RE ALLY LIKED THE VIBE IN HAMILTON -Debra Campbell, Owner, Fleurish Home

15

WE CHOSE HAMILTON BECAUSE OF ITS UNIQUE COMBINATION OF A HISTORIC & VERY COOL DOWNTOWN AND THE GRE AT ARTS & CULTURE SCENE -Jim Cohen, President, CMC Properties

SPOTLIGHT BCRTA’s Job Connector Route In April 2016, the Butler County Regional Transit Authority (BCRTA) implemented the R6 Job Connector route, a regional bus route designed to connect residents of Hamilton with regional employers.

The route runs from downtown Hamilton through the residential and industrial corridors of Hamilton and Fairfield, and provides a connection into Hamilton County, Cincinnati Metro, and Middletown Transit systems. In August 2016, BCRTA partnered with the City of Hamilton, OhioMeansJobs Butler County, and other organizations to host a transit job fair. This event allowed participants to engage with employers along the new bus route while also learning about public transportation and how to use it to get to and from work. At the International Economic Development Council’s annual conference in September 2017, BCRTA was awarded the Silver Excellence in Economic Development award in the category of Human Capital.

Their efforts to create and market the R6 Route, improve regional access to employment opportunities, and educate the public about public transportation systems earned them this award.

N E W NIG HT LIFE I N 2018 One of our biggest areas of focus in recent years has been on creating more dining and other nightlife activity downtown. Because restaurants and bars are such a capital-intensive endeavor, they are often the slowest to move in to a community that is being revitalized.

In 2017, however, North 2nd Tap & Bottle Shop opened downtown, and four restaurants announced their plans to move to Hamilton, making this one of our most successful years yet in terms of quality of life.

Basil 1791

Tano’s Bistro & Catering

This Asian-American gastropub located on High Street will feature a pan-Asian menu with an American twist.

This Loveland-based restaurant and catering company is opening a second location in the Marcum Apartments development.

Quarter Barrel

The Casual Pint

This brewpub is coming to the corner of Main and B Streets and will feature a microbrewery and a rooftop patio.

This craft beer market will be the second anchor tenant at the Marcum Apartments and will sell craft beer on tap or to go.

Utilities

& INFRASTRUCTURE

THIS AWARD RECOGNIZES OUR STRONG COMMITMENT TO SERVING THE COMMUNIT Y

-Jim Logan, Executive Director of Infrastructure, City of Hamilton

High-MLK Intersection Improvements

Columbia Bridge Improvements

Upgrades made to the intersection of High Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard through the State Highway Safety Program were completed in October 2017. This project added new turn lanes to increase safety and help alleviate traffic congestion at this crucial intersection. Improved traffic flow benefits visitors and residents as they travel within our community to visit businesses and attend local events. Project investment is estimated at $2.5 million.

Construction began in March 2017 to rehabilitate Columbia Bridge, the southernmost bridge that connects Hamilton on both sides of the Great Miami River. This project was undertaken by the Ohio Department of Transportation to repair the curb and sidewalk, replace damaged sections of railing and railing posts, and upgrade the crosswalks to meet ADA requirements, among other things.

Rehabilitation cost was approximately $1.7 million and construction was completed in November 2017.

Reliable Public Power Provider Hamilton Utilities earned the Diamond Reliable Public Power Provider (RP3) designation from the American Public Power Association (APPA) in May 2017 for providing reliable and safe electric service. RP3 Diamond is the highest honor bestowed by the APPA, and Hamilton is one of only 43 utilities nationwide, out of more than 2,000, to receive the honor in 2017. Hamilton’s publiclyowned utilities are one of the City’s greatest economic development assets. More than half of our electric comes from sustainable and green hydroelectric facilities, making our prices some of the most stable and competitive in the region. This, in turn, makes Hamilton highly attractive to companies with high energy demands. The RP3 Diamond designation lasts for three years.

Reliable Public Power Provider 18

South Hamilton Crossing In the summer of 2016, construction began on South Hamilton Crossing, a $32 million overpass of the previous at-grade rail crossing between Pleasant and Central Avenues. This overpass, named the Jim Blount South Hamilton Crossing in honor of the local historian who was a key advocate for this project, will improve access to and from University Commerce Park, Miami University Hamilton, and Vora Technology Park. The first proposal for this project was over 100 years ago, but it finally gained traction in January 2010 when the City of Hamilton and Butler County Transportation Improvement District coordinated efforts with the Ohio Department of Transportation and the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments. The project is expected to be completed in the summer of 2018.

FA S T FAC T S: 2017 AWARDS

Reliable Public Power Provider Diamond designation

Bronze medal in Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting Competition Best of the Best award for best tasting water in Ohio

$100M+ total investment in utilities

& other infrastructure in the last 5 years

130+ years providing competitive & reliable utilities to the Hamilton community

5 Year

S T R AT EG I C P L A N Looking Back

Looking Ahead

Hamilton has experienced enormous change in the past five years.

