2021 Economic Development Annual Report

City of HamiltonBUTLER COUNTY OHIO

Meet Our Team

WHO WE ARE

Located in the heart of the Cincinnati-Dayton metroplex, Hamilton has long been an industrial force in the region and the urban & cultural center of Butler County. The City of Hamilton is home to just over 63,000 residents, three historic neighborhoods, five urban core districts, and the 2017 National Small Business Development Center of the Year. Our community has seen $500 million of investment and 50 new small businesses opened in the past five years, and we expect that number to top $800 million five years from now.

OUR MISSION

The City of Hamilton’s 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.

Stacey Dietrich-Dudas Assistant Director of Economic Development

Lauren Nelson Project Manager

Mallory Greenham Small Business Development Specialist

Jody Gunderson Director of Economic Development

Letter from the Director

One year into the pandemic, with case numbers at the highest they had ever been, 2021 began with a number of challenges. Supply chain issues affected local shipping and distributing firms such as ODW Logistics, Day & Ross, and the new Home Depot Warehouse. The hospitality industry faced adversity with the impact of lockdown and mandated closures. Issues such as the labor shortage, change in consumer behavior, and new sanitation procedures reached nearly every business in the nation.

However, despite its challenges, 2021 has been a year of record growth and development for the city. Hamilton’s local economy is stronger than ever, with increased tax revenue, high productivity, and low unemployment. Strategic moves from the city over the past decade to diversify the economy have enabled Hamilton to be resilient against any type of calamity, such as that delivered by the pandemic. Additionally, the adaptability and ingenuity of local businesses, combined with the

dedicated support efforts led by the city, have created a thriving economy and business-friendly culture in Hamilton.

Industry is as strong as ever, and the city is prepped for further expansion with the recent purchase of 86 acres of land for development in Hamilton Enterprise Park, the city’s largest business park. The growth and attraction of manufacturing business continues to be a priority, with the city seeing thousands of square footage in expansions from companies such as ThyssenKrupp Bilstein, Vinylmax, and 80 Acres Farms, as well as new additions such as Saica. The city’s industry is also expanding and diversifying even further, with growth in a variety of sectors including construction, automotive, packaging, and food.

Redevelopment is also as strong as ever. Investment along the main business corridors has continued, with numerous residential and commercial projects

spanning the High-Main Street districts, including the Rossville Flats, which broke ground in November of 2021. While downtown revitalization has been a major priority throughout previous years, 2021 saw focus expand to the Westside with the Brookwood Shopping Center, and Lindenwald with the business district and the Benninghofen Mill. Redevelopment along the river has also been of major interest, with several new development projects underway, the largest of which being Spooky Nook Sports at Champion Mill, which is looking toward completion in 2022.

Workforce development was a major priority for 2021. The city saw the reintroduction of programs that had been previously on hold due to the pandemic such as TAP, the expansion of multiple existing programs such as CHIPs and Work Plus, and the introduction of several new initiatives such as the HAHA and the job placement program at Hamilton High.

So much has been accomplished in 2021, even in the wake of the pandemic and all its resulting obstacles, that I truly believe this city is the strongest it has ever

been. I am eager to see what will come in 2022, because Hamilton is on an upward trajectory that we’re only just beginning to witness.

Jody Gunderson Director of Economic Development

Industry

VINYLMAX

Vinylmax is a Hamilton company that manufactures vinyl and wood windows and window replacements. In 2021 the company was awarded a state tax credit to create more jobs and increase business opportunities. The credit comes as a result of their newly announced expansion: a 150,000 square foot addition that will bring 150 new full-time positions and generate $5.6 million more in annual payroll. The company has another facility in New York, but ultimately chose the Hamilton location for their expansion, crediting Hamilton’s ease of access to major transportation corridors and local talent as key factors in the decision. “Since moving to Hamilton twelve years ago, Vinylmax has found the city to be a great partner, and Ohio is home to our families,” said Laura Doerger-Roberts, Vinylmax president.

iMFLUX

iMFLUX, a plastics injection molding company that operates as a subsidiary of Procter and Gamble announced two new partnerships with international corporations in 2021. Japan Steel Works America (JSW) will integrate iMFLUX processing software that enables lowconstant pressure molding into the full line of JSW high-speed allelectric presses, creating a more efficient and sustainable process by reducing tonnage requirements, lowering energy usage, and enabling real-time adaptations to material variations. Injection molding equipment supplier Absolute Haitian, who will also now offer the same iMFLUX processing software as an option on Haitian servo-hydraulic and Zhafir electric injection molding machines in the U.S. and Canada. This new integration will enable Absolute Haitian processors to run more sustainable materials, including post-consumer recycled content, with less energy, wear, and waste.

