annual report 2019 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
H A M I LT O N , O H I O
Paul Oakley Stovall, from the renowned musical ‘Hamilton’, visited Hamilton, Ohio in February 2019
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New & Growing Industry Restaurants & Nightlife Spooky Nook Sports Champion Mill Entrepreneurship
Downtown Living
Project Highlights Healthcare Expansions Quality of Life Workforce Development Strategic Plan & Metrics M e e t O u r Te a m 3
economic Director
growth in Hamilton has played a key role in making our community more vibrant and more attractive over the past decade. Private sector investment and expansions have proven that Hamilton is a city where people want to do business, which has created a domino effect of ever more interest in development and redevelopment. These efforts have shaped a resurgent urban core with nationally award-winning parks, regionally beloved craft breweries and restaurants, and top notch events that draw national attention and tens of thousands of visitors annually. Community and business leaders have stepped up to lead improvement efforts in their neighborhoods, creating a synergy that led Ohio Magazine to declare Hamilton as one of Ohio’s Best Hometowns in 2019. At the start of the previous decade, Hamilton had already experienced several decades of disinvestment and a decreasing economic base as industrial jobs moved away, but it had yet to contend with the most staggering blows. Ohio Casualty moved the last of its downtown Hamilton employees out of its three-building complex in July 2010. Both the former Champion and Beckett Paper Mills shuttered their operations in 2012 after serving over a century as the backbone of Hamilton’s manufacturing sector. These announcements left hundreds without jobs and left many in the community feeling hopeless.
from the
Still, despite the hardships faced by this city, there was optimism. Hamilton Caster, a family-owned business, was as strong as ever more than a century after it was founded right here in Hamilton. thyssenkrupp Bilstein had chosen to locate in Hamilton in the 1990s and, in the early 2010s, was only just beginning a process of rapid growth and expansion that would lead to more than 500 new jobs and a total of $43.2 million invested into its facility. ODW Logistics was still new in the community but beginning to grow. These cases show what we’ve always known to be true: that Hamiltonians are gritty, hard-working, and resilient. The rest, as they say, is history. Much has changed in the community since 2010, but the character of Hamilton remains. This is obvious in the number of historic buildings that have been salvaged and rehabilitated rather than demolished to make way for something new. Historic rehabilitation projects have led to everything from new restaurants and apartments to 80 Acres Farms’ first growing space in downtown Hamilton, and of course to the upcoming Spooky Nook Sports Champion Mill. The presence of companies such as Kirsch CPA and STARTEK has helped revitalize downtown Hamilton, while others like Darana Hybrid, Barclays, and Kaivac are driving growth closer to neighborhoods. Entire small business districts have been brought back to life as hundreds of entrepreneurs have chosen to open their bar, restaurant, shop, or other small business on High Street and on Main Street, in Lindenwald and German Village and beyond.
Message
Through all of it, the Economic Development Department aims to serve these companies and, ultimately, the community they have chosen to invest in. Our goal is to make the process of job creation, capital expansion, and worker retention as easy as possible. We work across departmental and organizational lines to find answers and solutions quickly, because we know that when businesses succeed in Hamilton, they are inherently promoting the livability, vitality, and vibrancy of the city. With the opening of Spooky Nook fast approaching, we are optimistic about the future of Hamilton, but we are also proud to celebrate this moment in our city’s history and all the hard work that has brought us here.
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H a m i l to n i a n s a r e g r i t t y, h a rd - wo r k i n g , a n d resilient...much has changed in our community s i n c e 2 010 , b u t t h e c h a r a c te r o f H a m i l to n r e m a i n s . The Economic Development Depar tment aims to ser ve [our] companies and the community they have chosen to invest in. We are optimistic about the future of Hamilton, but we are also proud to celebrate this moment in our city’s histor y and all the hard work that brought us here. - Jody Gunderson D i r e c t o r, C i t y o f H a m i l t o n E c o n o m i c D e v e l o p m e n t
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these
companies are making strides in the fields of technology and manufacturing. Whether they’re just moving to Hamilton or have been here over a century, their impact on the community cannot be overstated. 80 Acres Farms
N e w & G r o w i n g I nd u s t r y
In July 2019, 80 Acres Farms announced its plans to create 125 new jobs in Hamilton after receiving a $26.9 million investment from Virgo Investment Group. This company builds vertical, fully automated hydroponic greenhouses that to grow a variety of culinary herbs, salad greens, and vine crops. 80 Acres derives its name from its ability to grow 80 acres worth of food in a quarter acre of indoor farming space. Its food is both GMO- and pesticidefree, and its methods allow it to use far less water than traditional agriculture while nearly eliminating food miles. The company moved its corporate headquarters and 15 existing employees to the top floor of 345 High Street and will continue to grow in this community. Infinite Acres In addition to 80 Acres, Infinite Acres also announced its move to Hamilton in 2019. Infinite Acres is a joint venture between 80 Acres Farms, UK-based Ocado Group, and Netherlands-based Priva. Ocado is the world’s largest dedicated online grocery retailer, and Priva is a leading provider of technology solutions, services, and automation systems to horticultural industries. The mission of Infinite Acres is to provide the best technology available to grow the highest quality produce near population centers throughout the world, including regions where year-round nutritious produce is in danger due to climate change or population growth. Hamilton Caster Hamilton Caster has been part of the Hamilton community since 1907, and in 2019 they are reinvesting in our community. Consistent growth and increased demand for Hamilton Caster’s products have driven a need for more space and employees. Hamilton Caster hired ten new positions over the past year, and in late 2019 broke ground on a new building expected to be completed by the end of the year. The new $6.5 million, 60,000 square foot facility will include office and manufacturing space, and is located at the site of the former Hamilton Inn, a property that had degraded into a nuisance for the area in recent years. Hamilton Caster is one of several companies reinvesting in one of Hamilton’s traditional neighborhoods. At the boundary between several neighborhoods, including Riverview (formerly Second Ward), Lindenwald, Jefferson, and East End, this company offers quality job opportunities close to where residents live. After creating ten new positions in 2019, the company currently employs 95 people, including a number of international workers from Nepal, Eritrea, Guatemala, India, Ukraine, and Mexico. 6
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Breaking ground on our new building is part of a j o u r n ey, n o t a n event. Our growth has been on an upward cur ve, and this expansion is an outcome of that - Dave Lipper t CEO, Hamilton Caster
With its exciting advancements in the food production industry, 80 Acres Farms will feed population centers even in areas where traditional agriculture is in danger due to climate change and population growth
Darana Hybrid
Salvagnini America
Darana Hybrid has completed work on its new location at 903 Belle Avenue. This 100% Native American owned company originally moved its headquarters to Hamilton in early 2017 with plans to create a hands-on industrial installation and training center for electro-mechanical and industrial trades jobs. The company chose to invest directly into a vacant and blighted property in Lindenwald, one of Hamilton’s largest neighborhoods, and completed work on the building in December 2019. Currently, Darana employs 290 people, with plans to hire an additional 400 in 2020. These new employees will work on projects such as the conveyor system for the new Amazon AirHub at CVG, a $50 million contract for which Darana Hybrid was selected as the installation principal.
