City of Hamilton, OhioThird Quarter 2014
In This Issue
ThyssenKrupp Bilstein breaks ground on $26 million expansion
Community First Solutions headquarters moving to downtown Hamilton
ODW LTS celebrates ribbon cutting for its new downtown office
Perceptive Devices wins at Cincinnati Innovates Competition
Land Bank receives funding to continue efforts
Hamilton Electric implementing new rates
Hamilton hosts a Downtown Developer Day
Downtown Hamilton seeking historic designation
J Austin's Riverbank Cafe Celebrates grand opening
RiversEdge Master Plan completed
City of Hamilton Water named "Best of the Best"
3rd Street electrical project underway
Fall events in Hamilton
Program highlight: Design Assistance Program
Property highlight
Need assistance from the City?
Quick Links

ThyssenKrupp Bilstein breaks ground on $26 million expansion

The expansion will create over 200 new jobs

 

ThyssenKrupp Bilstein of America recently broke ground on its $26 million expansion project at its Hamilton facility. The project, which calls for a 60,000 sq. ft. building expansion, will create 214 new jobs and help ThyssenKrupp Bilstein to meet the growing demand for its high-end shock absorbers for Original Equipment Automobile Manufacturers, after market outlets and motorsports. This is the company's third expansion in Hamilton since 2011. In 2011, ThyssenKrupp Bilstein employed 185 at their Hamilton facility. When this expansion is completed they will employ 581.

Ohio Lieutenant Governor Mary Taylor and REDI Cincinnati President and CEO Johnna Reeder spoke at the groundbreaking in September. At the event, they spoke of the importance of ThyssenKrupp Bilstein's growth for the region and state. For more information, please watch the WLWT coverage of the groundbreaking event here.
 
President and CEO of ThyssenKrupp Bilstein Fabian Schmahl speaks at the groundbreaking event. Photo credit Greg Lynch at the Hamilton Journal-News.

Community First Solutions moving headquarters to downtown Hamilton

Hamilton's second largest private employer investing $5.8 million

 

Community First Solutions, the parent company responsible for the strategic oversight of Colonial, Community Behavioral Health, Community First Pharmacy, and Partners in Prime, has recently announced it will be relocating its corporate headquarters to downtown Hamilton. Community First Solutions serves over 46,000 individuals annually and is Hamilton's 2nd largest private employer with nearly 700 employees.

 

The 50 employees that comprise Community First Solutions' corporate headquarters will be moving into the former Ringel's Furniture store on the corner of 3rd and Ludlow Streets. The renovation of the 6 story 35,000 sq. ft. historic building began in early August 2014 and is expected to be complete in the summer of 2015. The design includes community space featuring a 60-person training center, gallery pre-function area, an employment hub on the first floor, a second floor devoted to employee wellness and collaboration, and modern loft-style workspace on the remaining floors. The fourth floor will remain unfinished awaiting future internal growth. For more information, please read the Journal-News article about the development here. 

 

Rendering of new headquarters. Photo courtesy of Community First Solutions.


 
Community First Solutions has continued its rapid growth, announcing in September a new partnership with Kettering and Alternate Solutions Homecare to expand into the in-home medical care arena.

ODW LTS celebrates ribbon cutting for its new downtown office

Company is located at One Renaissance Center

 

ODW Logistics & Transportation Services (LTS), a leading provider of transportation management services, celebrated its ribbon cutting at its new office space at One Renaissance Center, Hamilton's Municipal Building. Since 2009, ODW LTS has provided domestic and international transportation solutions from its location in Hamilton's business incubator, Biztech.

  

Due to the company's continued success, ODW LTS began looking for larger office space last year. In their first 12 weeks in the new office space, ODW LTS has hired a new person each week. All of the company's jobs are professional advanced logistics positions. ODW LTS was named one of Inc. Magazine's Fast 500 in 2013 as one of the fastest growing companies in the United States. 

 

ODW LTS leadership conduct ribbon cutting at their new offices. Photo credit Jacob Stone.
Visitors attending the ribbon cutting tour viewing ODW LTS' new break room. Photo credit Jacob Stone.

Perceptive Devices wins at Cincinnati Innovates Competition

Hamilton Mill company won the RocketCode Web Development Award for its Percept-D technology 


Perceptive Devices LLC won the RocketCode Web Development Award at the Cincinnati Innovates competition for its patent pending Percept-D™ technology. Percept-D™ allows users to control diverse electronic devices in a hands-free, voice-free, and mouse-free fashion, while using only gentle motions of the head and simple facial expressions such as smiles. Perceptive Devices will receive $5,000 in-kind for web development sponsored by Round Pixel Studio. Perceptive Devices recently joined The Hamilton Mill.

 

Perceptive Devices was recently recognized at CE Week 2014 in New York City as the winner of the "Technovation Award" for innovative execution of unique technological ideas.

