|
|
|
Hamilton receives recognition for economic development efforts
The City of Hamilton, the Hamilton Mill, CORE, and Community First Solutions CEO Jeffrey Thurman receive top honors
The City of Hamilton, The Hamilton Mill, and Jeffrey Thurman accepted awards for their economic development efforts in Hamilton from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). IEDC's Excellence in Economic Development Awards honor organizations and individuals for their efforts in creating positive change in urban, suburban, and rural communities.
The City received four awards, including the Gold Excellence in Economic Development award from IEDC for the Initiative Update in the General Purpose Print Brochure category for communities with a population between 25,000 to 200,000. View the 2015 Initiative Update here. Additionally, the City won 1 Silver and 2 Bronze awards.
The Hamilton Mill received the Gold Excellence in Economic Development Award for communities with a population between 25,000 to 200,000 for the business incubator's new website in the Special Purpose Website category. View The Hamilton Mill website here. The CORE Fund received a Silver award in the public-private partnership category.
Jeffrey Thurman, President & CEO of Community First Solutions, received one of the most significant awards that IEDC bestows. Mr. Thurman received the Citizen Leadership Award, which is given to a community or business leader who is not an economic development practitioner, but has played a key leadership role in influencing economic development. Mr. Thurman has been involved in the economic development of Hamilton for 36 years. Under Mr. Thurman's leadership, Community First Solutions has made $75 million in capital investments within the community. He recently led the effort to relocate the company headquarters to downtown Hamilton. For more information, read the Journal-News article about the awards here.
|
|
Many new small businesses celebrate grand openings
Most small business growth is centered in downtown Hamilton
Hamilton gained many new local small businesses in the 4th quarter of 2015. Renaissance Fine Art Supplies and The Almond Sisters bakery opened in the retail spaces of Artspace Hamilton Lofts. InsideOut Studio, an art studio and gallery for artists with disabilities, opened at 150 High Street, the former Elder Beerman department store. Lillian's, a women's clothing boutique, opened downtown at 11 S Third Street. In total, downtown Hamilton gained 8 new retail businesses in 2015. The new businesses provide a wide variety of amenities and are creating a new sense of vibrancy downtown.
Outside of downtown, two additional small businesses opened. Excel Development Center, a new preschool, celebrated a ribbon cutting in December. Safe Ship, a pack and ship business, also opened during the 4th quarter.
|
|
Third Street Plaza celebrates ribbon cutting
German Village Plaza will be a community gathering place
Through a partnership between the City of Hamilton, Hamilton Community Foundation, and the Lane Library, German Village has a new plaza on Third Street. The street was transformed into a plaza that can be closed for community activities. The $2.6 million project included a new brick paver roadway and sidewalk, medians, street trees, and lighting. The project celebrated its ribbon cutting on December 6th, in time for the German Village Christmas Walk.
|
|
150 High Street gets a facelift
New facade completes a $7.25 million renovation of building
With the completion of the new facade, CORE finished the transformation of the former Elder Beerman department store into a new commercial center in December. 150 High Street is now home to STARTEK, Kettering physician's offices, Joslin Diabetes Center, InsideOut Studio, and Jackson's Market and Deli. The building still has a floor and a half of space available (60,000 sq. ft.) that CORE is actively seeking tenants for.
|
|
City of Hamilton launches Main Street Upper Floor Residential Rehabilitation Program
Program aimed at private development on Main Street
The City of Hamilton is launching a new program in January called the Upper Floor Residential Rehabilitation Program. The program seeks to foster private development on Main Street . The program will assist owners of mixed use buildings on Main Street with the redevelopment of upper floor space into high-quality rental housing. The matching grant is up to $20,000 per unit with a maximum grant of $80,000 for each project. For more information, contact Liz Hayden at 513-785-7068 or haydenl@hamilton-oh.gov.
|
|
Community First Solutions and JN Linrose partner on new care facility
Community First Solutions utilized steel framing from Hamilton company JN Linrose for the Jamestowne Health & Rehabilitation Center
Community First Solutions is utilizing a number of local companies and products on its new Jamestowne Health & Rehabilitation Center. One partnership is with Hamilton company JN Linrose Manufacturing, which has provided the steel framing for the building. Jamestowne Health & Rehabilitation Center is a $12 million 42,000 sq. ft. care facility at Main Street and Stahlheber Road.
