2011 hamilton ecdev annual report

Grand Openings

Maple Leaf Foods

Small Business Enterprise Centre (SBEC)

St. Joseph’s Healthcare

Goods Movement

2011 Statistics

Creative Industries

Downtown Highlights

Institutional

Business Retention

New Development

Ranking and Recognition

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4

6

8

10

12

14

16

20

22

24

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table of contents

2011 proved to be another tremendous year for Hamilton by once again demonstrating that this

city’s economic resurgence is a trend and not an anomaly. Although, our City’s building permit

total did not surpass the record $1 Billion mark set in 2010, we still achieved solid numbers with

our Non-Residential (Commercial & Industrial) permits representing 21% of our annual total.

There were many other positive signs of growth last year with the most visible being the presence

of eight construction cranes on the Hamilton skyline representing the new St. Joseph’s Mental Health

complex, the Staybridge Suite Hotel, and the high-rise residential developments of New Horizon

Homes and Urban West Developments.

Some of the other great indicators included; a 3.4% industrial vacancy rate; a 12% downtown office

vacancy rate; 1,000,000 square feet of vacant industrial space filled with new companies; our Port

generating $5.9 Billion in economic activity annually; over 300 new jobs created in the Creative Industries

cluster; and an unemployment rate of 6.3%.

In my opinion, the most impressive result in 2011 was the attraction of new companies and the expansion

of existing businesses in all areas of this city. Last year, we witnessed strong growth at the Bayfront,

in Downtown, the Ancaster Business Park, Stoney Creek, the Flamborough Business Park, and our new

Red Hill Business Park where we beat out 24 other Canadian cities to secure Maple Leaf Foods’ $400 million,

500,000 square foot meat processing operation. The fact that our growth wasn’t limited to one industry

group but instead was representative of a wide range of sectors was the “icing on the cake” and the reason

why the Conference Board of Canada gave Hamilton a 92% rating on the diversity of our economy.

Mayor Bob Bratina

City of Hamilton

lister blockThe Lister Block is a symbol of renewal in Hamilton

and of the positive changes occurring across the city.

Following a multi-year restoration of this former icon of

urban decay, the Lister is now a spectacular $25 million

restored office and commercial space in the heart of

Downtown Hamilton and a symbol of the great renewal

happening in Hamilton’s core.

mayor’s message

2011 marked another outstanding year in grand openings for the local economy in a variety

of economic sectors. Here are just some of the highlights from the past year.

canada bread company ltd. Canada Bread completed the construction of their new 388,000 square foot bakery

located in South Hamilton’s Red Hill Business Park. The investment of approximately

$100 million establishes Canada Bread as Canada’s largest commercial bakery -

expected to employ approximately 300 people.

best Western c Hotel by carmensAs Hamilton’s first luxury boutique hotel, the C Hotel, a $12.5 million investment in the

Red Hill Business Park, has 52 suites that sleep approximately 200 people and has

nearly 40 employees.

Parrish and Heimbecker (P&H)The Port of Hamilton is now home to two high-tech grain storage units. This $30

million investment is the latest addition to Hamilton’s growing food processing

sector and with a height of 27 meters, and a diameter of 58 meters, each dome can

hold 28,000 tonnes of grain. By 2021, P&H is expected to handle more than one

million tonnes.

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grand oPenings

investinhamilton.ca 2011

$12.5 millioninvestment in Red Hill Business Park

$100 millioninvestment

388,000 sq. ft.state-of-art facility

carstarCarstar Automotive Canada completed their national head office, known

as Vision Park, in the Red Hill Business Park in 2011. This 15,000 square

foot, approximately $3 million investment, saw the retention of over 50

employees in Hamilton.

$30 millioninvestment $3 million

investment

Beating out 24 other municipalities from across Canada, Hamilton

became the choice of a multi-million dollar investment by Maple Leaf

Foods and in the process greatly accelerated the advancement of

Hamilton’s food processing sector.

Maple Leaf Foods’ state-of-the-art meat processing plant will be

the largest and most innovative in Canada. Located in the Red

Hill Business Park, this $395 million facility will bring 670 new

jobs to Hamilton. As well, this plant will add over $2 million to

the property tax base each year. With production in deli meats,

processed meats and wieners, this exciting new addition brings

Maple Leaf’s total two year investment in Hamilton (along with

Canada Bread- Canada’s largest commercial bakery) to nearly

$500 million, approximately 1,000 jobs and over 800,000

square feet of new industrial space.