Salvagnini America has nearly completed an $8.5 million, 26,000 square foot expansion of its space just off of Symmes Road and Bypass 4. The company, which designs, builds, sells, and services flexible machines and systems for processing sheet metal, broke ground on the expansion of its customer resource campus in late 2018 to create a new showroom and office area. This project is expected to be completed in early 2020, and will create 15 new jobs over the next three years.
JWF Technologies JWF Technologies, which builds custom hydraulic and pneumatic solutions for its clients, has been growing rapidly and chose Hamilton to create its new engineering & production facility. Construction on the 50,000 square foot building began in July 2018 and was completed in summer 2019. The company now employs 43 people, with plans to add up to five additional employees in the future.
VPCabs VPCabs, which manufactures virtual pinball machines, relocated its production facility to 113 North Third Street in 2018. This small company received a $200,000 investment on Shark Tank in 2016 and has been growing rapidly since. In 2019, VPCabs was contracted by Snap-On Tools to build upwards of 1,200 machines, which created ten new positions in downtown Hamilton. Once VPCabs’ unexpectedly rapid growth stabilizes, owner Brad Baker plans to continue renovation of the front room into Pinball Garage, a “barcade” which will feature both vintage and modern pinball machines. Total investment to create the gaming bar is anticipated at around $750,000.
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thyssenkrupp Bilstein building a legacy of ongoing innovation
as
Hamilton’s largest private for-profit employer, thyssenkrupp Bilstein has continuously reinvested and grown in this community. By building strong partnerships with a number of local organizations, the company has been able to provide many opportunities for residents over the years. TKB works with both Easterseals and the Butler County Board of Disabilities to provide jobs for adults with disabilities. It works 8
with a number of education partners, including Hamilton High School and Butler Tech, to provide job awareness education and internship or co-op opportunities to students. Most recently, TKB has partnered with Miami University Regionals to implement the Work+ program (more information on pages 23 & 33).
In 2019, the company focused heavily on driving Industry 4.0, an initiative that develops and deploys the latest technology in the manufacturing world. As part of Industry 4.0, thyssenkrupp Bilstein has implemented collaborative robots, called “cobots,� throughout the plant to eliminate repetitive, non-value added tasks. Currently, there are a total of nine cobots performing tasks including loading and unloading machines, placement of
product onto a conveyor, in-process and final inspection, beadblasting, and end of arm tooling changes. An additional five cobot projects are planned for 2020, and 11 more for 2021. Working safely side-by-side, the operators and cobots provide a greater range of capabilities for manufacturing demands.
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Restaurants & Nightlife
make
sure you’re hungry when you visit, because Hamilton is quickly becoming a foodie destination! Ten new food & drink locations opened throughout Hamilton in 2019 alone. In 2020, an additional six restaurants are already planned to open in the urban core. 2019 also marked the one year anniversary of the Downtown Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA), which allows patrons to purchase to-go drinks in designated cups from a participating liquor serving establishment. Restaurants, breweries, and bars can act as anchor tenants in business districts, drawing visitors time and again and generating foot traffic for other loca businesses and events.
Tano Bistro
Fretboard Brewing & Public House
Tano Bistro opened on the first floor of the Marcum Apartments in late summer 2019. This upscale restaurant serves contemporary, seasonally-inspired farm-totable cuisine uplifted by warm hospitality. If you aren’t hungry, check out their to-go window where you can purchase a DORA beverage to take across the street to Marcum Park.
Fretboard Brewing & Public House is a fullservice restaurant and brewery with on-site brewing by Fretboard. Menu items are made entirely from scratch, giving an elevated take on traditional pub fare. This new restaurant opened at the corner of Main and B Streets in December 2019.
