Invest in Hamilton

For the 15th consecutive year, Hamilton has been recognized as a top destination for corporate investment, securing its spot on Site Selection Magazine’s 2026 “Canada’s Best Locations” list. This milestone reflects the city’s sustained economic momentum and its proven capacity to attract high-value industries, secure capital, and foster long-term job creation on an award-winning economic development platform.

Site Selection Magazine evaluates jurisdictions across the country based on rigorous corporate facility project data. The rankings focus on foreign direct investment (FDI) and domestic expansions that involve significant construction, capital expenditures exceeding $1 million, the creation of at least 20 new affiliated jobs, or the addition of 20,000 square feet of new space. Hamilton’s consistent 15-year presence on this list demonstrates a resilient, adaptable economic framework that continues to outpace national averages.

This year’s recognition was anchored by a series of transformative investments across Hamilton’s key target sectors, including life sciences, manufacturing, tech, agribusiness and food & beverage processing, and goods movement.

Leading the charge in the life sciences sector is Atomvie Global Radiopharma, which committed $101 million to a new state-of-the-art facility. This major investment creates 70 specialized jobs and reinforces Hamilton’s position as a premier Canadian centre for healthcare innovation and commercialization.

The momentum extends across a highly diversified industrial base. Airwise expanded its operations, bringing 150 new jobs to the local economy, while Opta Waterdown contributed a $25 million capital investment. High-growth technology and planning firms like Skygauge Robotics and Bousfields also met the magazine’s stringent criteria, adding 26 and 22 new jobs respectively. To build on this industrial success, Invest in Hamilton is aggressively pursuing a new clean technology manufacturing strategy, positioning the city to capture emerging global investments in sustainable tech and green infrastructure.

You cannot attract $101 million in radiopharmaceutical facilities or advanced robotics manufacturers without the intellectual capital to support them. Hamilton’s 15-year streak as a top investment destination is directly tied to the research intensity and talent pipeline generated by its post-secondary institutions.

Hamilton thrives at the intersection of industry and academia. The Atomvie Global Radiopharma expansion is a prime example of this ecosystem at work—the company is a direct spinout of the Centre for Probe Development and Commercialization (CPDC) founded at McMaster University. As one of Canada’s most research-intensive universities, McMaster continually drives the commercialization of new medical breakthroughs and advanced materials right here in the city.

Simultaneously, Mohawk College provides the critical applied research and highly skilled workforce required to scale these operations. From healthcare and software development to advanced manufacturing and aviation technology, Mohawk ensures that when global companies choose to invest in Hamilton, they have immediate access to a steady stream of job-ready graduates.

A major factor in Hamilton’s 2026 ranking is the historic investment flowing into the urban core. The city recently welcomed the TD Coliseum, which serves as one of the most transformative developments in the region. The redevelopment of Hamilton’s downtown arena represents a significant site revitalization effort, repositioning an existing, iconic asset for massive economic impact.

This multi-million-dollar project brings new life to a key site by attracting world-class events, drastically increasing foot traffic, and supporting surrounding local businesses. The TD Coliseum signals renewed confidence in Hamilton’s downtown as an elite hub for entertainment and corporate investment. This physical transformation is supported by the 10-Year Downtown Revitalization Strategy and the complementary “Meet Your Downtown” campaign, designed to drive engagement, tourism, and long-term commercial growth in the city centre.

Landing large-scale corporate facilities requires a strong foundation of local business retention and expansion. Recognizing the need to support the entrepreneurs who feed into these larger supply chains, the Hamilton Business Centre recently established a new food incubator. This strategic initiative provides localized support, workspace, and resources to emerging culinary and food-production businesses, ensuring the region’s robust food and beverage sector continues to innovate and scale from the ground up.

Securing a position as one of Canada’s Best Locations for a decade and a half requires constant adaptation to global market shifts, infrastructure demands, and community needs. The 2026 Site Selection Magazine ranking confirms that through targeted sector strategies, historic downtown revitalization, and comprehensive small business support, Hamilton is generating tangible, long-term dividends for corporate investors and the community at large.