The HPA congratulates the City of Hamilton’s Economic Development office for the excellent work it does driving investment in the city.
“Hamilton is increasingly top-of-mind for investors throughout Ontario and Canada, and this profile benefits the whole community,” said Bruce Wood, HPA President and CEO. “We are definitely seeing the effects of that awareness with the number of companies knocking on the Port’s door looking for space, or a more efficient way to move goods.”
Several of the projects placing Hamilton at the top of the REIN ranking have located or expanded at the Port of Hamilton. Major investments by the HPA and port partners such as Biox, Fluke, Lafarge, Richardson International, Parrish & Heimbecker and Bermingham Foundations represent over $250 million over the last few years in long-term commitments and contribute to prosperity and employment in the city.
These recent investments are part of an ambitious strategic plan launched by HPA in 2008, which targeted $500 million in port infrastructure, warehousing, land development and cargo diversification. Just four years into the mandate, the HPA is ahead of target on virtually every front. The Port of Hamilton is currently the busiest Canadian port on the Great Lakes, and is poised for further growth.
The expansion of the agri-food sector is an excellent example of the plan in action. The Port of Hamilton is now home to three grain handlers, and is developing a brand as a major agricultural hub in southern Ontario. Facilities built by Richardson International and Parrish & Heimbecker, including P&H’s iconic domed grain silos are helping to transform the port city’s image and reputation. Agricultural commodities coming through the port as cargo have grown by 35 per cent since 2008, and in total, non-steel cargo has increased from less than a quarter to a full third of the port’s tonnage.
“In the years to come, our focus will turn to acquiring new properties and offering new logistics services that will serve the port’s increasingly diversified customer base,” said Bruce Wood. “Working with Economic Development and the wider business community, we hope to do our part to help Hamilton land on the top of the list of investment locations again in 2013.”
The Port of Hamilton offers companies a significant value proposition: a strategic location on the Great Lakes with access to 100 million North American consumers, extensive multimodal transportation connections, a skilled workforce, and a proactive, customer-focused approach to economic development at City Hall. The Port of Hamilton is an economic engine for Hamilton and Ontario, contributing to $5.9 billion of economic activity and 38,000 jobs in Ontario.
The Port of Hamilton is the largest Canadian port on the Great Lakes in terms of both size and cargo handled. The Hamilton Port Authority’s strategic vision is to be the Great Lakes port of choice.