The Casual Pint The Casual Pint is a fun, casual place to grab a drink, with dozens of drafts curated by Beer Tenders. Check them out on the first floor of the Marcum Apartments building and grab a bite to eat from their pub menu, which includes sidewinder fries, pretzels with beer cheese, bratwursts and more. The Casual Pint opened in summer 2019. Billy Yanks The Cafeo Hospitality group announced plans to open Billy Yanks at the corner of Main and C Streets in fall 2019. Billy Yanks, named after the famous monument in Hamilton, will serve hand-crafted burgers and cocktails. Cafeo is known for owning & operating an impressive list of restaurants and entertainment venues in the Greater Cincinnati area, including Incline Public House and The Belle Event Centre. Billy Yanks will open in fall 2020. 10
New in 2019: • • • • • • • • • •
Casual Pint Chipotle Chubby Bunny Bakery Fretboard Brewing & Public House Londyn Nutrition Lounge 24 Neal’s To Go Tano Bistro The Village Ice Cream Parlor Wing Stop
Coming in 2020: • • • • • •
Billy Yanks Bones Brothers Wings Pinball Garage Smoochies Boba & Crepes The Fringe Coffee House Rise & Shine
Joe Alexander TA P r e c i p i e n t s p o t l i g h t
the
Talent Attraction Program (TAP) is a reverse scholarship that helps recent graduates pay back student loans in exchange for moving to downtown Hamilton and getting involved with the community. The program is aimed at increasing the number of young professionals in the city as well as connecting employers to up and coming talent. See page 33 for more details on TAP. Joseph Alexander is a graduate of both Shawnee State University and Findlay University, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science and then a Doctorate in Physical Therapy, respectively. He applied for the TAP scholarship in summer 2019 and moved to Hamilton shortly afterward. He sat down to talk about his experience in Hamilton so far.
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Joe’s favorite place to get a cup of joe is True West Coffee. “I go there a lot to study,” he says. His order is black coffee with the occasional addition of a bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich
Where did you live before moving to Hamilton? I’m originally from Northeast Ohio, I guess you would say Amish country. After school, I lived in Columbus for a while, and then I got accepted into a residency program at Mercy Hospital, splitting my time between Oxford and West Chester. I didn’t know much about the Cincinnati area, but I had some friends who mentioned Hamilton a few times. I did some research and I really liked what was going on, so I ended up coming here. What drew you to this city? Just reading about the difficulties this city has faced, and the fact that the community is trying really hard to bring back the arts, culture, small business, and young professionals, it reminded me of what has been going on in some neighborhoods in Columbus. I loved it in Columbus, and I figured Hamilton would have a similar feel. And then my mentor in my residency saw an article about the TAP scholarship, so I decided to look into it. I applied and got an interview within a couple weeks, so here I am. Can you talk a bit about your job? My position is a year-long physical therapy residency specializing in orthopedics. I see patients for about 32 hours a week, and also do a lot of reading, self-learning, presentations, and that sort of stuff. I also get mentoring hours with an expert who’s already a specialist, and they ask a lot of questions, which kind of shows how much I don’t know yet. In a good way, of course! It’s a great learning experience, and I’m really loving it. I have patients who range from Miami University athletes to 85 year old grandmothers, so I’m seeing it all.
How has the scholarship changed your options? Doing the residency, I took a pretty big pay cut from my previous position. I knew that would be the case, but there was a lot of uncertainty, and I knew that my loan payments wouldn’t stop. Finding out about the scholarship and living downtown is a pretty big weight off my shoulders; it’s helped me have a little extra sense of security and I’m even able to pay off a bit of excess. TAP has helped me stay within my own timeline to pay my loans off. What do you think about downtown Hamilton? I was the first person who moved into the new Davis building apartments, and I like that everything is so walkable. It’s so easy to go to the downtown area, and if I need to get
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something quick, there’s a lot of places I can go nearby without having to drive. What are some of your favorite places around town? I love running and biking along the Great Miami River trail, and I walk down to Marcum Park a lot. The Casual Pint is one of my favorite places to go right now, to watch the game or just hang out on a Friday night. One of my favorite beers is the Cigar City Jai Alai, so I always get that when they have it. And obviously I love True West. Have you gotten involved in the community since coming to Hamilton? So far, I’ve been able to talk to classes of PT students at Miami University, and I’m helping out at Badin football games on occasion. I go and assist their athlete trainer, and if things get crazy, I’m there for support. I’ve also been to the Hamilton Community Foundation’s annual meeting, where I got to meet some of the donors as well as the other TAP scholars in Hamilton.
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How was it connecting with the other TAP recipients? It was cool to talk to them and find out what they did. There are people who work in marketing, teachers -- there’s not just one profession represented. There’s one guy who’s from just 15 or 20 minutes from where I grew up, so I was happy to see that it wasn’t just people from southwest Ohio. What are your future plans? I’d love to stay with the company I’m with now. They’re talking about some cool things in terms of first-line care, such as spinal care early intervention, which is exciting. I like the Davis Building and I like living downtown, so I plan on sticking around. Any final thoughts you want to share? I was really nervous coming to a place where I didn’t know anyone, but overall I’m really happy with my situation here. Everyone I’ve met here is very friendly and helpful, so it’s been a great experience.
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...[Hamilton] is trying really hard to bring back the arts, culture, small business, and young professionals, [and] it reminded me of what has been going on in some neighborhoods in Columbus
Spooky Nook Sports Champion Mill
hamilton’s
largest redevelopment project ever is taking place at the former Champion Paper Mill site on the banks of the Great Miami River. Spooky Nook Sports is turning this brownfield into the nation’s largest indoor sports complex and event center, a site that will attract over a million visitors to downtown Hamilton each year and generate millions of dollars in off-site spending throughout the region. Spooky Nook Sports broke ground in October 2018 and construction is now well underway. In 2020, the main area of focus for the City of Hamilton will be on relocating Rhea Avenue and completing underground utility work. Spooky Nook Sports Champion Mill is planned to open in late 2021.
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Economic benefits
Job creation
Once open, Spooky Nook is expected to generate nearly $40 million in off-site spending throughout the Greater Cincinnati region. This spending will help fuel investment by entrepreneurs into new businesses to serve the families who visit the sports and event center.
