Saturday, May 20, 2000
Mission: To bring Hamilton business
Specialist will travel to expos, conventions
By Earnest Winston
The Cincinnati Enquirer
HAMILTON — City officials recently hired an economic development specialist to travel across the United States and internationally to help lure businesses to Hamilton.
Jessica Michaels, who was president of the Williams County Economic Development Corp. in northwest Ohio for 21/2 years, has spent the last six weeks getting acclimated to projects and businesses in Hamilton.
She will jump-start the city's “On-the-Road” development program this weekend, when she attends the International Council of Shopping Centers in Las Vegas.
The new program is designed to attract businesses to Hamilton through networking at trade shows and conferences.
“Attracting industry is a very challenging role for anyone,” said Ms. Michaels, 27. Her duties also include helping existing companies with expansion, training and tax credits.
Economic development director Tim Bigler said he doesn't expect Ms. Michaels to have an immediate impact on economic development in Hamilton.
“What (she's) doing is building relationships. ... You've got to be in the right place at the right time. But you're never going to be in the right place if you're not out there at least attempting to do it,” Mr. Bigler said.
Ms. Michaels said she's eager to tell businesses that Forbes magazine this week ranked the Hamilton-Middletown metro area No. 74 in the United States for business and careers. The Butler County region was also the only metro area in Ohio to crack the top 100.
Ms. Michaels, a Lansing, Mich., native, will attend the National Plastics Exposition in Chicago in June, and the International Manufacturing Technology Show in Chicago in September.
Later, she plans to network with real estate executives at conferences in Las Vegas and Orlando, Fla.
“Our hope is she will be able to attract new businesses to Hamilton through her ventures,” said City Manager Steve Sorrell. “I think she's a real gem for the city of Hamilton.”
Ms. Michaels earned a bachelor's in public administration in 1994 from the University of Michigan, and a master's in city planning from the University of Tennessee in 1997.
Her city salary is about $41,000 a year.
Colon cancer vaccine ready to test
Student graduates in hospital
Again: A fatal crash and a stricken school
Taft signs ban on some late-term abortions
'Average Joe' robs Clermont bank
Fairfield official indicted on fraud
Findlay project gets $250,000 gift
Petition dispute a lesson in civics
RAMSEY: School funding is one hot potato
Slain police officers honored at memorial service
'Son of Beast' closed for third weekend
TV ads called loophole
Ky. to see Bush, Gore often
N.Ky. primary is one-office race
Other candidates on ballot, like it or not
Appeal rejected in Officer Partin's death
Newport looks at race book
Schools look for new chief
Schools to move off tainted site
Cancer report led to probe
Get to it
May Festival gets off to glorious start
Pig Parade: Sow's It Goin' . . . Cincinnati!
Suspect in fatal DUI returns to Mexico
Teen faces weapons charge
Teen held on suspicion of poisoning drinks
Tristate Digest
Around the Commonwealth
Covington teachers get raises
Dozens charged after wild party
Fairfield schools hire new athletic director
Girl, 14, suspended for threatening letter
Man guilty of raping girl, 11
Middletown will survey residents about parks
Mission: To bring Hamilton business
Orchestra listens to critics of new name
OSU strike appears ended
Phys ed shunted aside in curriculum changes
S. Lebanon man pleads guilty in Jan. shooting
School digs up the past
Senate hopeful wants divorce of religion, politics
Sibling bus drivers retiring
Slaying still juvenile case, Wehrung lawyers say
Software maker heads to Deerfield