Community First Solutions, the parent company responsible for the strategic oversight of Colonial, Community Behavior�al Health, Community First Pharmacy, and Partners in Prime, is Hamilton's second largest private employer. JN Linrose Mfg. is a light gauge metal framing manufacturer and is the sister company of Matandy Steel and Metal Products, also of Hamilton.
|
| |
CEO of Community First Solutions Jeffrey Thurman and President of JN Linrose Matt Pfirman
|
|
|
"Tiger" is latest movie being filmed in Hamilton
Four movies have been filmed in Hamilton in the last year
Hamilton has been home to a number of film productions in the last year. "Tiger" recently concluded filming in Hamilton, a movie starring Mickey Rourke about a boxer. The "Tiger" crew chose Hamilton largely due to a positive experience filming in the community during the production of "Chain of Command." During the summer, Hamilton had a number of Hollywood stars staying in the community while filming of "The Long Home" was underway, including James Franco and Josh Hutcherson. "Carol," which filmed primarily in Cincinnati, also filmed a scene in Hamilton.
The reasons for the recent film activity are not fully known, but most of the films had a local/regional connection and the Ohio Motion Picture Tax Incentive has made it easier for films to choose Ohio locations. The economic impact of the movies on the community is most noticeable in the hospitality industry, as people from the film crew and actors are staying at the Hamilton Courtyard by Marriott and the crews often utilize local restaurants for catering. Steve Colwell with Film Hamilton estimates that "Tiger," "The Long Home," and "Chain of Command" had a combined economic impact of $1 million on the state of Ohio.
|
| | Cate Blanchett in Hamilton during the filming of "Carol." Photo credit Nick Daggy, Journal-News. |
|
|
The Hamilton Mill hosts foreign dignitaries
Meeting was part of the International Visitor Leadership Program
In a collaborative with the Greater Cincinnati World Affairs Council and the United States Department of State, The Hamilton Mill hosted a session on Thursday, November 12 with representatives from Norway, Poland, Hungary, and Estonia. As part of the International Visitor Leadership Program, the theme of the session was "Entrepreneurship as the Engine of Prosperity and Stability: Strategic Innovation". The Hamilton Mill was approached to host these professionals due to its unique approach to business development and incubation.
|
|
CEO of ThyssenKrupp Bilstein receives German-American Friendship Award
Fabian Schmahl is honored for his work and community efforts
Fabian Schmahl, President & CEO ThyssenKrupp Bilstein of America, recently received the German-Amercian Friendship Award from Deputy Consul General Mario Soos on behalf of Ambassador Peter Wittig. The award was established by the German Embassy in Washington, D.C. in 1981 and honors people who have rendered outstanding services to German-American relations.
Mr. Schmahl was instrumental in bringing a segment of the Berlin Wall to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati, where it is on permanent display. Additionally, Mr. Schmahl continues to be an engaged business leader in Hamilton and the Greater Cincinnati region. For more information, read the press release here.
|
| | President and CEO of ThyssenKrupp Bilstein Fabian Schmahl. Photo credit Journal-News. |
|
|
Kaivac obtains HumanaVitality Silver status
Status recognizes Kaivac's wellness program
Kaivac was recently recognized for its effective wellness program. Kaivac utilized HumanaVitality to implement a robust wellness program for its employees. The success of Kaivac's wellness program was recognized in October by obtaining silver status by HumanaVitality. Kaivac, which is headquartered in Hamilton, is a cleaning equipment company best known for its No-Touch C leaning system. Kaivac manufactures a full line of No-Touch cleaning products aimed at making cleaning processes safer for people and the environment while preserving quality and cost efficiency.
|
|
RowAmerica Hamilton making strides
Under RowAmerica Hamilton's leadership, rowing is becoming more competitive
RowAmerica Hamilton (RAH) established a partnership with the Great Miami Rowing Center (GMRC) in February 2015. Since the partnership, RAH has made great strides in becoming a more competitive rowing team. For these efforts, the City of Hamilton City Council honored the RAH Youth Racing Team in November.
Reactivating Hamilton's river was a major goal of the Vision Commission, which has been meeting since the late 1990s. Due to the ideal rowing conditions on the Great Miami River, GMRC was established in 2007 as part of these efforts. RAH's involvement is seen as the next step in the effort to activate the Great Miami River in Hamilton. RAH offers rowing and paddling opportunities for youth, adults and people with disabilities to help athletes reach their recreation, health & wellness, or competition goals. RAH and GMRC are currently raising funds for the capital campaign for the facility redevelopment of the Smart Paper Co-generation building on North B Street and create a community water access point and trail head.
|
|
WintersEdge brings RiversEdge concerts indoors during the winter
WintersEdge concert series is held at the Fitton Center for Creative Arts
WintersEdge, a partnership between RiversEdge and the Fitton Center For Creative Arts, offers entertainment throughout the winter months. Check out the lineup here.
|
|
Property highlight: CORE Main Street program
CORE is actively seeking partners interested in participating in the redevelopment of Main Street in Hamilton, Ohio. If you are a developer, own a business, or just in general would like to learn more, check out the CORE website here or contact Mike Dingeldein at mike@corehamilton.org. 
|
|
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 startmeup@hamilton-oh.gov.
|
|
