HES 2011 Overview

People & Profits: Energizing Our Lower City

The curtain is set to rise on the 4^th annual Hamilton Economic Summit on Thursday May 12 from 7:30 am to 3:00 pm at the Hamilton Convention Centre.

The theme is ‘People & Profits: Energizing our Lower City.’  The goal is to help generate more jobs and prosperity across an urban landscape that stretches from McMaster Innovation Park, through the downtown and waterfront, to our north end industrial corridor.

This area is a hub for commerce, culture and innovation. And it defines our community’s overall image. Most important, our historical city represents Hamilton’s future — it’s the bull’s eye for planned residential and employment growth, and the preferred destination for young people and empty nesters.

The stakes are high as Hamilton competes for people and investment drawn to vibrant urban centres — hotspots for knowledge-based economic production. This year’s summit provides a forum for community leaders from all sectors to contribute to the task of 21^st century city-building.

Summit participants will confront the challenge of energizing our lower city by addressing three documented needs: Attract more private sector investment, stimulate more development projects (large and small), and regenerate more assets in the built and natural environments.

The day will kick off with an address by the Honourable Glen Murray, Minister of Research and Innovation and former CEO of the Canadian Urban Institute. Minister Murray spoke at our inaugural summit in 2008 and challenged us to push forward to become Canada’s top midsize city. This year he will provoke fresh thinking on ways we can boost growth by strengthening connections among our city’s assets, including a ready-made infrastructure to design, manufacture and market value-added products that meet global needs.

The program will include a presentation by Hamilton Hive, a newly-formed network of young professionals and entrepreneurs. This multimedia presentation will champion a growing cohort of new and emerging leaders in Hamilton.

The morning centerpiece will be two interactive discussions that highlight wealth generating initiatives happening in our lower city. The first discussion will focus on business start-ups and new development activities. The second will showcase projects and plans shaping the future of Hamilton’s north end industrial corridor. These two discussions will feature a range of people — including developers, entrepreneurs and innovators — who are building Hamilton’s lower city economy.

The morning will conclude with an opportunity for delegates to participate in roundtable talks designed to identify breakthrough creative ideas to accelerate lower city development. The most imaginative ideas will be shared broadly to stimulate action and results.

The afternoon will feature a Community Luncheon open to the public. This annual gathering helps engage local citizens as agents of economic development, an ongoing goal of the summit. The luncheon program will emphasize the importance of young talent and provide a platform to recognize people leading regeneration efforts in our lower city. It will also offer a high profile opportunity for local stakeholders to announce new initiatives — buildings, developments, upgrades, etc. — that directly connect with the theme of energizing our lower city.

The day will end with an address by Christopher Leinberger titled ‘Here Comes the Neighbourhood: Walkable Hamilton.’ Mr. Leinberger is an urban land use specialist, developer and visiting fellow with The Brookings Institution.

HES is an initiative of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce implemented in cooperation with the City of Hamilton and other partners.  HES 2011 will be moderated by Dr. Nick Bontis, DeGroote School of Business, McMaster University.

To register, e-mail Whitney Simmons at w.simmons@hamiltonchamber.on.ca or visit HamiltonEconomicSummit.ca.