THYSSENKRUPP BILSTEIN

Thyssenkrupp Bilstein of America is a Hamilton-based high-tech auto parts manufacturing company that has been located in the city for over 25 years. Year after year, Bilstein has seen tremendous business growth; With diversified customer segments, the demand for high-performance, highly-tunable suspension solutions is growing more than ever before.

In 2021, Bilstein launched multiple new programs, two of which introduced new-to-market technologies; the Blackhawk e2 damper on the RAM TRX and the End Stop Control Valve (ESCV) on the new Ford Bronco. These vehicles are monumental success stories for Bilstein and both products were engineered, developed, and manufactured in Hamilton, Ohio. The Hamilton Plant was even selected by Ford as the recipient of the World’s Excellence Award in the “Must-Have Products” category for 2021.

Over the past year, Bilstein expanded their footprint in Hamilton by extending their warehouse space by another 72k sqft., and is building a new product showcase garage attached to the Technical Center to

Hamilton Enterprise Park

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50k 160 $114 M COMPANIES MILES FROM I-275

INVESTED SQ FT DEVELOPED AVAILABLE ACRES

improve their off-road development vehicle testing track. The company has already had five expansions in the city, and is Hamilton’s largest manufacturer, with over 700 employees. This expansion is expected to bring in 75 additional full-time jobs that will generate $6 million in new annual payroll. It will also secure Bilstein’s place as a leader in the Cincinnati region’s $1.5 billion automotive manufacturing ecosystem. The Hamilton Utility Department was crucial in putting together the final touches on the expansion, in an effort to keep the rapidly growing business within the city.

The company’s impact within Hamilton do not stop there – Bilstein has continually invested in the local community, with the Built 2 Give Back non-profit board through the Hamilton Community Foundation donating nearly $25k to local charities in 2021.

INDUSTRY HIGHLIGHT:

Saica

Saica Group is an environmentally responsible packaging material manufacturer based in Spain. The company employs over 10,000 people across Europe and is one of the largest and most advanced players in the development and production of recycled paper for corrugated packaging. In 2020 construction began on their first North American facility, located in Hamilton. The first boxes were produced in November of 2021, and the facility will be fully complete in early 2022. The facility will be a 350,000 square foot state-of-the-art factory located in Enterprise Park. Saica plans to invest $72 million once construction is complete, creating 64 new jobs, including 27 skilled operators, 15 manufacturing, engineering, and supply chain professionals, 13 sales staff, and 9 office and management jobs.

In 2021 Saica won the REDI Cincinnati’s James A. Wuenker Growth Award’s “Most Impactful Projects for 2020” nomination for the new Hamilton facility. The award recognizes the most consequential projects that will have a significant economic impact on the Cincinnati region. The project has received great local support through its partnership with the city, receiving various job creation, workforce, and economic development credits.

Saica is already looking to expand, and the city plans to be hyper-competitive in keeping it within Hamilton, with officials having already reserved space for future expansion during the initial agreement. Saica’s sustainable and eco-friendly products and practices align with the city’s own values and goals. The company pays homage to Hamilton’s rich history of paper manufacturing while also diversifying the business community. “We love them being here,” said City Manager Joshua Smith.

WHY HAMILTON?

Hamilton created a proposal that was given to Saica while they were still considering several cities. Saica had been looking for a location in the midwest due to its history in manufacturing, as well as its proximity to potential clients. Hamilton stood out because of its readiness for construction and accessibility to the rest of the midwest and large population centers such as Chicago, the Northeast, and Atlanta. Because company officials would live here, Saica was also looking for a place with good quality of life. Saica has been a great partner to the city, with CEO Ramon Alejandro saying “After everything they have done to help us build this factory, we are really happy with our decision.”

Industry

HEADLINES SPORTSWEAR

2021 was another successful growth year for Headlines Sportswear, a sports marketing business located in downtown Hamilton. In May the company relocated from their West Chester Township headquarters to the former Ohio Casualty campus located at 131 N 3rd, where they also partnered with the Chamber of Commerce to host the annual State of the City Address. In 2021, through the assistance of Jobs Ohio and the City, Headlines Sports has successfully excelled to 20+ employees, grown revenues by 45% each year, launched their proprietary interscholastic digital sports platform (Headlines adX) and expanded their brick and mortar footprint to Flint, MI.

Headlines has also announced further growth in Hamilton at the Third + Dayton development site, where they are now pursuing an additional 20,000SF expansion, and are looking forward to the additional opportunities that the grand opening of Spooky Nook will present for them. Headlines is making a major mark on the regional sports landscape, with Hamilton now as the epicenter of their growth and development.

Hamilton’s Top Employers

1. Butler County 2. Hamilton City School District 3. Kettering Health Hailton

TyssenKrupp Bilstein

City of Hamilton

TriHealth

80 ACRES FARMS

80 Acres Farms is a Hamilton-headquartered, indoor vertical farming company that uses the latest technology to grow food as efficiently as possible. The use of AI and robots allows the farms to grow 300 times more food while using less than 1% of the land. The farms also use 97% less water, and the produce is 100% pesticide-free.