54

maPle leaf foods

670 new Jobs createdin Hamilton




7

In 2011, Hamilton’s Small Business Enterprise Centre (SBEC) helped facilitate the creation of a record

940 jobs in the city and received over 40,000 inquiries- making it one of the busiest SBECs in Ontario.

Here’s just some of the investments that made small business such big business for Hamilton.

cake & loafCake & Loaf is a “from scratch” neighbourhood bakery focusing on custom special occasion cakes,

artisan breads, pastries, take-out coffee, catering and light lunches located on Dundurn Street.

gorilla cheese Hamilton is home to Canada’s first motorized food truck that specializes in gourmet grilled cheese

sandwiches. Gorilla Cheese was formed by two friends, and has expanded to four employees

since its opening in July.

sweetness bakerySweetness bakery is a nut-free bakery specializing in cupcakes. Since August 2010, this bakery

has expanded from one location in Burlington, to four locations which include: Ancaster,

Dundas, and two locations in Hamilton.

needleworkLocated on James Street North this new business offers a boutique style fabric and

workspace for the do-it-yourselfer and creative textile community in Hamilton - offering

a selection of designer fabric, sewing patterns and notions.

momentum fitnessThis state of the art facility offers members a 24 hour, 7 day a week friendly boutique

style fitness facility in the heart of Downtown Dundas.

small business enterPrise centre (sbec)


940 Jobs createdin Hamilton

42,441 inquiries

1,169 consultations

6

In 2011, St. Joseph’s Healthcare broke ground on its state-of-the-art $581 million mental

health complex on Hamilton’s West Mountain. This 800,000 square foot facility will

offer a wide range of programs in the areas of schizophrenia, mood disorders, forensic

psychiatry, geriatric psychiatry, and specialized mental health rehabilitation. In addition,

it will offer outpatient clinics for psychiatry, diagnostic imaging and medical services.

This highly anticipated hospital will have 305 single person inpatient bedrooms that

offer all associated support services. The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural

Neurosciences of McMaster University will be provided space for research and

academia purposes.

st. JosePH’s HealtHcare

9



305 roomsfor single personin-patient


8

11


goods movement

As a central point between the Greater Toronto Area and the US, Hamilton is strategically positioned

to efficiently move goods and people. These are a few of the Goods Movement investment highlights

from 2011.

PurolatorCourier giant Purolator Inc. has poured more than $9 million into its Hamilton airport cargo centre,

financing a major expansion of aircraft parking as it ramps up for a major business expansion in

the United States.

lafargeAn expansion in a new home by Lafarge and the Hamilton Port Authority at Pier 22 included

$20 million in site improvements, a 2,000,000 square foot project and a shipping value of

up to $1 million annually.

fluke transport & WarehousingFluke, a leading transportation firm, will occupy nearly 175,000 square feet at the Hamilton

Port and has a flexible agreement for additional warehouse space.

richardson internationalRichardson International is investing over $5.5 million to expand their Hamilton Port

facility, which will increase handling and shipping capacity- including a third receiving pit

and elevation leg, two new truck beam scales and a 2,000 square foot office addition.

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175,000 sq. ft. additional warehousespace

$5.5 millionexpansion

$20 millionsite improvements

12 13

2011 statistics

Jan feb mar aPr may Jun Jul aug sePt oct nov dec

6.6% 6.7% 6.0% 5.5% 5.4% 5.9% 6.4% 6.9% 6.7% 6.6% 6.5% 6.4%

8.9% 8.9% 8.9% 9.9% 10.1% 9.7% 8.4% 7.6% 7.2% 7.2% 7.2% 7.3%

9.7% 9.6% 9.5% 9.2% 9.1% 8.8% 8.6% 8.4% 8.3% 8.2% 7.6% 7.4%

7.0% 6.6% 6.7% 6.9% 7.3% 6.9% 6.4% 6.2% 6.7% 6.8% 6.8% 6.6%

8.3% 8.4% 8.3% 8.3% 8.3% 8.7% 9.1% 8.9% 9.0% 9.2% 9.8% 9.6%

9.7% 9.6% 9.7% 10.7% 10.6% 9.2% 8.0% 8.1% 9.6% 10.5% 10.8% 10.5%

8.1% 8.0% 8.1% 7.9% 7.9% 7.7% 7.5% 7.5% 7.6% 8.1% 7.9% 7.7%

7.8% 7.8% 7.7% 7.6% 7.4% 7.4% 7.2% 7.3% 7.1% 7.3% 7.4% 7.5%

Hamilton

Oshawa

St. Catharines/Niagara

Kitchener

London

Windsor

Ontario

Canada

2011 unemPloyment rateSource: Statistics Canada CMA-Labour Force Survey Monthly Releases