In addition to the 465 new jobs created by Spooky Nook itself, the complex is expected to result in the creation of an additional 881 jobs throughout the region. These new jobs will result in an additional $36.9 million in annual wages being taken home.
Tourism
Details
Spooky Nook will bring more than a million visitors to downtown Hamilton annually. These families will have a chance to experience the unique shops, excellent restaurants, and the historic beauty of our community, and help spread the message about the exciting things happening in Hamilton.
The sports & events center is within blocks of of both the Main Street and Central Business Districts. With a planned connection to the Hamilton Beltline Recreational Trail, it will also connect visitors and residents to the west side commercial districts. Once completed, the sports & events center will have:
Convention space The facility will be much more than a youth sports center. Spooky Nook will have the largest convention center in Butler County and the second largest in the Cincinnati tristate area, allowing professional groups to host events, conferences, and trade shows year-round.
• 160,000 square foot court space that can double as event space • 220,000 square foot dedicated conference & event center • 60,000 square foot orthopedic & cardiac center • 60,000 square foot member-dedicated fitness center • 12,000 square foot preschool center • 235 hotel rooms onsite • 2 full size soccer fields
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the Entrepreneurship
small business community in Hamilton is stronger than ever and growing daily. Eleven new small businesses opened in 2019, ranging from salons and event centers to specialty retail and entertainment venues. Growth isn’t limited to new establishments, though; in 2019, six existing small businesses reopened or expanded their services. A strong local entrepreneurial ecosystem is vital to maintaining a high quality of life for residents and drawing tourists to the community. With so much creative energy in our urban core, Hamilton is on its way to becoming a regional destination for upcycled home goods, unique gifts, and eclectic finds.
Scripted Studio Scripted Studio opened in April 2019 in the first floor commercial space of the Davis Building on Main Street. Owner Carrie O’Neal designs and prints a variety of unique stationery selections, and had a line of Christmas-themed wrapping paper and gift tags available nationwide through Target in 2018-19. Find out more about Scripted Studio on page 35 or visit to find a cute card or gift wrap for your next special event. Wildfire Home & Gift Wildfire Home & Gift carries a variety of modern home goods, candles, gifts, and more. This shop, which opened on High Street in summer 2019, is owned by Sarah Dankhoff. Sarah was inspired to open her dream shop in Hamilton after taking a trip to Magnolia Market at the Silos in Waco,Texas - a marketplace owned by HGTV’s Fixer Upper co-star Joanna Gaines. The Benison Event Center The Benison Event Center features breathtaking architecture from the 1920s, including an historic bank vault. The space, which opened in the former Telhio Credit Union building in early summer 2019, is capable of holding up to 200 guests with flexible seating for weddings, dinners, fundraisers, and other events. In addition to its event space, the Benison also has private conference rooms and office space for rent or lease.
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Petals & Wicks Petals & Wicks expanded into the neighboring commercial space at its Main Street location and launched a new line of bath & body products in 2019. This shop, originally opened in 2016 as Sherry’s Petals, is a pickyour-own-fragrance shop with more than 100 individual scents that can be mixed and poured into candles or wax melts, oils for diffusers, and a variety of body products. Owner Sherry Hoskins decided to expand to prepare for the increased foot traffic Spooky Nook Sports Champion Mill will bring. New in 2019: • Future Great Wrestling • JAG Sporting Goods • Kensho Traditional Shotokan Karate • Monkey on Main • Revive Salon • Salon Lex • Scripted Studio • The Benison Event Center • The Blank Space • Wildfire Home & Gift • Your CBD Store Expanded service in 2019: • Amantra Spa • BeYoutiful Salon • LahVdah • Petals & Wicks • Rustic Home • Sara’s House
interest
in urban living has grown tremendously in recent years, and Hamilton’s downtown residential market has kept pace. More than 273 new units have been created and leased in the last decade, and the increased population living downtown has driven the demand for more greenspace and recreational activities along with more shopping, dining, and nightlife options. With projects such as Third + Dayton, we expect to see dozens of new residential units created in the urban core in the years ahead. Marcum Apartments
Downtown Living
The Marcum Apartments development is the first new development in downtown Hamilton in 20 years. The development is located on part of the former site of Mercy Hospital, just across the street from RiversEdge at Marcum Park, and has become a hub of downtown activity. Tano Bistro and The Casual Pint serve as the anchor tenants in the Marcum’s first floor commercial space, which also houses Revive Salon and soon-to-open Bones Brothers Wings. The building has 102 market-rate apartments, including one, two, and three bedroom units, and was completely leased less than a year after opening. Third + Dayton Industrial Realty Group, which owns the former Ohio Casualty complex now branded Third + Dayton, has invested over $5 million to create 70 new residential units on the top three floors of the largest building. On the seventh floor, 16 two bedroom units are leased to the Quest Program through Miami University Hamilton (see page 33 for more information). An additional 26 one bedroom units have been created on the sixth floor, and construction on the eighth and top floor of the building is ongoing. Future phases of redevelopment at this complex will add restaurant and retail space, commercial offices, and potential hotel rooms. The Davis The Davis building is a $1.8 million+ mixed-use project at the corner of Main and D Streets. The first floor of the building is leased by four commercial tenants: Scripted Studio, The Village Ice Cream, Two Little Buds, and Hughes Pharmacy. Each of the two upper floors has six apartment units with a unique floor plan, ranging from approximately 650 square feet to 900 square feet. These units became available in July 2019 and were completely leased by the end of September. Upper floor residential projects In addition to the Davis building, a handful of new upper-floor residential units have been created throughout the Main Street Business District. Two one-bedroom apartments were completed above 212 Main Street, home to Unsung Salvage Design Company, in 2015, and two more are under construction next door at 216 Main Street. There are also two units above Pet Wants Hamilton at 139 Main Street, both completed in 2017. Currently, six newly rehabbed residential units are under construction above the future site of Billy Yanks at 205 Main Street. Many developers have expressed interest in taking on even larger infill development projects along this corridor, which would help to fill the increasing demand for market-rate apartments in the urban core.