80 Acre’s growing technologies and advanced data analytics have been major drivers of their success, with the company growing rapidly in recent years. CEO Mike Zelkind said they’ve seen a 450% increase in revenue growth since 2020, and they now operate eight total indoor farms across five cities. Two of these farms are located in Hamilton, the newest being the $30 million, 70,000 square foot, state-of-the-art 10-level facility that debuted in January of 2021, located in Hamilton Enterprise Park. This farm currently grows lettuce, and will eventually include tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, and berries.

The company made major headlines in 2021 for securing a $160 million Series B, the most ever raised by a Greater Cincinnati startup by over $107 million. This secures them as the best funded startup in the region, with an investor pool that is both tech and climate-focused. Zelkind said

80 Acres plans to use this money to launch new farms both domestically and abroad, and their 200-person staff could double or triple over the next year.

In 2021, Newsweek Magazine also named the company no. 81 among “America’s Most Loved Workplaces,” from its survey of over 800,000 employees. This ranks the local company alongside big-name brands such as Spotify and Twitter.

2021 saw the reintroduction of multiple citywide events that were put on hold in the previous year due to the pandemic. The Rivers Edge Concert Series, the Fourth of July parade and festival, Operation Pumpkin, the Hamilton Flea, and the Holly Jolly Hamilton events all returned this year, with the new addition of pandemic-related safety measures such as social distancing, mask wearing, and outdoor settings. Even with the restructuring, each event saw high attendance, and are expected to continue as usual in 2022.

Events Focus

A major concern throughout 2021 was sustainability. The city prioritized attracting and expanding companies with sustainable missions and practices, such as 80 Acres Farms and Saica. The city continues to pursue renewable sources of energy as well, with over 51% of the electric utility coming from sustainable sources, such as hydroelectricity, in 2021.

After the success of efforts on High and Main Street, the city is now focusing on developing business corridors in other neighborhoods as well. This includes the Lindenwald Business District on Pleasant Avenue, as well as along Heaton Street and North 7th Street in the North End.

New Development

RESTAURANTS & NIGHTLIFE

Hamilton is rapidly becoming a destination for local food and late-night drinks, with the up crop of numerous new eateries, bars, and brew houses. The brewery scene in particular has been ballooning after the opening of Municipal Brew Works in 2018. The city has since had several more breweries open, and three more announced in 2021. Local bars have certainly seen an uptick in interest as well, with five new establishments also announced in 2021.

While bars and breweries are ideal for the young professional crowd, the city has also seen an influx of family-friendly restaurants. 2021 saw the opening of a variety of new spots; instant local staples such as Billy Yanks and The Hub, as well as familiar chains such as Chipotle and Raising Canes.

The

DORA

2021 saw another big year for Hamilton’s Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA), which first started in 2018. The city continues to provide free cups to local participating businesses in order to support the program, and sales were at an all-time high. The success of the initiative has caused further amendments to the district in 2021, including extending operating hours to be from 9AM-Midnight, a 41 acre expansion into neighborhoods such as Prospect Hill, Dayton Lane, the North End, and Jefferson, and the ability for special events to sell into the district.

292 22 55k 7 ACRES BUSINESSES CUPS SOLD NEIGHBORHOODS

LOCAL EXPANSIONS

There is no denying that the small business sector in Hamilton is thriving. Even in spite of the pandemic, several local favorites have expanded or announced upcoming expansions in 2021. The Studio, a pottery painting workshop, expanded to a larger location on Main Street, and Wildfire Hygge Goods completed renovations on their second location in German Village in. Sarah’s House, Municipal Brew Works, and Petals & Wicks will all be completing second locations in Spooky Nook, and Luke’s Custom Cakes will soon be undergoing expansions in their current building as well.

RESIDENTIAL

The city is working to keep up with the rising demand for housing within Hamilton. Several major upcoming projects were announced in 2021, totaling more than 300 new units. The most substantial of these is the $20 million redevelopment of the Schuler-Benninghofen Woolen Mill in Lindenwald. The project will be a mixed-use with approximately 100 apartments, and retail and restaurant space on the ground floor. Another adaptive reuse of an old industrial site in the city announced in 2021 is the $50 million redevelopment of the Beckett Paper Mill, located on the North End, by Becket Lofts LLC. This project will similarly include over 250 upper floor residential units, with space for commercial uses on the ground floor.

A new apartment complex was also announced, near the intersection B Street and Main Street. The development would include a $6.5 million investment and over 30 units, with retail and space for the Great Miami Rowing Center on the first floor. The Third + Dayton complex also announced plans to complete the remaining floors of the building for residential use, and has secured two tenants for their retail space early in 2021: Headlines Sportswear and Sweet T’s Desserts. As for for-sale housing, plans for the new Westfield Subdivision, located beside the Hamilton Freshman school, were also approved in 2021, with plans to break ground in early 2022.