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

395,335,459 415,430,563 282,169,882 590,896,451 432,286,606

126,391,840 139,215,985 194,656,100 163,631,410 121,830,067

63,337,586 53,002,526 115,039,969 139,750,335 35,468,780

210,207,720 202,548,954 85,847,282 188,237,078 128,372,726

6,446,743 8,264,422 14,689,153 13,783,816 13,061,110

$801,719,348 $818,462,450 $692,402,386 $1,096,299,090 $731,019,289

$189,729,426 $192,218,511 $309,696,069 $303,381,745 $157,298,847

$406,383,889 $403,031,887 $410,232,504 $505,402,639 $298,732,683

Residential

Commercial

Industrial

Institutional

Other / Misc.

total

Ind / Com Total

Non-Res Total

building Permits 2007-2011Source: City of Hamilton Building Department

Hamilton burlington oakville mississauga

2010 2011 2010 2011 2010 2011 2010 2011

N/A 5.2% 12.7% 7.4% 2.8% 5.1% 5.9% 6.7%

6.9% 3.7% 8.7% 6.1% 2.4% 4.3% 6.7% 5.8%

6.9% 3.7% 7.4% 4.1% 2.8% 4.9% 6.8% 5.4%

6.1% 3.4% 9.2% 5.0% 4.6% 3.9% 7.0% 5.0%

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

industrial vacancy ratesSource: Colliers GTA Industrial Statistics Report

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

1,800 2,121 1,052 2,282 1,645

2,010 1,662 1,778 1,902 1,715

Starts

Completions

Housing statistics 2007-2011Source: CMHC Housing Now


Huminah Huminah animation studioBased out of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Huminah Huminah expanded to a studio in

Hamilton which employs 15 people.

Pipeline studiosPipeline Studios is one of Canada’s leading animation companies and relocated

with nearly 100 employees to Hamilton from Oakville. With their passion, ingenuity,

and expertise, this studio has major clients including Disney and Nickelodeon and

specializes in 2D and 3D animation.

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The Creative Industries in Hamilton are on the rise- chiefly seen through the 2011 downtown

employment statistics that list the creative industries as the fastest growing economic sector

in the downtown. Check out some of the latest “creative” additions to the city.

cbcAnnounced in 2011, CBC will be launching a new digital news service outlet in Downtown

Hamilton that will provide online news and information services. As a new and unique

interactive source of local news, weather, and information on local events, CBC has

identified Hamilton as a leading city in this new era of news and information sharing

and CBC will pay particular attention to sharing news by smart phones, internet and/or

tablets. This digital service will create five reporter jobs in the downtown core.

chuck gammage animationChuck Gammage Animation moved their operation to Hamilton from Downtown

Toronto in September of 2011. This intimate and artist-driven studio employs

approximately 10 people at their new location in the heart of the arts district

on James Street North and is one of four new animation studios in Hamilton’s

downtown in 2011.

creative industries

14

one of cbc’s first digital news service outlets in Canada




moved from toronto to hamilton

17


In 2011, the City of Hamilton recorded 23,925 jobs at 1,574 locations within the Downtown

Hamilton Urban Growth Centre- with 75% of these jobs coming from the private sector.

330 new jobs were created in 2011 with major investments including the National Academy

of Health and Business, College Boreal, the existing McMaster Downtown Centre and the

reopened Dr. J. Edgar Davey Public School.

Witton loftsOn the site of a former school house and more recently a social service agency, the Witton

Lofts is a complex of 36 luxury residential units being built in the city’s West Harbour

neighbourhood overlooking the serene waterfront and steps away from the new all-day

GO Service terminal.

stinson schoolWork continued on the 1894 Stinson schoolhouse; steadily transforming it into luxurious

lofts. This $15 million condominium project that was once a Hamilton heritage treasure

covers an entire city block at the base of the Niagara Escarpment.

southern ontario college (soc)Southern Ontario College (SOC) expanded into their new Downtown Hamilton

location, making a new home for nearly 125 international high school students in

the core. The private secondary school features a gymnasium, cafeteria, and a

300 seat auditorium.