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The Marum Apartments, just across the street from Marcum Park and RiversEdge Amphitheater, were completed in late 2018. The building includes 102 luxury apartment units and commercial spaces currently filled by Tano Bistro, The Casual Pint, and Revive Salon
The Mercantile Lofts opened in 2012 and created 29 new residential units downtown. This project was one of the first major redevelopments in the urban core and helped bring vibrancy back to downtown Hamilton by creating foot traffic along High Street
The Merc
Artspace Hamilton, completed in 2015, created 42 new live-work units for artists. Residents here have helped grow Hamilton’s arts & culture scene by engaging with projects such as StreetSpark (see page 31 for more information on StreetSpark)
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& Artspace
Evan Olden Work+ student spotlight
work+
is a program offered through Miami University that allows students to work 25 hours a week at a partnering company while also earning a degree at no cost. The program benefits both parties by allowing students to earn experience and graduate debt-free while also connecting employers with up and coming regional talent. Evan Olden is a Work+ student currently studying Electrical and Computer Engineering Technology at Miami University. He applied for the Work+ program shortly after it was announced in summer 2019 and was soon offered a position at thyssenkrupp Bilstein. He shared his experience in the following interview after several months in his position. What do you do at thyssenkrupp Bilstein? I started out working at TKB as an operator, but in part because of the degree I’m pursuing and in part due to other circumstances, I was transferred to the Industry 4.0 group. We work with collaborative robots (cobots) and our primary goal is to automate certain operations
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wtihin the facility to make our operators’ jobs easier and less monotonous. What’s your favorite part about Industry 4.0? All of it! It’s all amazing. The best thing is being able to think as part of my job; I’m used to being the “cog in the machine”, but now I’m the one looking into the machine to figure out how to improve it. I can take the theories I’m learning in my classes and apply them to the real world as part of this group. It’s a cool feeling. What’s the most valuable aspect of Work+ to you? The Work+ program has been great for me, not only because it provides me with a stable job, but it helps me avoid going into debt while I’m getting an education. In the past, I’ve had two or three jobs to make ends meet, and that made it really hard to focus on my classes. Work+ is really allowing me to succeed in my education while also getting job experience, which is fantastic.
What’s the best class you’ve taken?
What community events do you go to?
My favorite class thus far was Digital Systems. I’m one of those people who really enjoys “computer logic”, and this class was all about that. Computers work in a way that -- if it’s a “0”, do this, and if it’s a “1”, do that. But Digital Systems made me ask, “Well, why does it do this or that?” So it was really interesting.
With my busy schedule, I try to find little ways to get involved and make the community a better place. I go to blood drives when I can, because that’s such a small commitment with such a huge impact. I always have a great time going to the annual antique car show each summer, and I love festivals like Operation Pumpkin and the 4th of July celebration. I also used to be a summer tutor, working with kids to help them understand science, which was a lot of fun.
Where do you see yourself in the future? In five years, I hope to have my degree and start on a second one in Political Science. I have this idea of what an engineer should be, and I think they should be someone who is socially conscious. I don’t just want to automate a process that puts people out of work, and I think it’s really important for engineers to have a background and education that allows them to think about how to apply their skills and knowledge in a beneficial way to the community. Looking even further ahead, I think I want to get involved in politics, and maybe one day, after I’ve retired, become a teacher.
What else do you do for fun? I’m a huge movie guy, so whenever I have free time I always go down to the AMC theater. Sometimes I stop by and get dinner before or after at one of the restaurants on the Main Street strip. Any final thoughts you want to share? Work+ is an amazing program and I’m really excited to be part of it. thyssenkrupp has been great to work for. All of it has been really valuable to both my education and my future career plans, and I hope other students will apply!
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I think it’s really important for engineers... to apply their skills and knowledge in a beneficial way to the community
project highlights These projects around town are bringing life and vibrancy back to Hamilton’s commercial districts Municipal Brew Works Award One of Hamilton’s favorite nightlife spots, Municipal Brew Works (MBW), is also one of the best breweries in the world. At the 2019 New York International Beer Competition in March, MBW won several awards, including the gold “Ohio Fruit Brewery of the Year” for its Orange Agave Blonde, silver in the “Classic Irish-Style Dry Stout” category for its Laoch Irish Stout, and bronze in the “Robust Porter” and “Golden or Blonde Ale” categories for its Midnight Cut and Approachable Blonde, respectively. MBW opened in the back of the former Hamilton municipal building in June 2016 and produces about 1,300 barrels of beer annually. Given its popularity and the demand for MBW beers regionally, the brewery wants to expand within the next couple years.
Industrial Speculative Builds To meet the high demand for move-in ready industrial space by companies looking to expand, two new industrial buildings were constructed over the past year. One of these buildings, built by NorthPoint Development, is adjacent to thyssenkrupp Bilstein’s current location and partially leased by the German company. Of the 300,000 square feet in the building, 160,000 square feet are leased as a warehouse to thyssenkrupp. The remaining 140,000 square feet has been filled by Tri-Ace, a distribution warehouse. The second building, constructed by international real estate firm Prologis, is approximately 156,000 square feet and located near the intersection of Symmes Road and Bypass 4. This building was completed in early 2019.