New Development

New Business Openings

Andiamo Artisan Bakery

Angelic Crystal Treasures

Barger’s Bargains

Biggby Coffee

Billy Yanks Burgers & Bottles

Chickn’Cone

Hamilton’s Urban Backyard

Headlines Sportswear

Healthy Hideout

HER Realty

Lion & Ram Studios

Luke’s Custom Cakes

Lush Beauty Bar

Mahon Strength and Fitness

Modish Beauty

Morgan Renae Bridal

PartyDreams Hamilton

Raising Canes

Vision Source

We Love It Too

New Announcements

513 Bar

Agave & Rye

Ambiance Salon

Amp House Brewing

Biscuits & Brews

Dulce Picado

Frost Factory

High Main Laserworks

Immortal Vibes

Main Circuit

Pour House

Richard’s Mexican Grill

Shooter’s Sports Bar

Sidecar Bar

Stone Tavern

The Landing Tiki Bar

Hamilton’s Urban Backyard

Hamilton’s Urban Backyard, a.k.a. the “HUB” on Main Street, held its highly anticipated grand opening in October of 2021. The business is a food and drink establishment that also serves as a family-friendly communal gathering and hang-out space for residents. The interior of the historic building has been renovated into a fully stocked bar with a varitey of popular local brews on tap, and on the outdoor patio food is served from a rotating selection of local food trucks. The turfed courtyard hosts various activities such as cornhole, firepits, games, and more to entertain guests.

Owners Dave and Emily Ernst and Jeff and Gina Bucalo came up with the idea a few years ago, and were inspired to move forward by the current momentum in Hamilton. Giving back and being deeply engaged with the local community has been a priority for the HUB, and the business has hosted multiple charity and sponsoships nights throughout the year, as well as community events such as the Bengals Semifinal Tailgate.

INTERVIEW

Are you from Hamilton?

I grew up in Hamilton. Emily is originally from Saint Mary’s Ohio. We lived in Michigan before and moved back here at the end of 2004, so I could go into business with my dad.

Where did the idea for The HUB come from?

We’d been toying around with various concepts to do something in the city for a while, given everything that’s been going on in Hamilton. One day our partners Jeff and Gina tossed out the idea of this food truck park in an empty lot they’d seen up in Michigan, and that’s how the idea was introduced. Then, in 2019, we went to the State of the City Address, and after hearing about everything that was coming to Hamilton, Jeff and I set up a meeting with Brandon Saurber to pitch our idea. Next thing you know we’re talking to Small Business, they started showing us spaces, and then Emily came up with the name. This property really lent itself to fit the name and the idea. Being in the downtown district, an outdoor space, kind of unique. It worked out great.

How do you know your coowners?

Gina and I went to high school together at Badin, and Jeff and Gina actually moved back to the area around the same time we did in 2004. Our kids also went to school together, so we’ve been in a mutual friend group with a bunch of people for the past 20 years.

What was it like trying to open amidst the pandemic?

Well, we kind of lucked out. We didn’t open until the tail end of a lot of the restrictions. Had we been any earlier, it would have been really difficult, I think. The fact that we have an outdoor space helped because that’s what people really wanted to have available. Having been around other cities during the pandemic with my consulting company, I could see that Hamilton adapted. They tried to keep businesses open and do things uniquely. Knowing Main Street was just on a rebound, and a lot of people had invested money, they were thinking “how can we help these folks through this process.”

—Emily Ernst, Co-Owner

“There’s just so much positive change happening in Hamilton, and we wanted to be a part of it.”

What was the transition to owning a bar like?

Oh, we had several “what have we gotten ourselves into” moments. We still have several of them. It was pretty much a leap of faith. There’s just so much positive change happening in Hamilton, and we wanted to be a part of it.

How was the process?

We worked with Mallory Greenham and Lauren Nelson in the small business group, and they were very accommodating. We looked at several buildings, but this one lent to the idea the best. We submitted our request in March, and then two weeks later all hell broke loose with the pandemic, so this was put on the back burner. Then a couple of months later, we get a call saying “well, what do you guys think? We want to go forward with your project.” And I’m like, oh, well I don’t know. But, the four of us thought, we’d go through due diligence and just see what happened. So they kind of coached us through it all.

What has been the response?

Very positive, very supportive. We’ve been very well received and very well embraced. Even by other similar businesses. It’s like the saying, “a high tide raises all ships.” Everyone is genuinely happy to see each other succeed.

Where do you spend your free time?

Basil, Casual Pint, Billy Yanks, Fretboard, Marcum Park. When the kids were in school, we started a Thursday tradition where we’d ride our bikes from Rentschler Park to downtown, then go to All8Up for pizza and calzones. Then we’d go get a beer at Casual Pint, and then another at Municipal. People will ask us if we’ve been to these places in Cincinnati or Over the Rhine, and I say, “No, we celebrate local.” Basically, if we go to hang out, we go somewhere in Hamilton.

