City of Hamilton, Ohio First Quarter 2017
In This Issue
Darana Hybrid Announces Project in Hamilton
SBDC Recognized Nationally as the SBDC of the Year
Chamber of Commerce Focuses on Small Business
Pipeline H2O Announces Inaugural Class
Economic Development Annual Report Published
Courtyard by Marriott Undergoing Renovation
Municipal Brew Works Distribution Agreement
Community Leaders visit Spooky Nook Sports
Betty Taylor chosen 2017 Citizen of the Year
Small Business Community Keeps Growing
Hamilton in the News
2017 Spring and Summer Events in Hamilton
Property Highlight
Now Hiring in Hamilton
Need assistance from the City?
Quick Links


Darana Hybrid Announces Project in Hamilton
Electro-mechanical company to create 200 new jobs in Enterprise Park
 
SBDC Recognized Nationally as SBDC of the Year
SBDC receives recognition and The Mill announces its first successful exit
 
The Butler County Small Business Development Center (SBDC) announced in March that it was selected as the 2017 SBDC of the Year by the United States Small Business Administration (SBA), becoming the first SBDC in Ohio to receive the recognition. This annual recognition awards the SBDC that exemplifies excellence in several different categories, including business starts, capital infusion, jobs created, and jobs retained. The Butler County SBDC is headed by Director David Riggs and Associate Director Mark Lankford, both of whom are Certified Business Advisors. The SBDC has received multiple awards in the past, including 2016 Business Counselor of the Year (received by Mark Lankford). Read more in  this press release by The Mill .

At the end of February 2017, The Hamilton Mill was proud to announce the first successful exit of a member company. NewKnowledgeUnited (NKU) was founded in 2014 by Jack Calhoun and Dr. Danny Hoyt and merged with TiER1 Performance Solutions to help them strengthen their core talent base and expand their national reach. This event signifies a major accomplishment for both NKU and The Hamilton Mill, as exits are widely considered to be the ultimate goal of incubators and accelerators throughout the startup ecosystem.
SBDC Director David Riggs and Associate Director Mark Lankford
Chamber of Commerce Focuses on Small Business
New classes include the Small Business Roundtables and Business 101
 
The Greater Hamilton Chamber of Commerce (GHCC) has partnered with the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) to offer a series of free Small Business Roundtables for businesses with 49 or fewer employees. Attendees will hear from a featured guest speaker and have a chance to participate in a discussion with others in the small business sector. The first session was offered in January and featured Liz Hayden, Small Business Development Specialist with the City of Hamilton's Economic Development Department, while the second featured Congressman Warren Davidson. Small Business Roundtables are held on the fourth Thursday every month from 8:30 to 10am at GHCC offices (201 Dayton St.). Seating is limited and reservation is required, so click here to make a reservation.

The GHCC is also working with Graydon attorneys to offer the free Business 101 Seminar Series to give business owners insight on dealing with the peaks and pitfalls of operating a business. The seminars will feature business owners, executives, and professionals in the Hamilton community who will share practical examples of their struggles, successes, and advice on how to run a business. Click below for more information on upcoming seminars:
Pipeline H2O Announces Inaugural Class
Water tech commercialization program began classes in February 2017

In January 2017, The Hamilton Mill announced the inaugural class of Pipeline H2O - six startups from around the country that will change the world.  Pipeline H2O is a commercialization program for water technology companies supported by a coalition of regional cities, utilities, universities, and startup organizations throughout the Greater Cincinnati region. The goal of the program is to identify and accelerate companies working on water technologies that address the world's water challenges. Common water challenges throughout the world include infrastructure improvements, water reuse, wastewater treatment, monitoring, and consumer innovations. After announcing their call for applications in September 2016, The Mill received 66 applications from 14 countries. The six companies chosen for the inaugural class in alphabetical order are:
Congratulations to these companies and welcome to Hamilton and the Greater Cincinnati area! 
The culmination of the program will be a demonstration day during which each of the companies will present their products and solutions. To read more about Pipeline in the Journal-News article, click here. Register for Pipeline H2O Demonstration Day by clicking here.
Economic Development Annual Report Published
The City of Hamilton's 2016 Annual Report is now available