Opportunity Zones The City of Hamilton successfully lobbied for the creation of two Opportunity Zones in our community in 2018, census tracts which encourage private investment by providing tax incentives to investors. One of our Opportunity Zones covers the Prospect Hill area, including the site of Spooky Nook Sports Champion Mill, and the other includes much of the Second Ward and Lindenwald. These zones are economic development tools which the City can use to promote investment into some of the most distressed areas in our community. The City of Hamilton was highlighted by the Ohio Development Services Agency (ODSA) at its Opportunity Zones Showcase in April 2019, an event that highlighted Opportunity Zones throughout Ohio.
West Side Commercial Development Hamilton has seen an increase in the amount of investment and redevelopment in west side commercial districts over the past few years. These areas serve the greater Hamilton community by complementing the shopping and dining options available in historic and urban core business districts, and are highly accessible for those seeking “big box” retail, chain dining, and groceries. Chipotle opened its new “Chipotlanes” location at 1461 Main Street in September 2019. In contrast to a typical Chipotle location, this new restaurant has both indoor seating as well as a drive-through option for customers who placed orders online. Both West Side Animal Clinic and Neal’s Famous BBQ opened new locations on the west side, and the Brookwood Shopping Center will see improvements over the next several years as demolition and new construction will take place on the site. 27
some Healthcare Expansions
of the best healthcare systems in the nation are here in Hamilton, Ohio. Fort Hamilton Hospital, part of the community for more than 90 years and now part of the Kettering Health Network, TriHealth’s Bethesda Butler Hospital, and Community First Solutions have invested tens of millions of dollars into the community in recent years. Additionally, all three are growing their teams and locations, and continue to receive national recognition for their excellent service. Community First Solutions Community First Solutions (CFS), a Butler County nonprofit network that provides health and community-based services for all ages and stages of life, continues to expand its mission throughout the greater Hamilton Community. In July 2019, CFS acquired the nonprofit organization Lifespan, unifying the complementary services of the two organizations and allowing them to work together to provide more support to clients. In addition to opening its third pharmacy in Dayton, CFS recently completed the first phase of the Heritage Point development, a 35 acre residential expansion to the Berkeley Square community. For more than a century CFS has been one of Hamilton’s valuable community partners. Recent projects include rehabilitating a downtown building two blocks south of High Street into a new headquarter space as well as building Jamestowne, a $13 million post acute therapy facility on west Main Street. TriHealth Bethesda Butler Bethesda Butler Hospital, located at Hamilton Enterprise Park, is part of the TriHealth hospital network. This complex is always growing, and in March 2019 construction began to expand an office building. This $5+ million project includes two phases, the first of which was completed in December 2019 and the other which is expected to be completed by summer 2020. The Bethesda Butler Hospital campus offers a full range of services, including surgery, cardiology,
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imaging, physical therapy, oncology, pediatric and primary care, and more. TriHealth was chosen as one of the nation’s top 15 health systems by IBM Watson Health in 2019, an award which spotlights the correlation between healthcare system integration and exceptional performance. It was also chosen by the Healthy Business Council of Ohio as a Healthy Worksite Gold Award Winner. Fort Hamilton Hospital Fort Hamilton Hospital, part of the Kettering Health Network, celebrated its 90 year anniversary as part of the Hamilton community in 2019. After nearly a century of operation, the hospital’s recent investments in Hamilton prove that the organization remains committed to providing high quality medical service to the community. In spring 2018, the company broke ground on a new $6 million medical facility on Main Street. The 18,000 square foot Hamilton Health Center on Main was completed in spring 2019 and now has seven primary care providers offering outpatient services to meet the needs of the community. Fort Hamilton also invested $6.5 million to completely remodel its third floor into a 12,600 square foot Cancer Center, which brings a variety of superior oncology services together in one place. An additional $1.8 million investment created a new state-of-the-art Special Care Nursery offering eight private patient rooms and the latest in neonatal services. Finally, 520 Eaton Avenue, just across the street from the hospital, is a newly renovated women’s services center. In 2019, Fort Hamilton Hospital was one of just four regional hospitals to earn a spot on Healthgrades America’s “Best Hospitals” list, which represents the best 250, or top 5% of hospitals in the nation. 2019 was the second year in a row that Fort Hamilton received the honor. Additionally, Fort Hamilton Hospital received the 2018 Healogics Center of Excellence Award, which recognizes a continued and consistent commitment to excellence and a focus on creating an exceptional patient experience.
Community First Solutions completed work on Jamestowne Inpatient & Outpatient Therapy, a post-acute recovery center, in 2017. Its team grew in summer 2019 when it acquired Lifespan, a Butler county nonprofit providing complementary services
Fort Hamilton Hospital was chosen as one Healthgrades America’s “Best Hospitals,” which represents the top 5% of hospitals in the nation. 2019 was the second year Fort won the honor. The network completed work on Hamilton Health Center on Main, a primary care office, in early 2019
Life of
Quality
Best Live Music Venue
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one
of the top areas of focus for the Economic Development Department is Hamilton’s quality of life. For years, the art scene in our community has been fostered and grown by organizations like the Fitton Center for Creative Arts, City of Sculpture, and Artspace Hamilton Lofts. The Hamilton Parks Conservancy maintains and upgrades our many public parks, and hundreds of community volunteers help put on dozens of events each year, including Operation Pumpkin, the Hamilton Flea, and the free summer concert series at RiversEdge. These kinds of amenities make Hamilton a desirable place to live, which helps generate more capital investment into business and community assets. RiversEdge at Marcum Park The premier outdoor event spaces in downtown Hamilton are unquestionably RiversEdge Amphitheater and Marcum Park. RiversEdge, which sits on the banks of the Great Miami River, holds a free summer concert series with around a dozen acts from June through August each summer. In addition to these free events, the amphitheater also hosts paid music festivals such as the Big River Get Down and Whimmydiddle. Connected to RiversEdge is the newer Marcum Park, a greenspace with two water features and an extra-wide sidewalk to accommodate vendor booths, food trucks, and large crowds. This park holds events like the Hamilton Flea and is a favorite place for downtown employees to take their lunch. RiversEdge at Marcum Park won the American Planning Association’s national Great Public Spaces award in 2018, which recognizes spaces that enrich communities, facilitate economic growth, and inspire other communities around the country.