What has been the most exciting moment?

The community, the support of it, that’s the most rewarding. There were quite a few businesses in this building before, so the appreciation of people who had relatives who worked here when it was a coal company, and a shoe-repair place. You know, that people are just excited to see that we saved the building. We’d been told by Ken Rivera, head of the building department, that the last time he came through the place they were getting ready to issue permits for demolition. When people walk in and say, “you’re saving the house we grew up in.” I mean, that kind of stuff you can’t put a price tag on. That’s the coolest part.

How has your relationship with the community been?

The goal is to be a part of the community. For March Madness, we did a Brewery Madness to raise money for a local charity. We’ve done charity events with the 12 Days of Christmas, stuff with adoptions for pets, we gave to the Caring Closet. We’ve done sponsorships with the Hamilton Joes, West Side Little League, and we’re doing one for the Saint Joe’s 5k. And all the picnic tables outside were made by the students at Hamilton High through Butler Tech, so that was really cool too. That’s really the kind of place we want to be: family-oriented and giving back to the community. My dad always said, “Never forget where you came from.” So we’re learning every day, how we can use this space, how we can impact the city, and what we can do to be a part of its growth, you know. Dan Bates, the president of the Chamber of Commerce, said to us that he really wants this to be a destination spot. Not just for Hamilton residents, but from all over. So, literally and figuratively, a hub.

“If we go to hang out, we go somewhere in Hamilton.”

—Dave Ernst, Co-Owner

Charge the Line is displayed on the Hamilton Professional Fire Fighters IAFF Local 20 building located at 204 North Third Avenue, and was completed in Summer of 2021. The lead artist and designer for the mural is Mark Hanavan, with help from supporting artists Jennifer Eickelberger, Emily Mason and Brooke Owens. The mural is meant to honor the Hamilton Firefighter’s hard work, courage, lives lost in the line of duty, and their success at keeping the city safe.

“Charge the Line”

NEW SMALL BUSINESS HIGHLIGHT:

Luke’s Custom Cakes

The newest bakery on High Street “Luke’s Custom Cakes” opened in August of 2021 by 22-year-old, selftaught local Luke Heizer in the historic Robinson Schewnn building. After operating out of his parent’s house for several years before outgrowing the space, Luke has already begun to work on an expansion into the back of the new location due to how booming the business is. The 12 employees, plus Luke himself, take on roughly 50 custom orders a week. The new shop offers custom cakes as well as a selection of ready-made sweets including cupcakes, cookies, and slices of pre-prepared cakes from the display case. Customers can also purchase coffee and party supplies such as balloons and cards.

INTERVIEW WITH OWNER LUKE HEIZER

Where are you from?

I live in Trenton, so only 15 minutes away. I went to school at Edgewood. I’ve always gone to Hamilton for everything though, I feel like.

What’s it like owning a business so young?

It’s very fun, but it’s also so much stress. Being 22 and having this much responsibility can be hard, especially because other people my age are not doing this, so there aren’t a lot of people to relate to. But I feel like I might as well try now, versus later down the road when I might have children or other responsibilities that would make it a lot more difficult. So that’s why I was like, let’s just try it. And it’s been fun, and a lot of challenges, which I like.

How did cake decorating go from a hobby to a business?

I’ve always liked baking. My mom and I would bake together, and l also had this babysitter who would take me to the library to get cookbooks, and then we’d come back and bake a bunch of stuff and decorate it, leaving the kitchen a complete mess while my parents were at work. So I was always experimenting and trying things on my own. At one point my mom took a picture of one of my cakes and showed her coworkers, and they were like “oh my gosh, can you make a cake for my son’s birthday?” So that was the first cake that I “sold.” It was never like “Okay, I’m starting a business, this is what I’m doing.” It was just, I liked doing it, and then people started wanting me to do it for them.

Why did you decide to open a storefront?

Well, I knew we needed to do something because I was killing myself with all the orders at the house. And I knew there was the potential to get more, except I couldn’t because it was just me and my mom. So I was like, what do I do? I was essentially stuck there unless I moved, that was the only other option. I’m the kind of person that whenever I think of doing something, it’s already done. So I talked to several different people, and a lot of them, surprisingly, were like “I don’t know if you should do that.” They were very unsure. And that made me even more motivated, like I’m really gonna do it now, just to prove you wrong.

“I’m that kind of person that whenever I think of doing something, it’s already done.”

—Luke Heizer, Owner

How was the transition from home to storefront?