 

Lagoon was also recognized at the awards. Lagoon has been working with The Hamilton Mill and they were recently accepted into the Brandery. They are developing a water monitoring solution and app for homeowners and commercial property owners. They received $10,000 from LPK which will go towards design and branding. 

 

For more information, please click the link for The Hamilton Mill website here

  

Perceptive Devices prototype. Photo credit Greg Lynch, Hamilton
Journal-News.

Land Bank receives funding to continue efforts

Butler County receives largest award in the state through the Neighborhood Initiative Program

 

In an effort led by the City of Hamilton Economic Development Department, the Butler County Land Bank recently received a $2 million grant award through the Neighborhood Initiative Program to be used for the acquisition and demolition of property. The Ohio Housing Finance Agency designed the Neighborhood Initiative Program to prevent future foreclosures for existing homeowners by stabilizing property values. 

 

Of the 15 counties that received grant monies in the second round of the application process, Butler County's award was the largest. These funds do not require a match and will be split between Hamilton and Middletown. With the help of the Neighborhood Initiative program funds, the Butler County Land Bank can continue stabilizing property values by removing and greening vacant and blighted properties in targeted areas. The Neighborhood Initiative Program begins October 1st, 2014 and is set to conclude September 30th, 2015.

 

As of September 30th, Hamilton's Land Bank has demolished 161 properties and has donated or sold 22 of them.

An "after" picture of a Land Bank lot. Photo credit Jacob Stone.

Hamilton Electric implementing new rate plan

Electric rates designed to be more "business friendly"

 

The City of Hamilton plans to implement a new electric rate plan in December, contingent upon City Council approval.

 

The proposed rate plan was developed based on the results of a recently-completed electric "cost of service" analysis. City Electric Director Kevin Maynard said, "The rate plan is designed to be revenue neutral; overall rate revenue is not projected to increase. However, rates will be adjusted to more accurately reflect the cost of providing electric service to customer classes such as residential, commercial and industrial.

 

"Contingent on Council approval, the City plans to offer energy efficiency and conservation programs that can help customers mitigate potential rate impacts," Maynard continued. "The rate adjustments will be phased in over four years to allow customers adequate time to take advantage of these efficiency programs."

 

The City has scheduled a public meeting on the electric rate plan for 10 a.m. on Wednesday, October 1, 2014 in City Council Chambers of the Municipal Building at 345 High Street.

 

For additional information, click here or contact Public Utilities Director Doug Childs at 513-785-7236 or [email protected], Director of Electric Kevin Maynard at 513-785-7206 or [email protected], or Director of Economic Development Jody Gunderson at 513-785-7070 or [email protected].

 


Hamilton hosts a Downtown Developer Day

Developers from around the region visit Hamilton to look at development opportunities

 

On September 25th, the City of Hamilton and the Hamilton CORE Fund hosted developers from around the region for a half day tour of completed projects and potential development projects in and around downtown. Approximately fifteen developers participated in the event and there are additional meetings being set with people unable to attend the event.

 

The goal of the event was to get developers interested in doing a project in Hamilton. In the past year, many have expressed the sentiment that they were unaware of the development activity going on in Hamilton and had not considered it for possible investment. CORE Fund Executive Director Mike Dingeldein led a lunch presentation that discussed completed and current projects in Hamilton. Community First Solutions President and CEO Jeff Thurman participated in the event, discussing his experience doing development in the city of Hamilton. The tour focused on some of the large-scale properties in Hamilton's urban core and the properties controlled by the City and the CORE Fund.

Click the image to review the properties toured during Developer Day.

Downtown Hamilton seeking historic designation

Hamilton is the recipient of the State of Ohio's Pipeline Grant

 

The City of Hamilton is pursuing federal designation on the National Register of Historic Places for the downtown area. Obtaining this designation would make approximately 40 downtown buildings eligible for state and federal historic preservation tax credits.

 

Historic tax credits were instrumental in the Historic Mercantile Lofts, the Journal-News, and Artspace projects and the City is hopeful the designation will jump start redevelopment in other buildings. To achieve the designation, the Ohio Development Services Agency has awarded the City of Hamilton a Pipeline Grant to cover the costs associated with the application. The grant is for $11,600.

Proposed historic district boundary

J Austin's Riverbank Cafe celebrates grand opening

Restaurant opens in former Riverbank Cafe location

 

J Austin's Riverbank Cafe, the new restaurant at 102 Main Street, opened in the beginning of September. The restaurant is owned by Gloria and Ken Riley who also own Walt's Barbeque. The restaurant specializes in southern style fare, ranging from short-rib poutine to chicken and waffles. The restaurant has only craft beer on draft, including beers from three Cincinnati breweries.

J Austin's burger. Photo credit Nick Daggy Hamilton
Journal-News.

RiversEdge Master Plan complete

Plan envisions a "central park" for Hamilton


 In September 2013, RiversEdge Amphitheater and Overlook was completed. Thousands of people have already enjoyed concerts at this venue and the City is planning for many activities at the amphitheater. The City is excited to build on the success of RiversEdge Amphitheater and Overlook to develop the next phase

of the park. 