doWntoWn HigHligHts

300+ Jobs createdin the core in 2011

181216

18% increasein creative industryjobs between 2010 and 2011

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doWntoWn HigHligHts

181218

six-storey hoteloffers 125-roomsuites

staybridge suitesThe Staybridge Suites, currently being developed by Vrancor Group at the corner

of Caroline and George Streets, is slated for opening in 2012. This long-term stay

hotel/condo complex is the first step of the Vrancor plan to invest nearly $125 million

in 600 hotel units and 300 residential units in Hamilton’s downtown core over the next

several years. The six-storey hotel offers 125-room suites, 3,650 square feet of retail

space, and 71 underground and 10 above-ground parking spaces.

first ontario credit unionOpening their first downtown core branch and the first financial institution to

open at King Street and James Street in the heart of downtown in almost

a decade, First Ontario became a very welcome addition to the downtown

business community.

treble HallRenovations, at a cost of $735,000, began on the 131 year-old Treble Hall on

John Street North; ultimately slated for residential and studio space.

2120

Significant investments in health and education have played a large role in the changing image of Hamilton.

Investments such as the following are laying the groundwork for a more diversified and strategic economy.

columbia international collegeColumbia International College is Canada’s largest private boarding high school; with 17,000 students

from over 70 countries. In 2011, Columbia’s Ainsliewood expanded the leisure and study areas

to 40,000 square feet and continued construction on its new 350-bed residence for girls that will

include eco-friendly design elements and a roof-top patio for student entertainment.

Hillfield strathallan college (Hsc)Transformation HSC is an exciting $41 million project which will see a reinvestment in their current

facilities, adding approximately 134,000 square feet of space in the new Michael G. DeGroote

Senior School and College-wide Athletic Complex. Construction on Phase I commenced in the

Spring of 2011 with the construction of the new Senior School and Student Learning Commons,

with Phase II seeing the addition of the College-wide community and athletic complex, as well as

a heated walkway to connect the new facilities of its existing campus.

mcmaster Health centreBy the fall of 2013, an eight-storey, 217,000 square foot, LEED certified health campus will

be opening on the corner of Main and Bay Street in Downtown Hamilton. This $105 million

project is designed to meet the health care needs of the growing downtown population and

is estimated to house 4,000 students, 450 employees and 30 new doctors-in-training as

well as attract nearly 60,000 patients per year into the downtown.

mcmaster automotive resource centre (marc)McMaster University officially launched the McMaster Automotive Resource Centre (MARC)

in 2011. The centre is designed to be a place where researchers from the university, related

industry, and government will flourish together to create more fuel efficient vehicles.

Through research and testing these individuals will develop hybrids, electric power trains,

batteries, and lightweight materials to add to a growing green auto sector. With assistance

through a $11.5 million federal government grant, this $26 million investment will be an

88,512 square foot building with 120 to 150 employees; adding to the great growth in

Hamilton’s McMaster Innovation Park.

mohawk collegeMohawk College embarked on a $30 million renewal project. Outside the college,

the entrance was moved 180 degrees, which now has the name in five-foot letters

along with coloured glass walls. Inside, a long glass corridor connects the new

school to the old school making it brighter and easier to navigate. Beside the

central staircase is a wall of 2,000 live plants. As well, The Square is Mohawk’s

17,000 square foot one-stop centre for student services. All renovations meet the

LEED Gold standard for environmental design.

institutional

investinhamilton.ca 2011investinhamilton.ca 2011

$11.5 million federal grant, totaling a $26 million investment

17,000 studentsfrom over70 countries

liburdi automation As an industry leader in the development of automated, vision based welding systems for

turbine, aerospace, industrial and tube mill applications, 2010/2011 was an exciting year for

this company. Liburdi undertook substantial equipment upgrades within the Dundas facility

and obtained a 32,169 square foot building in Stoney Creek strengthening their position as

a leader in Hamilton’s advanced manufacturing sector.

bermingham foundation solutionsBeing Canada’s oldest foundation contractor, Bermingham Foundation Solutions is the

leading manufacturer of custom foundation equipment. By utilizing a part of the former

Lakeport Brewery site, this company is expanding the manufacturing facility and

constructing a new office. This investment includes the retention of nearly 150 jobs in

Hamilton and is recognized as one of the largest retention stories in 2011 in Hamilton.

gen PackGen Pack Assembly Services invested $1.5 million and relocated operations to a