It’s a lot different in the sense that before, at my parent’s house, it all had to be pre-orders. So I could plan my week based on that, and I knew what to expect, versus here, it can change one day to the next. Someone could call right now and order 10 dozen cupcakes, whereas at the house that couldn’t happen. So it’s nice that we’re able to take on more orders and get them done quicker, when at the house we needed more notice. Also, having employees. I definitely had to employ my mom, but I also have 12 more employees. It went from just us to a whole lot more. So that has been very different.

What was the process of getting this location?

We started looking for space in different areas. We knew we wanted to stay relatively close to Trenton, just because I had already built up such a large clientele base there. So we looked there first, but I didn’t feel like it was the best area in terms of foot traffic, and it was also extremely expensive. Then we met with Mallory Greenham and Aaron Hufford with the City of Hamilton. It was all very relaxed, like we were just going to see what it was, what it would be like, how much it would be. They showed us several different properties, and then Mallory found out this one was going to be available soon. I wanted to make sure I moved relatively fast on it because I knew this space would be rented right away, and I didn’t really want to take that chance. So we moved pretty quickly. I signed the lease for the space, and then we started renovating it.

How was the renovation?

I do a lot of projects at home, and my dad has always done that too, so I knew a lot of the stuff we wanted to do ourselves. It was really fun, but it was a lot of work. Because at the same time, I was still taking all these cake orders. I mean, I couldn’t pause them, because then I would have no money to pay for the renovation. So we would do cakes all day and then come here at night, or my dad would come after work. All week, every weekend, all my family would come and help too. It’s been a lot of work to get to this point, but it was all kind of just, let’s just try it and see how it goes. And if it doesn’t work out then it doesn’t work out. So that’s kind of why I was like, let’s just try it. We’ll see what happens.

How has the business grown?

I remember several years ago, I would only have four or five cakes in a weekend. Because, I mean, it was just me doing it and I was still learning. And then that number grew over the years because I was growing myself, my skills were improving, and I could get things done faster. Then my mom started reducing her hours at work to help me because I was getting so many orders that I couldn’t do it all. So she started taking over the baking aspect. Then, when we moved in here, I knew that we needed to take even more orders, just because we have a lot more overhead now. So I had to figure out how to balance what I needed to make in order to have everything get paid, as the bare minimum, and then how many more we could do on top of that without compromising quality, because I can slap cakes together all day to get them out there, but may not look great. So, for example, on Easter weekend we had over 20 cakes, and then several dozen orders of cupcakes and cookies. So I don’t know the exact number, but I know it’s definitely quadrupled from even last year.

Do you still decorate?

It’s a hard balance. I like decorating cakes still, and I obviously want things done to the standard my customers have expected from me in the past 6 years. But then that pulls me away from doing the business side of things, which also needs to get done. So usually I jump around; I’m in my office doing stuff on my computer, or I’ll be in the front, or I’ll be decorating. Just whatever needs to get done is usually where I’m at.

What was it like working with the city?

Aaron and Mallory had both ordered cakes from me before, but at that time I didn’t know they worked with the city. And one day Aaron came over and was like, “Hey, if you ever want to talk and see what your options would be, let’s do it.” So we set up a meeting, and everything was very different from some of the other places that I’d looked at, where it wasn’t so easy or accessible. We just walked in, and they had all this stuff ready to go for us. From that very first meeting, all the way up until I opened the store, Mallory has been the most helpful person. If she doesn’t know, she directs me to someone that will. She laid out exactly what she needed us to do, that way I could just go down the list like, okay, it’s all done. Everything has been very easy with the city, especially with the different programs they have, like helping with the decals and the seating outside. And the fact that they’re willing to make sure we’re happy, in a sense. I mean, Mallory has reached out, numerous different people have reached out, just saying “how are things going?” Or like, “is there anything that we can do?” I think it’s just nice to know that they hear us, or they’re going to help in any way that they can. That’s been really great.

“All the way up until I opened the store, Mallory has been the most helpful person.”

—Luke Heizer, Owner

Photo via Nick Graham/Journal News

Significant progress was made on the highly anticipated Spooky Nook Sports Complex at Champion Mill in 2021. Major construction work was completed, including framing, HVAC, plumbing, electrical, roofing, windows, and drywall. The job portal also launched early in the year, and the first two hires were announced in March: Lisa Disbro, a Hamilton native with over 28 years of industry experience, as Director of Hospitality; and Matt Lengel, a former Bengals player who has trained and taught at the Lancaster location, as Director of Facility Operations. The project is

expected to open in Spring of 2022, after first breaking ground in 2018. It will be the largest indoor sports complex in North America, bringing over 650,000 square feet of athletic surfaces, as well as a 233 room hotel with on-site restaurant and retail space. The $156 million project will create over 500 jobs, generate over $90 million in annual revenue, and bring over 10,000 visitors in a single weekend, who will spill over into local businesses throughout the city.