In 2014, the City, in conjunction with MKSK Design firm, has developed a Master Plan for the remaining portion of the development site, located at the former Mercy Hospital site downtown. The master plan includes an assortment of amenities to activate the park at various times with diverse offerings. A wide sidewalk winds through the park, designed to be accessible to food trucks and similar users for community events. An interactive fountain is situated on the northeast corner of the site, a children's playscape is on the northwest corner, and the site includes many gathering places through strategically placed seating options. 

 

To view the Master Plan, click the link here.


 


 


 

City of Hamilton Water named "Best of the Best" in Ohio

Hamilton will represent Ohio at the 2015 American Water Works Association's Annual Conference and Exposition

  

At the Annual Conference of the Ohio Section of the American Water Works Association (AWWA), heldin August in Columbus, OH, the City of Hamilton's Water won the "Best of the Best" Water Taste Test, as the best tasting municipal water in the State of Ohio.  The City of Hamilton Water was selected from a total of fifteen entries in this year's statewide competition.


 The 
City's Water System has won the "Best of the Best" Water Taste Test at the Annual Conference of the Ohio Section of the AWWA the last three consecutive years and four of the last five years. In 2010, the City captured the Gold Medal for the Best Tap Water in the World at the 20th Annual Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting. 

 

3rd Street electrical project underway

Project will improve reliability and aesthetics downtown

  

At the end of July, the City of Hamilton and Rapier Electric began the Third Street Utility Improvement Project. This project consists of installing new electric conduit on the west side of S. Third St. from Court St. to just south of Ludlow St. Also, new electric conduit will be installed on the south side of Maple Avenue to the corner of the Court St. alley. New decorative streetlights will be installed on both sides of S. Third St. from Court St. to Ludlow St. as a part of this project. All distribution poles, old streetlight poles, and overhead wire will be removed in this area as well.

 

The project is estimated to be 85% complete with a total cost of $458,000. It is scheduled to be complete by October 31st 2014. The project will conclude in time for the opening of Community First Solutions' new downtown headquarters, which is located in this area. The City anticipates that with Community First Solutions as an anchor tenant, the infrastructure improvements in the area could help serve as a catalyst for continued investment.

Improvements in front of Community First Solutions' new headquarters. Photo credit Cody Turman.

Fall events in Hamilton

Operation Pumpkin and Hamilton Welcomes the Holidays return


 Operation Pumpkin

Operation Pumpkin returns to downtown Hamilton October 3rd, 4th, and 5th. There will be sculpting, decorating, carving, eating, and weighing pumpkins. There will also be live bands, food, art, and many other family-friendly activities.  For more information, visit their website here or their Facebook page  here.

 

Holiday Tree Lighting

Hamilton will light the holiday tree on November 21st at 5:30 p.m. at the Butler County Courthouse.
 

Main Street Music Fest

Main Street will host its annual Music Fest immediately following the Holiday Tree Lighting on November 21st from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Businesses will be open and many will have music and refreshments.
 

Christkindlmarkt

Christkindlmarkt will be at the Courtyard Marriott Hamilton this year December 5th, 6th, and 7th. The event is an authentic German Christmas Market in the tradition of those held throughout Germany. For more information, visit their Facebook page here.
 

German Village Christmas Walk

The annual German Village Christmas Walk will be held on Sunday December 7th from noon to 5 p.m. Historic homes will be open to tour and there will be a petting zoo, carriage rides, and more.
 

Program highlight: Design Assistance Program

Program offers affordable financing for small businesses in Butler County


 In order to encourage the establishment of new businesses and the expansion of existing businesses in Hamilton, the Hamilton Department of Economic Development is offering a Design Assistance Program. This program provides business owners interested in renovating existing buildings or in constructing new buildings with a grant of up to $2,500 to be used for professional architectural/technical services. The design process typically provides the owner with some or all of the following:

 

* Floor plans showing existing and/or new construction;

* Building facade improvements; and,

* Preliminary building, zoning and safety code analysis.

 

 For more information, please review the program web page here
 

Property highlight

RiversEdge lot

 

The City of Hamilton owns the lot adjacent to the new RiversEdge Amphitheater and Overlook and is interested in redeveloping opportunities. It is a 1.6 acre lot and the City of Hamilton is looking for a developer for the site who is interested in building something that complements the activity at RiversEdge. If you are interested in more information, contact Jody Gunderson at 513-785-7070 or [email protected]

Need assistance from the City?

Contact the Business Development Team

 

The City established the Business Development Team to make investing in Hamilton easier for current and future business owners. The Team focuses on assisting retail and commercial development. It is a single point of contact that coordinates between all necessary departments to help businesses from the first inquiry until the issuance of final occupancy. To contact the Business Development Team, call 513-785-7070 or email [email protected].

Contact: Jody Gunderson, Director of Economic Development  
345 High Street, Hamilton, Ohio    
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