RiversEdge Amphitheater hosts more than a dozen concerts and all-day music festivals each summer. Combined, these concerts draw tens of thousands of visitors from all over North America and drive traffic to downtown shops, restaurants, and bars. RiversEdge and Marcum Park have won multiple regional and national awards
StreetSpark The Fitton Center for Creative Arts oversees the StreetSpark Murals program in partnership with the City of Hamilton and the Hamilton Community Foundation. This program creates high-quality public art that enhances the visual appeal of the community while also providing employment opportunities for local arts professionals. Three new murals were created in 2019 through StreetSpark: Incrementum is on the Max Stacy Flowers building; Inspiring the Future is at the Booker T. Washington Community Center; and The Flowing Pride of Lindenwald is on Minnicks Drive Thru on Pleasant Avenue.
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DORA
Ohio’s Best Hometowns Award
The Downtown Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA) was established in spring 2018 to promote tourism and facilitate a growing demand for recreational options. The DORA legislation allows alcohol-serving establishments to sell to-go adult beverages in designated DORA. Patrons can then take their drinks into the district to shop or explore downtown Hamilton. The boundaries of this district encompass both sides of the Great Miami River, including High Street, Main Street, and German Village, and will eventually be expanded along North B Street to include Spooky Nook Sports Champion Mill. DORA serving establishments grew from the original nine locations in 2018 to 16 in 2019, with at least two additional locations already pending for 2020.
This community has been gaining more attention in recent years for our increasing quality of life. In 2019, the City of Hamilton was chosen as one of Ohio’s Best Hometowns in the 14th annual issue of Ohio Magazine’s Ohio’s Best Hometowns. This magazine recognizes cities and towns that are excellent places to live, work, and visit, and chooses the top five communities in the state based on six criteria: Community Spirit, Education, Entertainment, Health & Safety, Business Environment, and Culture & Heritage. Hamilton was selected for this honor because of its strong sense of community spirit, thriving public arts, and welcoming downtown.
“
[Hamilton’s] is a restoration stor y and redemption s to r y, a n d fo r the people who witnessed it, it makes this season so much sweeter - Sara Vallandingham O w n e r, S a r a ’ s H o u s e
workforce development
With the fast-paced growth of industry in the Hamilton community, workforce development has become a major topic of interest for the business, education, and nonprofit communities alike. In 2016, Hamilton implemented its first major workforce development initiative in partnership with the Butler County Regional Transit Authority (BCRTA). The R6 Job Connector Route launched in April of that year and connects hundreds of Hamiltonians to job centers throughout the region. A number of new programs have been implemented in the years since and will be continued through 2020 and beyond to help companies recruit and upskill employees. Talent Attraction Program Scholarship
Miami University Hamilton
The Hamilton Community Foundation created the Talent Attraction Program (TAP) Scholarship in early 2018. This reverse scholarship helps recent college graduates pay back student loans so long as they live in downtown Hamilton, work in Butler County, and have earned a STEAM degree (science, technology, engineering, arts, or mathematics). In 2019, the scholarship award amount increased from $200 per month ($5,000 total over 25 months) to $300 per month ($10,000 total over 30 months). Currently, there are nine TAP recipients living in downtown Hamilton; see page 12 for a recipient profile.
Miami University Hamilton celebrated 50 years in Hamilton in 2018, and in 2019 it took bold steps toward enhancing its service to the community. Through a partnership with Quest Holding International, students from China have come to live in downtown Hamilton while participating in an English-immersion program designed to prepare them to earn a full bachelor’s degree. These students, who arrived in late summer 2019, live in 16 newly-renovated apartment units on the seventh floor of the Third + Dayton building (formerly Ohio Casualty headquarters). For more information on new housing units at the Third + Dayton building, see page 20.
Hamilton City School District
Miami University Regionals also announced the new Work+ program in 2019. This “learn and earn” program allows Miami Hamilton or Middletown students to earn an associate or bachelor’s degree tuition free. Students can study any subject, but must work part-time for one of four current participating employers, two of which are in Hamilton: thyssenkrupp Bilstein and the Butler County Regional Transit Authority. This program encourages students to gain work experience and soft skills, make connections in the local business community, earn a paycheck, and graduate debt-free with a Miami University degree. See page 23 to read the profile of a participating Work+ student.
Hamilton High School officially began its partnership with Butler Tech in fall 2019. The high school has operated its own Career Technical Education Center (CTE) for years, but merging with Butler Tech allows Hamilton students to access a greater number of programs offered through Butler Tech while maintaining the on-site technical education options that have made Hamilton City School District unique. Also in fall 2019, guidance counselors partnered with Ohio Means Jobs to host career skills workshops for senior students. These classes covered topics such as resume writing, interview skills, and job searching.
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the
$539.6
million private investment over the last 10 year s
Strategic Plan & Metrics
mission of the Economic Development Department is to lead activities that retain and create jobs, increase the tax base, and improve the quality of life for the citizens of Hamilton. Our department collaborates with other City departments and other organizations within Hamilton to help businesses succeed in our community and to promote Hamilton as a place to live, work, and play. Our department’s success is measured through a variety of metrics, both quantitative and qualitative. Qualitatively, we have seen a huge positive change in the community over the past decade, evidenced by the dozens of new small businesses, the new parks and greenspace that now exist downtown, and the tens of thousands of visitors attracted every year through events that didn’t exist in 2010. The following numbers also prove the huge strides our community is making, and will help us map a way to the future.
