The city of Hamilton, OH, has launched several efforts in recent years to attract developers downtown. “We needed to ensure that our progress was communicated to as many people as possible to change the perception Hamilton struggled with,” says Jody Gunderson, the city’s director of economic development.The marketing program includes:
A quarterly e-newsletter highlights new companies, job growth, business anniversaries, and important projects underway in the city, as well as small business development, downtown revitalization, and other economic success stories. The target audience is local businesses, as well as businesses and developers throughout southwest Ohio and national site selectors.
An annual Initiative Update focuses on completed and ongoing projects to illustrate that the city has reversed its downward economic trend. The Initiative Update is shared in an electronic format via the city’s website, and with links from social media platforms and e-newsletters. Print copies are also distributed widely. They are, “in the lobby of every city department, and shared with every prospective business, current business, developer, and small business owner we meet with,” says Gunderson
A Downtown Developers Day brings developers into the community for a half day including a lunch presentation, tours and happy hour. “This was really a way of introducing some of the developers to the city that may not have been up here for a while, but it was also a way of introducing them to the concept that they wouldn’t be the first one in,” Gunderson says.
Click to see the 2016 Initiative Update.
The full article appeared in our print edition. To always get the full story, read Downtown Idea Exchange.
Learn more about Downtown Idea Exchange.