A one-industry town transitioning into a hub of social and economic innovation. Hamilton - Making the Transition Fred Eisenberger President and CEO Canadian Urban Institute February 23, 2011 Kyiv, Ukraine

Profile of Hamilton, Ontario  Total Population: 504,559 (2006)  Unemployment rate: 6.9%  2 universities, 3 colleges  Active port and rail, international airport  Hub of innovation  A place to invest Economic development strategy’s 6 sectors:  Advanced Manufacturing  Agri-Business and Food Processing  Clean Technology  Creative Industries  Goods Movement  Life Sciences

Challenges of a one-industry town  Since 1900s, important iron and steel producing city  World War I and II led to increase in demand  Iron and steel industry sole economic base  Negative impact on local environment  Late 1990s, city vulnerable to global changes in demand  Plant closures and layoffs  Challenge of economic and environmental re-generation

1.Technical Education 2.Innovation and Research 3.Social Equity and Poverty Reduction 4.Infrastructure Development 5.Business Attraction and Retention 6.Brownfield Re-development Programs 7.Cultural Planning 8.The City within the Region How to Diversify and Grow a Regional Economy Focus on the following:

1: Technical Education  Hamilton’s 3 colleges  Mohawk, Borreal, Redeemer  Canada’s College Model  Education based on upcoming job market

2: Innovation and Research McMaster Innovation Park  Collaboration between academia and private sector  Focus is on new economy jobs  Long-term vision, not chasing trends Trivaris  Turning good ideas into business opportunities

3: Social Equity and Poverty Reduction  Include all in opportunities of economic development  Real poverty in Hamilton  Hamilton Jobs Prosperity Collaborative  Roundtable for Poverty Reduction  Community Foundation

4: Infrastructure Development  Current focus is renewal  Various financing models  Public-Private Partnerships (P3s) work in some cases  1% levy approach

5: Business Attraction and Retention  Business Improvement Areas (BIAs)  Coordinated efforts between entrepreneurs and local government  Numerous financial incentive programs  One-stop-shop website   Voted most useful by investors

6: Brownfield Re-development Programs  Re-generating former industrial sites  Environmental and economic benefits  Part of an incentive program ERASE  Example: LIUNA nursing home

7: Cultural Planning Process to identify and leverage cultural resources of a community A City’s Cultural Resources:  Festival & events  Natural Heritage  Cultural Heritage  Spaces & Facilities  Cultural Organizations  Create Industries

8: The City within the Region  Cities are not islands  Complementary interests with neighbours  Regional economies are resilient economies  Examples  Metrolinx  Ontario Growth Plan  Greenbelt

Lessons from Hamilton 1: Collaboration is key 2: Build and maintain momentum 3: Leadership matters 4: Think and act like a region 1: Collaboration is key 2: Build and maintain momentum 3: Leadership matters 4: Think and act like a region

Fred Eisenberger President and CEO Canadian Urban Institute Дякую