Hamilton's biggest employers have been making news in recent months. Barclays (formerly Barclaycard) was recognized by the Cincinnati Enquirer as one of the Top Workplaces of 2018. "Being named a top workplace is a big deal to us, especially since we have only been in the Greater Cincinnati area for just over two years," said interim site leader Steve Ryder. "Knowing that our colleagues are happy and truly enjoying working here means so much to us. We are very proud of our team here in Hamilton, and honored to be named a Top Workplace."

Finally, ODW has also been growing rapidly in Hamilton for years. They were chosen as one of the 2018 Best Workplaces in Ohio by Ohio Business Magazine. ODW recently completed a renovation of their office space at 345 High Street and released this video about their Hamilton location.

If you're looking for a job in Hamilton, click here for a list of the biggest companies that are hiring.

Photo credit: Anthony Retherford

The Ohio Development Services Agency (ODSA) announced on June 20 that the Champion Paper Mill Redevelopment Project was awarded nearly $5 million in historic tax credits. These tax credits will be used to develop the planned Spooky Nook Sports Complex and Event Center, a $150 million project that is expected to bring more than a million people to Hamilton annually. Historic tax credits are highly competitive and have been used to fund many other projects that have helped revitalize Hamilton, including the Mercantile Lofts, the Journal-News building, and the former Fifth Third building. For more information on historic tax credits awarded throughout the state of Ohio, check out the press release from ODSA. Find out more about the impact this project will have in this WCPO segment or in this Journal-News article.

Champion Paper Mill, on both sides of B Street, has been vacant since 2012

Photo credit: Nick Graham

Pipeline participants presented their technology to a group of investors at the Demo Day in May 2018

The City of Hamilton publishes the Initiative Update every year to update businesses, residents, and visitors on the major projects that are impacting Hamilton's economic revitalization and quality of life. In 2018, downtown redevelopment continues with the completion of both the Marcum Apartments mixed-use project and South Hamilton Crossing, which replaces  an existing at-grade railroad crossing with a railroad overpass. Investment continues in the Main Street Business District, where the City is undertaking a $3.2 million streetscape renovation, intersection improvements at Main-Millville-Eaton, and where several new businesses are slated to open later this year. Additional highlights include continued progress on the Champion Sports Complex development, the launch of Hamilton's Downtown Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA), and completion of both Plan Hamilton, the City's first master plan since the late 1990s, and the Hamilton River Plan, a river and riverfront area master plan.

Quarter Barrel Brewery & Pub, which opened on Main Street in early 2018, completed and opened its rooftop patio on June 8. Quarter Barrel is located at the corner of Main and B Streets, and the patio overlooks the Great Miami River as well as the rest of downtown Hamilton. Click here to check out this Journal-News article about the rooftop patio.  Across the river, Municipal Brew Works (MBW) celebrated its two year anniversary the same weekend in June. MBW has been at the heart of downtown nightlife since it opened in 2016, and signed a distribution agreement in early 2017. Their Approachable Blonde was the top-voted beer in the second annual Cincinnati Craft Madness competition, snagging 54% of the more than 21,000 votes cast online. Both MBW & Quarter Barrel recently expanded their hours to be open on Tuesdays.

Hamilton City Council approved a Downtown Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA) in Hamilton earlier this year, and this zone became active on May 3, the night of the first 2018 Alive After 5. The DORA comprises over 190 acres in downtown Hamilton on both sides of the Great Miami River, including most of German Village, High Street, the Main Street Business District, and, eventually, the planned redevelopment area at Champion Mill. Visitors can purchase a drink from any establishment that sells alcohol and walk around the designated area with their drink. Consumers are also able to visit any shops that allow beverages. Click here for more information including rules & regulations on the DORA, or click here to read the WCPO article about it.

The DORA gives visitors the chance to have a refreshment while also enjoying Hamilton's downtown

The Hamilton Community Foundation's new Talent Attraction Program (TAP) Scholarship has been drawing national attention lately. In late April, the Wall Street Journal released this article about the national labor shortage and Hamilton's innovative approach to dealing with this problem. Recipients of the TAP Scholarship must be employed in Butler County and live in Hamilton's urban core. They receive $200 per month, up to $5,000 total, to pay toward outstanding student loan debt.

The Hamilton Community Foundation, located in the historic Lane-Hooven House, awarded more than $1 million to nearly 200 graduating seniors in 2018