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Butler County Unemployment Rate 10%
This region has seen a sharp decrease in the average annual unemployment rate over the past decade
8% 6% 4% 2010 - 2019
Industrial investment More than $227 million has been invested into industrial projects in our community, ranging from new builds, such as 80 Acres Farms’ new building at Hamilton Enterprise Park, to capital expansions by companies like thyssenkrupp Bilstein. These investments drive further growth in the community by creating jobs, discretionary income, and raising the profile of Hamilton.
Urban rehabilitation Nearly two dozen projects have transfromed vacant or underutilized buildings in the urban core into offices, commercial space, apartments, restaurants, and more. These projects represent more than $211 million invested into the community, and have led to new parks as well as 75 new small businesses opening in the urban core over the last decade
New development & expansions Approximately $100 million has been invested into new developments or expansions by some of Hamilton’s existing companies. These projects include the new Marcum Apartments, downtown Hamilton’s first new development in 20 years, as well as the creation of new or improved healthcare facilities such as Jamestowne or Hamilton Health Center on Main
100K visitors i n 2 019
2,712 new jobs created
273
urban core residential units created
75
small businesses opened in urban core
Carrie O’Neal Small business owner
originally
from Cleveland, Carrie O’Neal received a degree in Industrial Design with a minor in Visual Communications from OSU. After her first daughter was born, she decided to work from home and started O’Neal Designs, the graphic design portion of her business. With a web of clients everywhere from an amusement park in Dubai to a coffee shop in Hamilton, Carrie eventually wanted to move the business out of her home. “I’ve always had a love for stationery, and when I travel I always seek out these little paper shops that are kind of fleeting,” she says. Soon enough, everything came together and she opened Scripted Studio, her own little paper shop on Main Street in early 2019. Carrie shared her experience of opening a small business in downtown Hamilton.
Why did you choose this particular storefront in Hamilton?
Do you have any plans to expand Scripted Studio?
I met with the Economic Development Department about two years ago and explained to her what my ideas were. I had a desire to be close to Two Little Buds, because I thought that it would be a similar clientele -- they actually carry some of my cards now. Plus the demographic that goes to True West across the street, that college age, young professional clientele fit with the kind of people who might be interested in my products. And then when I walked in this space for the first time, I was almost brought to tears. It’s so beautiful, and the light is so wonderful... it was like a dream.
People have really enjoyed the workshops - we’ve gotten almost a call a day lately about the upcoming class schedule - so I will definitely be adding more. The classes are pretty broad: we’ve got a book folding class, a paper flower class, hand lettering, which I taught to a bunch of Hamilton art teachers and also did a class at Sara’s House in early 2020. People can go to our website (shopscriptedstudio.com) to see what our class schedule looks like.
What are some of your favorite places in Hamilton?
Personally, I’m excited for more restaurants and unique little shops to come in. Fretboard opening last year was so exciting, and that gets people out and about more in the evenings. When I see the foot traffic come in, especially people coming from out of town, they’re always like ‘This is the stuff you can’t find anywhere!’ Which is fun! And seeing them carry their Chubby Bunny box or their Two Little Buds flowers, things you can only find here, is cool. Hamilton has a great candy store, a great candle shop, coffee shops, bakeries, restaurants… I’d love to see a bookstore open up somewhere!
I’m a Casual Pint girl, and I’m at Municipal Brew Works a lot when the weather is nicer. Whenever I’m having a down day I walk over to Two Little Buds - that’s the best thing about being right next to a flower shop! And I love the Farmer’s Market, it’s amazing! What kind of collaborations have you had with other small businesses? I sell some cards at Two Little Buds, and occasionally I sell their little bouquets here. We’ve been talking about doing some collaborations with True West, selling art-inspired products there, and I did a pop-up shop at Sara’s House at Christmas time. And The Casual Pint has a giant chalkboard that I did some hand-lettering on for funny Christmas movie sayings things like “You’ll shoot your eye out” and “Merry Christmas ya filthy animal,” that kind of stuff. They said it was so profitable for them that next time we do it they’re gonna publicize it beforehand so people can come watch as I’m doing it. I’m also working on a chalkboard layout for BeYOUtiful that will be coming out pretty soon. 36
What do you see happening on Main Street in the future?
What advice would you give other startups looking to come to Hamilton? The City of Hamilton is very helpful in assisting you through the process of starting up, and patient as you learn things through the process. There are so many resources, both inside and outside of Hamilton. I’m a ‘go do it’ kind of girl, so I say if you want to do it, don’t let anything hold you back! At the same time, it’s helpful to know that there are resources in Hamilton that will help you through it.
“
I’m amazed at the vision City leadership has for how to rebuild this City...and that small people like me haven’t been turned away. To see that Hamilton is willing to take the chance on someone, but also has this big vision… it’s amazing
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Meet Our Team
Jody Gunderson
Stacey Dietrich-Dudas
Director of Economic Development jody.gunderson@hamilton-oh.gov
Economic Development Specialist stacey.dietrich@hamilton-oh.gov
Lauren Nelson
Mallory Greenham
Business Development Specialist lauren.nelson@hamilton-oh.gov
Small Business Development Specialist mallory.greenham@hamilton-oh.gov
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 enterprise, expand an existing company, or just find out about what makes Hamilton so special we want to talk. Call or email us any time and we’ll figure out how we can help. 513-785-7070 econdev@hamilton-oh.gov Jordan Schotz Workforce Development Specialist jordan.schotz@hamilton-oh.gov 38
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C O N TA C T T H E E C O N O M I C D E V E L O P M E N T D E PA R T M E N T
345 High Street Hamilton, OH 45011 513-785-7070 econdev@hamilton-oh.gov