Photo via Nick Graham/Journal News

Photo via Nick Graham/Journal News

Workforce Development

NURSING INNOVATION HUB

With more than 50 years of experience in nursing education, Miami University has long-standing partnerships with local hospitals, agencies, and industry. Opened on the Hamilton campus in 2021, Miami University Regionals Nursing Innovation Hub provides students and faculty with access to a state-of-the-art teaching environment. The 26,000 square foot facility underwent a $10 million renovation and now features high-tech, high-touch simulation labs, multibed nursing skills labs, and classrooms equipped with the newest teaching technology.

Simulation spaces representing obstetrics, pediatrics, medical/ surgical, and an intensive care unit are available, along with a simulated apartment, which allows students to learn and practice key principles related to home care and related safety measures. The growing number of students in the program will benefit from study areas and huddle rooms for further simulation of health care facility operations.

The Nursing Innovation Hub enables Miami Regionals to partner with regional hospital systems and health care facilities to cocreate innovative solutions to current and future health care challenges. By focusing on the development of clinical judgment and patient safety in a low-risk environment, Miami University Nursing is preparing students to become the next generation of skilled Hamilton-area nurses.

TALENT ATTRACTION PROGRAM

The Talent Attraction Program (TAP) is a reverse scholarship given by the Hamilton Community Foundation to recent graduates of science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) degrees, in order to incentivize young professionals to relocate to Hamilton’s urban core. The program provides up to $10,000 in the form of monthly $300 payments for recipients to put toward their student loans, as long as they work in (or remotely from) Butler County and live within one of the target neighborhoods.

The goals of the program are to help ease the national student debt crisis, minimize the talent drain from the community, support local revitalization efforts, increase entrepreneurship, and fill skilled and educated job openings in the area.

The program is the first of its kind in Ohio, and has seen great success since it first began in 2018. The Foundation has awarded 14 recipients thus far, out of a total of 120 applicants from across 20 states. The average age of awardees is 27, and the average total debt is $50,000. Applications open on March 5th and can be submitted at www.hamiltonfoundation.org/scholarships.

WORK+

Now in its second year, the Work Plus Program has doubled its number of participating businesses in 2021. The program hires students at Miami Regional campuses into entry level positions for local companies. They work 24 hours a week and commit to the company one year at a time. The employer then provides an hourly wage and also pays the student’s tuition and general fees as well. Miami officials describe the program as a win-winwin for students, the school, and industries. “They get to work. They get to make a little money, and they get to go college debt free.” Students get ahead of the game in job searching because they have valuable experience, and ahead in life by coming out of school without debt. Ohio higher education officials have been so impressed with Work Plus they are pushing Miami’s approach to colleges and universities across the state.

11 $15 12 PARTICIPANTS PARTNERS BASE PAY WEEKS

2021 was the first full year of operation for the Citywide Hamilton Internship Program (CHIPs), a city-led initiative that connects young black and brown residents with paid internships at local companies. CHIPs’ mission is to reduce employment barriers by directly connecting untapped black talent to companies who recognize the need for a diverse workforce. CHIPs recruits ambitious, hardworking interns who are on the cusp of success but might have otherwise been overlooked. The program lasts 12 weeks, with interns receiving job coaching, leadership training, skill building, a CHIPs mentor, and a mentor from their worksite. The program also actively works with participants to foster an enduring relationship with their peers, the Hamilton community, and the CHIPs leadership that persists even after the 12 weeks are over.

Student participants gain hands-on experience, industry-specific skills, engagement in company culture, and a connection with industry

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professionals. Additionally, the program helps them to recognize pathways to greater career opportunites, and enables them to enter the workforce newly confident in their abilities.

Companies gain assistance in addressing issues such as labor shortages, lack of qualified applicants, ineffective outreach efforts, and challenges tapping into minority communities. CHIPS works as a solution and helps them to expand their talent pool, developing skilled workers, and sustain the local market while coaching a diverse workforce, leading to improved performance.

In 2021, the Ohio Economic Development Association highlighted CHIPs as part of the Annual Excellence Awards program, which recognizes the achievements of those throughout Ohio that have developed innovative workforce and economic development practices.

Workforce Development

IDEATION GREEN LAB

Spooky Nook has created a 10,000 square foot space dedicated to enabling a partnership between Miami University, Centrifuse, City government, and local highly-technical businesses, called the “Ideation Green Lab.” The purpose of the lab is for members of the group to work to come up with innovative solutions to different unique problems that each business may pose. The Lab will also approach companies with unused or unsuccessful patents to borrow them, rework them in some way until they reach a profitable status, and then offer them back to the company to purchase.

The focus group will engage some of the top minds in the area. Miami’s entrepreneurship program is rated No. 7 in the nation, and Centrifuse is a Cincinnati-based company that works to make the greater Cincinnati area a top tech-startup hub in the midwest through venture funds, entrepreneurial assistance programs, and networking businesses with new innovations. The program will focus on industry sectors that REDI Cincinnati aims to grow, such as manufacturing, technology, and biohealth.