The City of Hamilton Economic Development Department publishes an annual report every year to update the public on past projects and major announcements in Hamilton. According to the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), annual reports help organizations to keep track of progress they make toward goals and provide both a sense of accountability and a chance to reflect on best practices. The 2016 Economic Development Annual Report is now available on the City of Hamilton Economic Development website along with the 2017 Initiative Update and reports from previous years.
Courtyard by Marriott Undergoing Renovation
A $1 million renovation will keep downtown Hamilton's hotel competitive
 
The Courtyard by Marriott Hamilton is getting a one million dollar renovation to the lobby, ballroom, fitness area, swimming pool, outside patio, and rooms. Given its central location in downtown Hamilton and its position between Municipal Brew Works and RiversEdge Amphitheater, the hotel has really become a focal point of community activity. In 2009, a $5 million renovation of the former Hamiltonian Hotel became the first major project undertaken in the most recent wave of downtown redevelopment and spurred other investment in Hamilton, including the Mercantile Lofts and the planned Marcum Apartments . The Courtyard renovation began in December 2016 and was completed on March 6, just four days shy of the hotel's 8 year anniversary on March 10. Click here to read more about the renovation on the Courtyard.
Municipal Brew Works Distribution Agreement
Hamilton's own local brewery will now distribute in three counties
 
Municipal Brew Works (MBW) announced in March that it had signed a distribution agreement with Monroe-based Ohio Eagle Distributing, a wholesale distributor of domestic, imported, and craft beers. MBW opened in June 2016 in the back of the former municipal building at 20 High Street and has seen enormous success. This agreement will distribute their beers all across Butler, Warren, and Preble counties and will allow them to grow. Click here to read the Journal-News article.
Photo credit: Butler County Visitors Bureau
Community Leaders visit Spooky Nook Sports
Leaders took a tour of the country's largest indoor sports complex

In January 2017, a group of Hamilton's civic and community leaders took a trip to Spooky Nook Sports complex in Manheim, Pennsylvania to tour the country's largest indoor sports facility. Spooky Nook is working with the City of Hamilton to secure financing for Champion Mill Redevelopment Project, a $110 million project that would turn the old Champion Paper Mill into the largest sports facility in the region. In July 2016, the project was awarded $1 million in the State of Ohio capital budget, helping the City of Hamilton achieve its goal to attract outside revenue for infrastructure projects. The redevelopment project is expected to break ground in summer 2017 and, once completed, draw over a million visitors to Hamilton per year. Click here to read more about the tour of the Spooky Nook facility in Pennsylvania.
Betty Taylor chosen 2017 Citizen of the Year 
Annual Chamber award is given to the quiet hero of Crawford Woods
 
Betty Taylor was chosen as the Greater Hamilton Chamber of Commerce's 2016 Citizen of the Year which was awarded at the annual Chamber Dinner in January 2017. 'Miss Betty' provides a safe and loving atmosphere for students from Sky Meadows Mobile Home Park to go after school, concentrate on homework, read from a mini-library, play educational games, and practice their English with other English as a Second Language (ESL) students. Teachers at Crawford Woods Elementary began noticing a continuous improvement for many of the previously struggling ESL students and discovered the selfless, free help given to the students at Betty Taylor's informal after-school program. In addition to the educational help, Miss Betty provides snacks and occasional dinners as well as swings and other outdoor play equipment. If you'd like to help Betty Taylor and the children she tutors, donations for clothes, school supplies, and non-perishable food items are welcomed at Crawford Woods Elementary (2200 Hensley Ave). Click here to read the Journal-News article about Betty Taylor and the Chamber award she received.
Photo credit: Journal-News
Small Business Community Keeps Growing
Many small business openings and announcements in 2017