15,000 square foot facility in the Stoney Creek Industrial Business Park, with room

for future expansion. The Stoney Creek company employs 60 people.

business retention

150 Jobs retainedin Hamilton

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32,000+ sq. ft.add-on facility

25

neW develoPment


24

30,000 sq. ft.expansion

city squareThis nine-storey, two-tower building is transforming into one of the fastest-selling condominium

complexes in Hamilton. As it covers an entire city block, these 150 high-end units meet the needs

of first-time young professional buyers, empty-nesters and apartment dwellers.

starsky fine foodsExpanding from Mississauga, Starsky Fine Foods is redeveloping a former automotive dealership

in the East-end of Hamilton into a grand 30,000 square foot European-style grocery store.

This food store specializes in deli meats, Polish sausage, and other eastern European foods and

the expansion will result in 50 new jobs in the local economy.

canada PostThe Hamilton Mountain Distribution Centre will be completed by January 2012 and will be just

over 19,000 square feet with multi-level docks that will allow trucks of all sizes being able to

deliver out of the new delivery centre.

union gasUnion Gas is constructing a 49,000 square foot office, training, and warehouse site.

Spreading across 8 acres of land at 420 Glover Road and 918 South Service Road, this will

create approximately 40 jobs for the LEED Gold facility.

28 27

urban WestConstruction on this five floor, 11 suite condo began in 2011. Located along the Niagara Escarpment

and close to major shopping districts and McMaster University, this project is a welcomed addition

to downtown living choices.

Pearson dunn insurancePearson Dunn opened three new offices in Hamilton in 2011, including their 13,500 square foot

head office-designed/owned by Losani Homes- at the South Service Road and QEW that

houses 55 employees.

nemfoodNemfood expanded operations in 2011, gaining retail giant Walmart as a client for Nemfood’s

authentic line of Vietnamese inspired spring rolls. This fully-automated production facility,

including the leading spring roll line, has created approximately

24 jobs in Hamilton.

earthfresh foodsEarthFresh Foods invested $5.5 million into a new 40,000 square foot potato washing,

sorting and packaging facility creating up to 100 new jobs. It will also include a water

recycling system that will recover 90 per cent of the water used in the plant.

neW develoPment


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$5.5 million investment

Hamilton is a city gaining greater national and international attention as a great place to invest.

Here are just some of the accolades received in 2011.

economic developers association of canada (edac)/rbc award

Every year, one community-driven economic development project is selected

from submissions across the country to receive the EDAC/RBC Financial Group Economic

Development Achievement of the Year Award. In 2011, the City of Hamilton’s LEEDing the

Way Community Improvement Plan and LEED Grant Program was the recipient of this

prestigious national award. Through its multiple facets, this community-driven economic

development project has shown to be innovative, creative, and successful by promoting

cost sharing of construction costs, consultation, energy modeling and certification fees

with the applicant to achieve LEED certification. Grants are calculated on the basis of

the rating of official certification under the LEED rating system by the Canadian Green

Building Council (CaGBC).

real estate investment networkIn 2011, Calgary based Real Estate Investment Network ranked Hamilton the top

place in Ontario and the third top place in Canada in which to invest- just behind

Edmonton and Calgary.

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ranking and recognitionsite selection magazine

Atlanta, Georgia based Site Selection Magazine ranked Hamilton in the top

two Canadian cities in attracting corporate investment over the past year.

It is the second year in a row Hamilton has ranked among the top cities in

Site Selection Magazine’s Canada Best to Invest locations.

intelegia rankingIntelegia, a North American authority on Web 2.0 marketing for

investment attraction, ranked Hamilton as one of the top two cities

in Canada in investment marketing using the web and social media

(Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, Flickr, Foursquare and provincial

award-winning investinhamilton TV).

economic developers council of ontario (edco)

Hamilton’s Economic Development Office collected four business

development awards at the Economic Developers Council of

Ontario annual conference for its work in 2011. The winning

projects included best economic development website

(www.investinhamilton.ca), best stand-alone ad for a joint ad

produced with Maple Leaf Foods promoting the city’s LEED

grant program for industrial projects, best annual review and

best social media campaign (Sew Hungry- the city’s first food

truck rally in September 2011). The city worked with Hamilton

creative companies on all the winning projects, including

2Gen.net, factor[e] design initiative and Banko Media.

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2011 hamilton ecdev annual report

Documents

new red hill business

new jobs

ancaster business park

flamborough business

hamilton skyline

outstanding year

past year

tremendous year