HAHA

As business began to open up in 2021, demand for employees in the service industry has increased dramatically, and establishments have struggled to fill open positions. The Hamilton Area Chamber of Commerce has addressed this issue by creating the Hamilton Amusement and Hospitality Association (HAHA) in May of 2021. The HAHA is a hiring portal for employers and prospective employees, who can apply to multiple jobs with a single application. There are currently eight (fact check) participating businesses, and the portal helps facilitate the sharing of employees between establishments as needed. The portal can be found at www.hamilton-ohio.com/haha.

Development

HHS JOB PLACEMENT

Chris Connell, who was recently hired as the Coordinator of Community Outreach and Alumni Relations at Hamilton High in 2021, has started a new workforce initiative at the school. His effort is to align students who are seeking employment with places to work. Connell said the demand for something like this was high; many students are on free and reduced lunch, and need to work to help provide for their families. Additionally, with the labor shortage, companies need employees more than ever.

Since starting at the beginning of the school year in 2021, Connell has placed over 22 students into part-time jobs, internships, and co-op positions. He’s already connected with over 50 companies all located within a half-hour drive from the school, and is now working with the City, the Chamber of Commerce, Miami University, and Butler Tech to expand his network.

He says the initiative provides a low-risk opportunity for the employer, as well as a low-risk opportunity for the student to gain an understanding of their abilities and interests. The co-op positions especially, in which students leave after lunch to work while still gaining high school credits, are a trial run that could potentially lead to a career post-graduation.

Working in these positions, students gain important soft skills such as customer service, dependability, problem solving, and more. They are able to start building a resume by gaining work experience, potential references, and the ability to recognize the skills they have and put a name to them.

Infrastructure

NORTH HAMILTON CROSSING

Preliminary work, such as planning and input gathering, began in 2021 for a new infrastructure project called North Hamilton Crossing (NHX), one of many solutions to rising local concerns about traffic. The project refers to a large-scale transportation development that will connect the West Side of Hamilton to Route 4, State Route 129, and US 127. The project will likely include a new bridge across the Great Miami River, some form of railroad bypass, and possibly a 4-lane boulevard with speed limits up to 45 MPH. It would be only the third East-West corridor where traffic would not be hindered by trains, a major contributor to congestion.

It is estimated that construction for the project is 5-7 years away, and could take up to 10 years for total completion. Cost estimates range anywhere from $75 million to $175 million, depending on the route. The city is seeking multiple grants to help fund the project, which could also further extend the timeline.

Currently the project is under the “Planning” and “Preliminary Engineering” stages, the first and second of a total of five phases. As part of the planning phase, initial public output in the form of a general questionnaire was conducted online in the fall of 2021. There was also one official meeting held in 2021, with nearly 50 stakeholders. There will be two additional meetings in 2022 with the group before wider input sessions for the general public begin, in an effort to narrow down the number of potential routes under consideration.

A feasibility study will be finished late summer of 2022, and a final preferred route will likely be selected by the end of 2022. Once the feasibility study is complete, the city will move into detailed project design and “Environmental Engineering,” phase three of the project development. Feedback from the public will be a major guide in determining the new roadway’s route and the form it takes.

SMART TRAFFIC SIGNALS

Installation of the new smart traffic lights began in late 2021, and is expected to take two years for full completion. The new signals will eventually link all 97 traffic lights in the city to a single centralized computer that will be able to analyze traffic in real-time via a live video feed, and then make adjustments accordingly. The system will collect data about traffic patterns, make individual changes to each light, adjust for different times of day, preempt for emergency vehicles, enable planning for congestion causing events in advance, and more. The first lights were installed along High Street, Main Street, and MLK, and installation includes the addition of handicap curb ramps at intersections that currently lack them.

BELTLINE TRAIL

The Beltline is an in-progress three-mile walking and biking path on the West Side of Hamilton, following the former Champion Mill rail line. The trail passes through the neighborhoods of Armondale, Highland Park, and Prospect Hill, and is being completed in phases to maximize grant funding. Phase 1 was completed in Spring of 2021; a half-mile long segment linking Eaton Avenue, near Flubs, with Cleveland Avenue, near Jim Grimm Park. Construction also began on Phase 2; a 0.65 mile-long segment connecting Phase 1 at Cleveland Avenue with North B Street, near Spooky Nook. Design for Phase 3 also began in 2021; a 0.87 mile-long segment connecting Phase 2 to the High-Main bridge. The proximity of these first phases to Spooky Nook will increase access from the complex to West Side businesses such as Flubs, and Downtown businesses along High and Main Street.

STREETS LEVY

2021 was the first year that funds from the 2020 Streets Levy were put to use. Thirty-one total streets were repaired throughout the year, including several of the roads that were voted as part of the top 10 priorities by residents. Much of the work also included performing underground sewer maintenance concurrently, to maximize the value of each dollar spent.