In 2016, 11 new small businesses opened on Main Street alone, and already there are more planning to open soon. Hip Boutique has been preparing their new location at 112 Main and offered a sneak peek of the boutique on Saturday, March 25. SilverWing Sewing and Alterations, which opened in September 2016, is now SilverWing Alterations & Red Carpet Consignments . In addition to alterations, they sell consigned dresses, gowns, and accessories for prom, homecoming, weddings, and other special events. Sherry's Petals opened on Main Street in November and recently announced they are moving to a larger space on Main Street to better suit their needs as a growing business. Pet Wants, an all-natural pet food producer and retailer, has been receiving positive attention after announcing their plans to open their new store at 139 Main Street. Across the river, One Love Yoga and Healing Center opened its doors on March 20 at 18 S. Third Street, and RISE Fit recently announced plans to open a new location at 112 S. Second Street in May.
Sneak peek of Hip Boutique, opening at 112 Main Street soon
Hamiton in the News
Hamilton has gotten a lot of good press over the past few months

All of the great things going on in Hamilton keep making the news! In February, Hamilton was chosen by Country Living magazine as one of 25 "Under-the-Radar Midwestern Towns for Girlfriend Getaways", a story covered in this USA Today article. Hamilton is getting national attention thanks in part to eclectic establishments like Sara's House and Jolly's, charming historic districts like Rossville and German Village, and activities like the Butler County Donut Trail. One of Hamilton's finest dining establishments, Community First Solution's Coach House restaurant, made the Top 10 Diners' Choice Award for Best Restaurants in Cincinnati, coming in 7th in a list that included local favorites such as Carlo & Johnny, the Orchids at Palm Court, and Jeff Ruby's Steakhouse! Local 12 ran this story about all of the new businesses coming to the Main Street Business District, and this Journal-News story covered a possible second location of Oxford-based Quarter Barrel opening in Hamilton. The We Are Hamilton campaign has also continued efforts to bring positive media attention to Hamilton and its residents. New Community Champion profiles have been published in the past few weeks, including Frank Downie, Cindy Trauthwein, and Brian Woods.
Frank Downie is a community volunteer highlighted on the We Are Hamilton website
2017 Spring and Summer Events in Hamilton
Many events are returning in 2017 and some are just taking off
 
With approximately 20,000 attendees, IceFest was a hit in January, and the first annual Donuts & Drafts event taking place in downtown Hamilton and Middletown sold out! Tens of thousands of people come out to events in downtown Hamilton annually, and most of those events take place in the spring, summer, and early fall, which means there will be a lot of activity in the next few months.

The City of Hamilton's annual Free Summer Concert Series at RiversEdge will kick off on June 2 with Scotty Bratcher and continue through the end of August. These concerts usually take place on Thursday evenings starting at 6:30. Check the RiversEdge website for a full schedule.

Alive After 5 is going into its third year in 2017, and will have its first event on May 4. This themed shop hop takes place on the first Thursday of every month from 5-9pm along High Street and features a variety of family-friendly activities and specials. Find out more information about this year's themes on the Alive After 5 website.

Also starting up in May is the Hamilton Flea, which debuted last year on German Village's Third Street Plaza and will be moving to the newly completed Marcum Park this year. The Flea takes place on the second Saturday of the month, May-September, from 10am to 4pm and features a curated selection of the top vendors, creators, and inventors in the area. Find more information about this year's Flea on their website.

With eleven new small businesses opened in 2016, the Main Street Area Association (MSAA) has seen a huge jump in activity and membership over the past year. To keep the energy going, the MSAA is planning a series of monthly shop hops for Main Street starting in May, including Art Hop on Main (June 16) and finishing out the year strong in November with the annual Music on Main (November 17). These shop hop events will take place on the third Friday or Saturday of the month, and you can find out more on the Main Street website.
Fire and Ice is one of IceFest's most popular events and drew a crowd of hundreds
Property Highlight: St. Aloysius
 
St. Aloysius is located at 3105-3113 Dixie Highway in Hamilton, Ohio and offers Class A office space at Class B rental rates. There is immediate availability of 13,300 - 33,750 square feet with storage space and a loading dock in the rear. The building has security and furniture and office equipment available. Contact Dan George or Bob Crable at 513-762-7622 or click here for more information about the space.
Now Hiring in Hamilton
Click the links below to apply to these positions today
 
Hamilton has a number of companies which are growing or expanding, and these companies are looking to hire a combined 1,000+ workers in the next several years. If you are interested in applying for a position with one of the city's growing companies, click on the links below.

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@ci.hamilton.oh.us.

 

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