Our historic buildings and neighborhoods, neglected for so long, are once again vibrant and full of life. Thanks to the tireless efforts of our businesses large and small, redevelopment partners such as the Consortium for Ongoing Reinvestment Efforts (CORE), and enthusiastic community leaders, Hamilton has become one of the most exciting places to be in the Greater Cincinnati region. This collective commitment to our community is truly inspiring.

Our work has only just begun. We believe that the best communities are those which constantly strive to grow and improve, and we plan to continue doing just that. Between the completion of the Marcum Apartments and South Hamilton Crossing, the addition of at least four new restaurants downtown, and the expected groundbreaking of the sports complex at Champion Mill, 2018 will be a big year for Hamilton. Our community will be a completely different one after another five years of revitalization.

Total Investment in Hamilton

Total New Jobs Added (2013-17)

$100M

Healthcare (150) Logistics (300)

$80M

$60M

$40M

Industrial & Manufacturing

Communication Technology

(1,200)

(2,200)

$20M

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

Citywide Total Annual Payroll

(projected)

Labor & Unemployment Trends 27K

$1B

# residents employed 8%

$900M

26K $800M 6% % unemployment rate

25K

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

$700M 4%

$0

20

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

Previous Goals Realize $150M of new private industrial & commercial investment

Status

Future Goal

Completed!

Of the $400M+ investment in Hamilton since 2013, private investment in commercial and industrial development accounts for approximately $230M

Completed!

Add 2,000 net new jobs in the community

Generate $20M investment for recreational amenities

Increase residential property values by CPI +5%

This goal was met within just one year, with the announcements of Barclaycard and STARTEK which created more than 2,200 jobs in 2015

Realize another $150M of new private industrial & commercial investment

With planned projects such as Spooky Nook Sports at the Champion Mill and Darana Hybrid’s new facility, we expect to meet this goal by 2020

Add 350 jobs in advanced manufacturing by 2020

The City of Hamilton added a Workforce Development Specialist position in 2017 to help employers find and recruit the employees they need

In Progress* This Department’s objective has been to increase retail, restaurant, & entertainment options. With North 2nd Tap & Bottle Shop now open and the announcements of Tano’s Bistro, Quarter Barrel, Basil 1791, and the Casual Pint, 2017 has been a very successful year in this area. More restaurants are expected to open in downtown Hamilton in 2018.

In Progress* This Department’s objective has been to revitalize the urban core assets by incentivizing residential and commercial uses. Mixed use developments since 2013 (including Artspace and the Marcum Apartments) account for more than $30M investment, and other major investments include projects like Municipal Brew Works and CORE’s revitalization of blighted homes in historic neighborhoods.

21

*Other non-Economic Development projects also contribute toward this City goal but are not included in the information to the left

*Other non-Economic Development projects also contribute toward this City goal but are not included in the information to the left

Meet

OUR TEAM Jody Gunderson

Stacey DietrichDudas

Director of Economic Development

Business Development Specialist

Lauren Gersbach

Jordan Schotz

Small Business Development Specialist

Workforce Development Specialist

Pat Bigler

Hamilton is Open for Business We’re here to make our community better, and we move at the speed of business. Whether you’re looking to start a new business, expand an existing one, or just find out about what makes Hamilton so special, we want to talk.

Executive Administrative Coordinator

513-785-7070 econdev@hamilton-oh.gov hamiltonohiobusiness.com

22

Chris Lawson

Antony Seppi

Executive Director, Hamilton Mill

Director of Operations, Hamilton Mill

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT What is workforce development?

With consistent private sector growth and low levels of unemployment everywhere, workforce development has become a nationwide buzzword. Like economic development, workforce development encompasses many different activities and areas of focus: education & training, transportation & other social services, employee advancement & retention, youth engagement, and much more.

What is workforce development in the City of Hamilton specifically?

The City of Hamilton’s Workforce Development Specialist is most focused on working with local employers to solve problems specific to the Greater Cincinnati region. Our community has a high concentration of healthcare, advanced manufacturing, and communication technology jobs, and the needs of these three

industries are unique. Advanced manufacturing, for example, requires specialized skills but no single advanced degree, which means that while employees can enter this field in a variety of ways, there is not always a clear path to employment and advancement in these companies. At the same time, many people, particularly youth, are unaware of the variety of jobs in advanced manufacturing or the high pay of many of these positions. Working with employers to address challenges like these is just one aspect of what the Workforce Development Specialist does.

Get in touch If you are an employer in the City of Hamilton and have concerns about finding and retaining the talent you need to do business, contact the Workforce Development Specialist at jordan.schotz@ hamilton-oh.gov or 513-785-7043.

CONTACT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT

345 High Street, Hamilton OH 45011 513-785-7070 econdev@hamilton-oh.gov

Special thanks to the Butler County Visitors Bureau for use of their photography